When it comes to welding, choosing the right machine for the job is just as important as your technique. The type of welder you purchase should be suited to the specific functions you need it for, because there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” welding machine.

Weighing the pros and cons of the different welding processes and the projects you are most likely going to use your welder for is essential to making your selection.

There is no single welding process suitable for all welding situations. What’s important is understanding which process is best suited to your application.

The most common welding processes include:

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) often referred to as Metal Inert Gas (MIG),
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) often referred to as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG),
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding ((FCAW),
• Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW) often referred to as ‘Stick’ welding;

Each of which has its own set of benefits and limitations. There are several factors that must be considered to determine which welding machine will be the most appropriate for your needs, including:

• Type of material being welded
• Thickness of material
• Required weld metallurgy
• Welding position
• Available power supply, for example, single phase or three phase
• Amount of available current
• Time requirements

The below table provides a comparison of the different welding processes and what metals they work with:

Apart from the type of process and metals you want to weld, it’s also important to consider the required welding current and amount of weld time; important when determining the duty cycle of the machine.

Another aspect to consider is the varying amperage and power requirements of the machine. For example, will the user always weld with high current or only occasionally? Additionally, there are other expenses to consider such as the cost of gas verses using gasless for MIG or using stick. If you are looking to purchase a machine, take the time to outline what you will use it for and come to Weldwell. We can go through the different options with you and help you make the right choice.

The WIA range of welding equipment includes a large variety of machines from single and three phase MIG welders, Arc and TIG machines and multi-process welding solutions.

View the WIA inverter welding machine range.

Call our Customer Support Team on 0800 WELDWELL for more information