STICK WELDING
Stick welding is a highly capable process for joining metal alloys together and is currently the most common method used in the United States. Inexpensive and dynamic, stick welding: also referred to as SMAW(Shielded Metal Arc Welding), can be used on practically any piece of steel as thin as an eighth of an inch. The electrode(stick) is coated with flux to protect the weld from contamination and impurities.
MIG WELDING
Mig welding, also known as GMAW(Gas Metal Arc Welding) or wire welding, is not as common as stick welding, but its use is on the rise. A few reasons for the increase in its popularity could be due to its fast learning curve, a quicker process than the other major welding types, produces less slag for easy welding and cleaning, and continuous welds via wire feeding mechanism. To prevent contamination the welding area of the working material is covered with argon gas, preserving a quality weld.
TIG WELDING
One of the rarer welding methods, Tig welding can be used on all sorts of alloys. Commonly used on aluminum, tig is great for welding in a clean environment because it produces virtually no waste. Another benefit of tig welding or GTAW(Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) is that it can be applied to exotic metals that stick or MIG welding would otherwise destroy. This mechanism allows the user to directly see the welding process granting greater accuracy at the cost of speed.
BRAZING
A method of welding where the heating element is a gas torch and the weld made by a filler rod. Brazing is used to take two different metals and join them with a filler to fasten together into one piece.
SOLDERING
Soldering is applied best in projects of low heat because the materials welded have a very low melting point. The mechanism of soldering is having a solid heating element and some filler to be melted onto the workpiece
OXYFUEL/OXY ACETYLENE WELDING
Having the advantage of being the most portable and inexpensive welding process to date, oxyfuel is welding with a gas torch to melt the filler onto the workpiece or melt the workpiece itself.