Abstract: The present invention relates to a welding electrode (1) for use in manual arc-welding operations. The welding electrode comprises a core wire having an arc ignition portion including an arc ignition face, the cross-sectional area of said arc ignition portion being reduced relative to the main cross section of the core wire. The arc ignition portion is formed with at least one recess the mouth of which opens in the longitudinal lateral face of the core wire. The invention likewise concerns a device in the manufacture of welding electrodes for use in manual metallic arc welding operations. The manufacturing process comprises a unit for the manufacture of core wires and a unit for applying on said core wires a material forming slag and a shielding gas during the welding operation. The device has at least one shaping unit formed with at least one slitting means for forming at least one slit in one of the end portions of said core wires.