WELDING

[leyron]

which of the following electric arc welding best to use; smaw, gmaw, gtaw?

 

[MikeHalloran]

What do you wish to weld?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[leyron]

ms plates, bars, shaft...ordinary metals used in construction...

 

[Metalfixer]

Check out this website.

http://www.millerwelds.com/

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Lincoln has some good info also. Just depends on what you need to weld

 

[metengr]

There is more to this than what is being welded. It is set-up (field or shop), cost, configuration and service conditions.

 

[CoryPad]

The variables are so numerous, and their values are so widely spaced, that there is no single answer.

 

[IceStationZebra]

I agree that there are way too many variables to declare a "best" process.

Some general comments....
smaw
- usually the lowest investment, no gas cylinders to rent
- very portable and rugged, low/no maintenance
- wide variety of rods to handle many different situations
- can weld a wide variety of material thicknesses
- easiest to learn

gmaw
- usually better quality welds than stick, though it often takes some experimentation to get high grade welds with minimal splatter.
- better than smaw on thin materials, stainless and aluminium.

gtaw
- very good weld quality on thin material
- most difficult of the three to master
- good for non-ferrous materials

ISZ

 

[MikeHalloran]

Best option: Take a night school course for beginning/ amateur welders. When you are done with it, you will know exactly what you want.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[BillBirch]

Good summary from IceStationZebra. I would add that the gas shielded processes are dubious in windy, outdoor locations. Personally I found TIG easier to master than stick welding because it was easier to see the weld in progress and employs a similar technique to oxy-acetylene - which I like.

 

[GregLocock]

I agree TIG is neat, but if you are fixing ploughs and muckspreaders then a stick welder is the way to go.

Horses for courses

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.