This study aims to analyse the impact of speed and polishing time variations on the microstructure and hardness of AISI 1020 steel produced by Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). Steel specimens were welded using E7016 electrodes, then polished at speeds of 570 rpm, 750 rpm, and 1043 rpm for 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Evaluation was carried out by observing the microstructure using an optical micros…