Skip to main content

Welding is a process that has been essential to technology for many years now. From welding metal for the creation of towering skyscrapers to welding the smallest parts onto a circuit board, this process has made countless technological advances possible.

However, there are many different types of welding processes used today, for different effects and needs. Three of the most common are Arc, MIG (Metal, Inert Gas) or GMAW (Gas, Metal Arc Welding), and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding. In order to know which process is best for the particular job you’re working on, here’s what you should know about each of them.

Arc Welding

Arc welding is the oldest of these three welding processes. In addition, it can also be one of the most cost efficient methods. In this process, minimal materials and energy are used to complete the job, which makes it easier and faster to perform. However, it takes a lot of practice to create sturdy and consistent welds. Although there aren’t many materials needed and the tools are relatively simple, it’s important to note that this is still a practice that requires hard work to master. This type of welding is better suited to thicker materials.

MIG Welding

MIG welding, also known as GMAW welding, uses a thin wire as an electrode. That thin wire then gets fed through the welding instrument, being heated as it travels toward the welding site. There are two main processes to accomplish this type of welding: gas (MIG) and gasless (flux core). Gasless MIG saves money in terms of equipment, but also raises costs in terms of supplies. The wire needed for this type of welding is more expensive. Gas MIG, on the other hand, is more complex, yet the wire costs less and it produces cleaner lines.

TIG welding

TIG welding is undoubtedly the most versatile of all these welding processes. However, it is also the one that takes the most time to master and is the least productive of all three. That being said, it also produces the highest quality welds. TIG welding is recommended for larger projects or those in which you need more control over the welding.

The first machine tool services date back to 1200 BC, and the tools themselves were handcrafted. Although today’s machine tools may not be handcrafted in the same manner, welding allows craftsmanship to come into the world of modern machinery.