Abstract: An improved process for the continuous manufacture of impurity and iron-free electrodes for electric arc furnaces including a mechanism allowing the replacement of an amorphous coal electrode by a graphite core electrode without extensive furnace shutdown. A dual sliding system is provided which allows an electrode to be continuously baked and provided to the furnace with or without a metal casing and which includes a special contact plate for transmitting electric current which decreases substantially the contact surface of the plate. The process is especially useful for obtaining impurity free elemental silicon.