Welding is an integral part in the industrial sector. Three types of welding are most commonly used throughout the aerospace industry. MIG, TIG, and Stick welding are being used everywhere today. What are they used for? Here’s how they differ from one another.
Stick welding
Also called Arc welding, stick welding is the “old school” welding our grandpas could have used to fix machinery back in the day. It uses a stick electrode such as a 7018, 6011, or 6013 welding rod with an electrode holder that looks similar to that of a battery jumper cable clamp. To get the arc going, the rod is struck like a match and the rod is fed into the liquid as it burns. Stick welding and its machines are simple and cheap.
MIG welding
This is often considered as the easiest to learn. In contrast to stick welding, the rod doesn’t have to be fed as it reduces. The operator only has to pull the trigger and weld when a wire is inserted through a cable and goes out at the end of the welding gun.
TIG welding
TIG welding is one of the more difficult types to learn, and harder to master than stick or MIG welding. The main reason is because you need both hands to weld. You use one hand to hold the TIG torch with a tungsten electrode for the heat and arc, while your other hand holds the rod to be fed. However, TIG welding is the most versatile type though. You can weld almost all conventional metals with this process.
There are many other different types of welding processes but by far, the ones mentioned above are the most common today. For MIG, TIG, and Stick welding along with other welding information, visit N&S Aero.