Stick welding -Shielded Metal Arc Welding- has been the dominant method of welding for years. Stick welding involves a metal stick that is charged to create a high-temperature arc. The welding stick and the metal form joints through an electric current.
Although other types of welding, such as MIG, have grown in popularity, stick welding remains one of the most used forms because of how user-friendly it is.
From ranch owners to home-shop welders and everything in between, stick welding provides an unmatched experience.
Here are some benefits to stick welding:
No Shielding Gas Required
When air gets into the arc during a weld, air bubbles form in the molten metal, creating a weak and unappealing weld. One of the most prominent benefits to stick welding is that no shielding gas is required. Unlike TIG or MIG, stick welders don’t need to worry about carrying around cylinders of shielding gas. The electrodes from stick welding generate their own shielding gas, as the arc burns off the coating. The flux coating on the electrode disintegrates during the welding process, which emits vapors that protect the weld from atmospheric contamination.
Cost-Effective
This method of welding doesn’t require many tools. Welders only need to have leads wherever the weld needs to be done. This makes the equipment much more affordable.
It is also extremely easy to change or replace rods to weld specific types of metal. Compared to even the most basic MIG welding tools, stick welding is significantly less expensive to operate and maintain.
Versatile Applications
Stick welding can be used on a wide variety of metals. This allows for many projects to be done through this form of welding. Welders can incorporate metals such as steel, iron, aluminum, copper, and nickel. Stick welding also allows for an array of electrode choices, meaning welders have plenty of application choices to create. This can be anything from smooth welds, greater penetration, burning rust, downhill welding, and much more.
Works In Various Locations
Any welder can understand how significant environmental factors can be. When MIG welding, as little as 3 MPH will be enough to blow your shielding glass away and produce porosity. Fortunately, the wind does not affect the weld pool in stick welding. This allows for welders to be able to perform simple outdoor welding tasks easily such as fixing a fence, or a rancher to tweak a piece on his tractor. Additionally, welders can take stick welding indoors and complete a project in confined spaces.
As a stick welder, more efficiency and skill are required, but the results are worth it. These benefits are the reason why stick welding has remained a prominent method in welding.
You don’t need to be a welding professional to take advantage of stick welding. Having a Welder Generator allows you to take your projects anywhere. Ideal for construction sites, ranches, or any job that requires welding off the grid, Tomahawk Welder Generators are perfect for Arc, Stick, MMA, TIG welding.
