Welding is a skill used to join two objects by melting them together. By joining metals, other mixtures, and composite materials, welding is an essential part of industrial and production processes around the world.
In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that over 460,000 Americans are employed in the welding industry. But, what is the most common type of welding? Surprisingly, according to recent surveys, the most commonly used type of welding is Shielded Metal Arc Welding, otherwise known as Stick Welding.
As of 2020, Stick Welding accounted for 36% of welding jobs in the US, followed by Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) at 33%, and Tungsten Inert Gas welding (TIG) at 20%.
What is the Most Common Type of Welding?
Welding is a process of joining materials by melting and bonding them together. Welding is an essential skill used in many industries and for countless applications.Different kinds of welding use varied methods, materials, and types of equipment. But, what is the most common type of welding?
What is Welding?
Welding is the process of joining two or more materials by heating up the surfaces to melting point and then binding them together with a filler material.Commonly used welding techniques include, stick welding, MIG (metal inert gas) welding, TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, gas welding, and resistance welding.
Types of Welding
MIG (Metal Inert Gas) or wire welding is the most common type of welding. It is an arc welding method which uses a wire electrode fed from a spool, an electrical arc, and an inert gas to melt the material and join it together.It is a fast, versatile and economical process and can be used on most metals, from the thinnest sheet metals to thick plates.
Arc Welding
Arc welding is another popular type of welding. It is cheaper than other welding methods, versatile and easy-to-learn.In this type of welding, an electrical current is passed through a sticking electrode, which heats up and provides the filler material. Arc welding is used to weld mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum and cast iron.