| Learning how to weld can be as easy or as complex | | | | process involves an arc being struck to the work |
| as you make it. Virtually each welding job will have | | | | using a tungsten electrode in the hand-piece, filler |
| different requirements involving the material to be | | | | material is then applied through the resulting arc. In |
| welded, the type of filler metal for the weld and the | | | | some instances such as sheet metals no filler rods |
| welding process itself. Some processes such as Mig | | | | are used as the join is simply fused together using |
| or Tig welds can be used on different materials as | | | | the arc. Obviously this requires a neat joint without |
| long as the welding equipment is set up to | | | | gaps. |
| accommodate that particular material. | | | | Tig welds preformed properly will give an outstanding |
| General Welding Processes | | | | quality finish with high strength. They require minimal |
| There are three common welding processes that are | | | | clean up as there is no slag or soot to deal with. |
| used in welding workshops, manufacturing businesses | | | | Most effective for welding stainless steel and |
| and for home workshop and farm use. | | | | aluminum sheet metals, pipe work and products |
| Mig Welding | | | | needing a neat tidy finish. |
| Mig stands for Metal Inert Gas or The Gas Metal Arc | | | | Arc Welding. |
| Welding process (GMAW). this process in most likely | | | | Next to gas the Arc welding process is the oldest of |
| the most common process today. Its basically an arc | | | | welding processes. Still used extensively in industry |
| welding process that utilizes a continuous wire feed | | | | and for home use learning how to arc weld is a |
| of an electrode that is shielded using an external gas | | | | somewhat easier process. However having said that |
| source. the components to make up the welding | | | | the application of the process can be complicated in |
| system comprises of the wire feed unit, a cable and | | | | the choice of welding electrodes. Arc weld electrodes |
| weld gun plus the welding power source. Shielding gas | | | | have a flux coating that generates a shielding gas to |
| is fed through the welder cable along with the | | | | protect the metal from atmospheric contaminants, |
| electrode. | | | | they increase deposition rates and covers the weld |
| Being the most versatile this is the easiest way to | | | | with a slag coating. There are many specialist |
| learn how to weld sheet metal through to heavy | | | | electrodes available such as for hard facing and |
| work and how to fillet weld heavy plate. The | | | | pipeline welds that are required to have x rays for |
| versatility of a Mig means they can be used in all | | | | quality. |
| positions, can weld different materials such as mild | | | | Arc welding can be used for welding mild steel, |
| steel, stainless steel or aluminum, and in most | | | | hardened steels, stainless steel, cast iron and |
| thicknesses. A properly set up machine will produce | | | | numerous specialty steels. Slag deposits require |
| high quality welds that require minimal clean up. | | | | removal so some clean up is needed. Various |
| The Tig Welding Process | | | | electrodes require more or less clean up. |
| Stands for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or | | | | As arc welders do not require an external gas |
| more commonly Tungsten Inert Gas process (TIG) | | | | resource they are ideal for outdoor and site work, |
| Learning how to Tig weld is more difficult than the | | | | and are widely used in maintenance and construction |
| mig process as the operator must control the welding | | | | work. |
| torch and the filler material simultaneously. The | | | | |