Thick basic-covered electrode for producing highly wear resisting hardfacing deposits. It is particularly resistant to metal-to-metal wear, impact and shock. Suitable for reconditioning of rails, rail crossings and switch points, wearing parts such as dredger parts, polygon edges, bearing surfaces, striking tools, die tyres, wheel flanges, slide surfaces subject to heavy wear, reconditioning of lower dies, punches and others.Weld metal can be machined only by using sintered hard metal tipped tools. Even a large number of layers can be deposited without the need of intermediate buffer layers. A tough buffer layer using ESB 40 or EI 307B electrodes is solely required in case of very crack sensitive base metal. EH 340 can be welded in all positions, except vertical-down. Preferred to use with DC, electrode in positive (+) pole and also possible to use with AC.