Top Skills for All Welders

As a tradesman, perfecting and developing your skills is critical to your craft. While all welding involves the fusion of materials, there are several different types of welding procedures. Depending on the type of welding the tradesman performs, certain skills become more imperative than others. Whether you are a MIG welder, a TIG welder, a shielded metal arc welder, or a flux-cored arc welder, there are several skills that you can improve that can greatly benefit your craft.

Welding Procedures

Although all welders specialize in the fusion of materials, there are several different welding procedures. While all welders can greatly benefit from developing their skills, you may want to first consider what type of welding you will be performing. Some skills are more beneficial to certain types of welding procedures. While there are many different welding procedures, there are four common ones, including MIG welding, TIG welding, shielded metal arc welding, and flux-cored arc welding.

As each welding procedure features a variety of unique characteristics, they also entail different skill requirements. MIG welding, also known as the metal inert gas, is a style of welding that uses shielded gas along the wire electrode. As a MIG welder, it is imperative that you know how to safely and efficiently operate a MIG welder. Additionally, MIG welding requires strength, stamina, and dexterity. A TIG welder uses a much more complex and time-consuming welding process. This arc welding process uses a tungsten electrode to weld together materials. TIG welding requires welders to be knowledgeable about all equipment, processes, and materials related to a TIG welder. In addition to being knowledgeable, TIG welders should be able to read blueprints and schematics and have proficient math skills.

Welding Types

Shielded metal arc welding is a type of welding that uses the manual process of stick welding. With this particular form of welding, the welder uses a stick to create an electric arc to weld together materials. As with many other forms of welding, stick welding requires strength, stamina, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and steady hands. The last popular welding process is flux-cored arc welding. This semi-automatic weld is most used in construction projects, as it is known for its high speed and portability. In addition to requiring strength, stamina, and dexterity, flux-cored arc welding requires great attention to detail and technical skills. 

Although TIG, MIG, shielded metal arc welding and fluxed cored arc welding are different types of welding, there are a variety of machines that can be used regardless of the type of welding you are looking to perform. While some machines are designed to efficiently weld depending on the process a welder is using, a multi-process welder can be used in each of the aforementioned processes. Additionally, there is a wide array of benefits to using a multi-process welder; including its versatility. As a welder, you may also want to become familiar with using a plasma cutter. A plasma cutter is also used for welding purposes, as it can precisely cut materials in preparation for welding projects.