Buying Your First Welder: A Practical, Informative Guide For Do-It-Yourselfers

Buying Your First Welder: A Practical, Informative Guide For Do-It-Yourselfers

What are the basic welding practices?

For beginners, it is very crucial to know the different welding practices and processes before going to the shop to buy your first welder. It will help you to decide which welder will be best according to your project’s needs. There are three common welding processes–TIG, MIG, and Stick. TIG needs a proficient welder.

This article will give you an overview of all the commonly followed welding processes to let you decide the best one for your DIY.

Stick Welding

For domestic and workshop welding, stick welding has been the most popular for many years. This method is also famous among the workers who work on dirty and rusty metals. It is helpful for creating efficient and strong welds.

For this method you’ll need a good quality stick welder, these are great for fusing joints and alloys. It can be done easily indoors and outdoors.

Stick welding is effective for fusing metals of 3mm sheets or above. You’ll need different rods for different metals, for example cast metals or stainless steel.

Stick welding usually produces a lot of spatter. Hence, it requires the worker to clean the completed weld after welding. Stick welders are easily found in DC or AC, being the most efficient and cost-effective welding process.

MIG Welding

MIG is also known as gas metal arc. For this process, a spool containing welding wire is used. It is fed automatically at a speed you have pre set. The electric arc is formed between the workpiece and the wire electrode that causes these two to melt and join or fuse, in welding terms.

There is a shielding gas which feeds through the welding gun alongside the wire. It protects the whole process from any atmospheric pollutants and creates a clean, and strong weld which needs almost no cleaning.

There is another welding process which is quite similar to MIG is the FCAW or Flux-Cored Arc Welding. However, it doesn't use any shielding gas but instead it uses a Flux-Cored wire. It makes it great for welding outdoors, particularly in the windy conditions or dirty metals. Due to its performance at high speed, it is ideal for construction sites.

TIG Welding

TIG is also known as gas tungsten arc. The TIG welding process uses a tungsten electrode with a shielding gas that protects the whole process from any atmospheric pollutants along with the filler metal.

The TIG welding process is mostly used in welding thinner pieces of stainless steel, alloy, and many non-ferrous metals, for example, copper. There is no doubt that a TIG welder gives more control to the operator over the weld being compared to other welding methods, however, TIG is much more complicated to use and it needs lots of practice. When you become proficient in it, the TIG welding process will allow you to form high-quality welds.

So, how to select the correct welder?

Few things are to be considered while you select the right welder.

Firstly, understand the work or type of project you are working on. You should be confident and sure to use the welder according to your need and the work type. It all depends upon the type of material which you are welding and thickness as well.

If you are a frequent welder, then you may want to select a welder which will work with more power and offer a long duty on a daily basis. Hence, between TIG and MIG, MIG welding might be your choice because it is very easy to learn and practice. But, if you have a wide range of implications on a variety of projects, you might be able to use TIG. But don't forget, it is very difficult to learn.

Ultimately, the particular DIY needs must help you decide the specific welder you will be purchasing.

Second one is your budget. Obviously, you cannot deny the fact that quality products do not come at a low price. But it is also true that you want your welding machines to be budget friendly and cost-effective at the same time. No doubt, a good weld requires the best welding machine. So don't think too much about buying a versatile welder which will be suitable for all of your projects, but not budget friendly.

Additionally, you might need some protection for your safety, so don't forget to buy some gloves, eye protection glasses, a helmet and a jacket.

Conclusion

Overall, TIG and MIG welding processes form a cleaner weld. They are also easier to learn compared to Stick welding. Both are also more suitable and reliable for many metal thicknesses.

Your choice must fulfill all your requirements and DIY needs. With the correct welder, it will be easier to nail your DIY welding skills.

 

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