Industrial Stick Welders

Stick Welders

Stick welding is a great option for welding mild steel, cast iron, stainless steel, and low alloys, allowing you to do your own repairs and maintenance work or even fabricate something. As stick welding can be dangerous as a hobby or trade, you need to take good care when operating such equipment. Safety comes first. Before even buying a stick welder, get to know the different types of welding to become aware which type best fits your needs. Maybe you need a MIG or TIG welder instead.

MIG or gas metal arc welding, GMAW for short, includes the forming of an arc by creating an electrical current between the wire and the base metal. This current melts the wire, joining it together with the base and resulting in a clean weld that requires a minimal amount of cleaning. The wire welding electrode rests on a spool, and the MIG welder feeds it automatically at a speed the operator selects. This method is suitable for both thin and thick metals.

Stick welding, or shielded metal arc welding, is the most popular type of welding that can cater for most home-workshop needs. This method makes use of an electric current that flows from a gap between the welding stick and the metal. Stick welders are efficient when welding joints and alloys, and you can use it both outdoors and indoors. As the most economical method, especially when using AC welders, this appeals to many, but it might not be possible with all materials. You can use these with metals that are no thinner than 18-gauge, and the rod needs frequent changing, not to mention other maintenance procedures.

TIG, or gas tungsten arc welding, GTAW, makes use of a non-consumable tungsten electrode that produces the weld. A shielding gas, typically argon, and a filler metal protect the weld area from atmospheric contamination. A welding power supply produces energy that then goes through a column of plasma, consisting of metal vapours and highly ionised gas. TIG welders are best for welding thin sections of alloys, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals.

Flux-cored arc welding is a slight variation of the MIG welding. The difference is that flux-cored arc welding does not require any shielding gas and instead uses a flux-cored wire to shield the arc. This method is best for outdoor conditions, especially on windy days. Thanks to its portability and high welding speed, it is popular in construction.