A Guide to the 4 Types of Welding and Their Uses

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Learn the differences between MIG vs. TIG vs. stick vs. flux-cored arc welding

Co-authored by Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: February 10, 2026 Fact Checked

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• MIG
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• TIG
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• Stick
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• Flux-Cored Arc
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• Differences Between Welding Types
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• FAQs
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• Video

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There are four main types of welding, each with its own processes and applications. In this article, we’ll cover each type: MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-cored arc. Plus, break down their skill levels, equipment, advantages, disadvantages, and the differences between each welding type. We also interviewed welding experts at Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company for advice on which type is suitable for beginners and what protective equipment you need to stay safe when working on your projects!

What are the 4 main types of welding?

• MIG welding: Uses a continuously fed wire electrode fed through a gun with a shielding gas to join metal workpieces.
• TIG welding: Uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode with a separate filler and shielding gas to produce clean welds.
• Stick welding: Uses a consumable electrode coated in flux to create its own shielding gas and slag, ideal for outdoor welding.
• Flux-cored arc welding: Uses a flux-filled tubular electrode, with or without shielding gas, to produce a strong, deep-penetrating weld.

Steps

Section 1 of 6:

MIG Welding

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1. 
   MIG welding is versatile, high-speed, and easy to learn. Also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW), “MIG (metal inert gas) welding uses a consumable wire electrode and a shielding gas, making it suitable for various materials and thicknesses,” according to Jones Welding & Industrial Supply. The consumable wire electrode is fed automatically through a welding gun, which melts to join the base metals. A shielding gas (usually argon or carbon dioxide) flows alongside the wire to protect the weld pool from contamination, resulting in strong, clean welds.

   • Skill level: “It’s often recommended for beginners, as it is relatively easy to learn and provides good control over the welding process,” according to Jones Welding & Industrial Supply.
   • Equipment: MIG welder, MIG wire, welding gun, shielding gas, group clamp, and cable.
   • Advantages: Easy to learn and use; continuous wire feed reduces start-and-stop time; and extremely versatile (can join a wide range of metals and thicknesses).
   • Disadvantages: High initial costs; limited positions; sensitive to wind (unsuitable for outdoor welding); and can produce significant spatter (requires extra cleanup).
   • Best uses and projects: Ideal for high-speed, high-productivity applications that require strong, clean welds, such as automotive repair, construction, and shipbuilding. Depending on your skill level, you could try DIY projects, such as welding carts, tables, fire pits, and metal art.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company is based in Albany, Georgia. The company has been in operation for 47 years and is known for providing quality welding and industrial supplies and gases in the southeastern United States.
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Section 2 of 6:

TIG Welding

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1. 
   TIG welding results in clean, precise, and strong welds. Also called gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding uses an electric arc between a tungsten electrode and the workpiece to weld two pieces of metal together. Intense heat from the arc melts the puddle and keeps it molten until enough material is deposited at the joint to form a strong bond. In the meantime, a shielding gas (usually argon) protects the weld area from contamination.

   • Skill level: Considered a high-skill, precise welding technique that requires a lot of practice and hand-eye coordination to master.
   • Equipment: TIG welder, TIG torch, tungsten electrodes, shielding gas and regulator, foot pedal, filler rods, ground clamp, and cable.
   • Advantages: “TIG welding provides precise control over the welding process and produces high-quality welds,” according to Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company. It doesn’t require flux and can be used on a wide range of metals, including aluminum.
   • Disadvantages: Slow and skill-intensive; expensive equipment; susceptible to contaminants on the base or filler metal; and not the most efficient for thick materials or heavy-duty applications.
   • Best uses and projects: Produces strong, clean welds with minimal spatter, making it ideal for aerospace, automotive, food processing, and artistic metalwork. Depending on your skill level, you could make bicycle frames, small engine parts, bumpers, or outdoor planters.

