One of the most widely used metal fabrication processes is welding, which involves joining metal pieces together. Our team at A & A Machine & Fabrication LLC has extensive experience in metal fabrication, which includes plenty of experience with welding.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the key types of welding, so you can gain a better understanding of each option.
- Stick Welding – The most basic welding process is known as stick welding. In this method, an electrical current will pass between the metal work piece and a metal electrode (the stick). The current causes the stick to melt, which is what creates the weld that joins the work pieces together.
- Metal Inert Gas Welding – Metal inert gas (or MIG) welding works very similarly to stick welding, with one addition: the welding gun creates a shield of inert gas over the work to prevent the metal pieces from oxidizing. This results in a stronger, higher quality weld compared to that achieved by stick welding. MIG welding tends to be more expensive than stick welding, but its results are cleaner, stronger, and all around more professional looking.
- Tungsten Inert Gas Welding – Like MIG welding, tungsten inter gas (TIG) welding uses a shield of inert gas over the work to protect the work pieces from oxidation. The difference here is the specific gas used; TIG welding tends to use argon while the most common gases used in MIG welding is helium. This provides superior arc control, which allows the welder to achieve even higher quality results.