Welding has come a long way since it was first invented in the 1800s. It’s now an extremely versatile and necessary craft in many industries, such as automotive, construction, and manufacturing.
In fact, there were an estimated 476,300 welding jobs in the United States in 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With so many different types of welding, you may be wondering: what is the easiest welding to learn? Luckily, we have the answers for you.
Here, we’ll discuss the different types of welding and which ones are the easiest to learn – so you can get started on the path to becoming a welder!
What is the Easiest Welding to Learn?
Welding is a specialized skill that requires an individual to be knowledgeable about different processes and techniques before producing quality fused material. It is a hands-on profession that requires a tremendous amount of practice and precision to become successful.With so many types of welding processes out there, it can be hard to know where to start and which types are the easiest to learn. Let’s take an in-depth look at what makes some welding processes easier to learn than others, and which process is the easiest to start with:
What are the Common Types of Welding?
When it comes to welding, there are a handful of processes types that are commonly used in fabrication, manufacturing and repair projects. Each process has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as its own level of difficulty.
Common welding processes include:
- Stick Welding (Shielded Metal Arc Welding)
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
- Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
- Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding (GTAW/TIG)
- Gas Welding
- Submerged Arc Welding
What Makes Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick Welding) the Easiest Welding Process?
Stick welding, or Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), is one of the oldest and most commonly used welding processes. It is considered to be the easiest welding process to learn because it is relatively inexpensive, versatile and can be used on any sturdy material such as iron and steel.Since it is considered to be the simplest welding process, it is an ideal starting point for beginners. Stick welding is often considered to be the ideal welding method for beginners because the process itself is quite forgiving.
- Inexpensive – The equipment used by stick welders is relatively inexpensive when compared to other welding processes.
Furthermore, the consumable electrodes used to weld with the process are cheap, effective and easy to use.
- Versatile – Stick welders can be utilized in welding applications both indoors and outdoors as well as on thick and thin gauge materials.
- Forgiving – The process leaves behind an eggshell stain that does not need being chipped off like other processes. Additionally, the slag and excess spatter created by the process is manageable and does not have to be skimmed away.