If you’re looking to become a welder, there are various types of welding you’ll need to understand in order to break into the industry.
Starting a career in welding requires a certain level of skill and knowledge. The work can be very time-consuming and it’s best to learn alongside other professionals in the industry so that you adopt the correct methods. Let’s take a look at the different types of welding below.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG/GMAW)
The most common form of industrial welding is Gas Metal Arc Welding, also known as MIG welding. This is one of the simplest forms of welding and can be easy to master. Due to its ease of use, this is often used for home welding and is commonly used for industrial welding. The process uses a shielding gas along the wire electrode, heating the two metals in order to join them.
Did you know that Gas Metal Arc Welding was originally developed in the 1940s for welding aluminium and other non-ferrous materials, GMAW was soon applied to steels because it provided faster welding time compared to other welding processes.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
This form of welding is more commonly known as ‘stick welding’ and is the most basic of welding types. The welder uses a stick with an electrical current flowing through it to create an arc between the two metals to join them. This type of welding can be used for basic repairs, manufacturing, or construction.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
Joining thick non-ferrous and stainless steel together is the main use for this type of welding. The process is very similar to arc welding, however, in this method, a tungsten electrode produces the weld. This form of welding is quite complex and can be very time-consuming! It is used for accomplishing a higher-quality finish without causing too much of a clean-up.
Manual gas tungsten arc welding can take time to learn, due to the coordination required, GTAW normally requires two hands, since most applications require that the welder manually feed a filler metal into the weld area with one hand while manipulating the welding torch in the other.
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Due to the portability and the high welding speed, the semi-automatic arc weld is regularly used in construction projects. Flux-cored arc welding is used as an alternative to shield welding and uses an automatic continuously-fed tubular electrode containing a flux.
FCAW is rarely used indoors, it is mainly used outdoors or on contaminated materials.
Become a welder today
Complete your welding training in your spare time with The Skills Centre. Our aim is to provide you with a tailored solution to enable you to achieve your career goals.
With the option to work from home via our bespoke manuals and virtual reality simulations, you can learn key skills in your own time. All assessed by your personal tutor, you’ll receive constructive feedback that allows you to successfully make your way through the course programme and become a welder.
Interested? Get in touch with our team today by filling out this form. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to explain the next steps!
