A flux cored tubular metallic arc cutting electrode having a low carbon steel tube and a compacted core composition consisting of a particulate reactant metal such as magnesium, aluminum, zirconicum, titanium and alloys of at least two of the particulate reactant metals, mixed with an exothermically reactable metal oxide. Preferably the metal oxide is an iron group oxide such as iron oxide or nickel oxide. The particulate reactant metal is characterized by a free energy of formation of its oxide referred to 25 DEG C. of at least 100,000 calories per gram atom of oxygen, the exothermically reactable metal oxide being characterized by a free energy of formation not exceeding 90,000 calories per gram atom of oxygen referred to 25 DEG C. Additionally the electrode can contain an additive such as an arc stabilizer, a fluxing agent, a deoxidizer or a gas former. |