Section 3 of 6:

Stick Welding

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1. 
   Stick welding is a versatile, portable process that’s suited for outdoor use. It’s also known as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and is a popular welding process because it doesn’t require an external shielding gas. The process involves using an electric current to create an arc between a consumable, flux-coated metal rod and the workpiece. The intense heat melts the base metal and the rod, creating a molten pool, while the melting flux forms a shielding gas and slag that protects the weld from contamination.

   • Skill level: Considered more difficult than MIG welding, requiring stamina, strength, dexterity, steady hands, and good hand-eye coordination.
   • Equipment: A DC or AC welder, welding cable, electrode holder, ground clamp and cable, electrodes (consumable welding rods), chipping hammer, and wire brush.
   • Advantages: Low equipment cost; portable; suitable for outdoor welding; no external shielding gas required; easy to change rods for different metals; and less sensitive to paint and corrosion at the weld point.
   • Disadvantages: Slower and more complex than other welding methods; difficult to weld thinner metals; welding rods must be replaced more frequently; time-consuming to chip away slag formed during the weld; and can result in excessive porosity.
   • Best uses and projects: Ideal for thick, structural, or outdoor items, especially on dirty or rusty steel. Depending on your skill level, you could make a fire pit, a metal garden gate, heavy-duty shelving, stools, or farm equipment repairs.
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Section 4 of 6:

Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

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1. 
   Flux-cored arc welding is a productive process for deep-penetration welds. This process involves feeding a flux-filled wire, creating an electric arc that melts the wire and base metal. The flux inside vaporizes, while the wire inside acts as filler metal. There are two types of flux-cored arc welding (FCAW): self-shielded (FCAW-S) and gas-shielded (FCAW-G). The former uses flux inside the wire to create its own shielding gas, while the latter uses external gas alongside the flux.

   • Skill level: Good for beginner and intermediate welders; in addition to stamina, strength, and dexterity, it requires meticulous attention to detail and technical expertise.
   • Equipment: A FCAW welder, shielding gas (for FCAW-G), flux-cored electrode wire, wire feeder, welding gun and cable, clamp, angle grinder, and metal brush.
   • Advantages: High speed and productivity (due to faster deposition rates); suitable for outdoor welding; and supports welds that need deep penetration.
   • Disadvantages: Produces more spatter and smoke/fumes; generates slag on top of the weld that requires additional cleanup; and is unsuitable for thin materials (due to high heat input).
   • Best uses and projects: Ideal for heavy-duty applications and for repairing dirty, rusted materials, especially in windy outdoor environments. Depending on your skill level, you could weld large beams, columns, fire pits, trailers, and metal furniture, or repair heavy farming equipment, like tractors, cranes, and buckets.

Section 5 of 6:

Differences Between Welding Types

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1. 
   1
   MIG vs TIG welding MIG uses a continuous, consumable wire electrode, while TIG uses a non-consumable, tungsten electrode. Additionally, MIG automatically feeds wire into the weld pool, whereas TIG requires the welder to manually add filler rod with one hand while controlling the torch with the other. MIG welding is also much faster and better suited to high-volume production, whereas TIG welding is slower and more precise.

   • TIG welding is better suited to thinner, more delicate materials, while MIG is better suited for thicker materials.
   • TIG offers higher precision and control, producing cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing welds. MIG welds tend to be slightly less visually appealing.
2. 
   2
   MIG vs stick welding MIG welding uses a wire gun that feeds a solid electrode and shielding gas, while stick welding uses a consumable electrode coated in flux that creates its own shielding gas when burned. MIG welding is also faster, cleaner, and better suited to thinner metals than stick welding. Plus, it’s easier to learn and has minimal cleanup.

   • Stick welding, on the other hand, is better suited to thick, dirty, or rusty metals. The equipment doesn’t cost as much as MIG welding, and it works well in wind and rain. If you plan to weld outdoors, you should use stick welding.
3. 
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   MIG vs flux-cored arc welding MIG requires a separate cylinder of shielding gas, while flux-cored uses a flux-filled wire that creates its own shielding gas. MIG welding is also better suited to thinner metals and produces cleaner welds with minimal spatter. Flux-cored arc welding is better suited to thicker metals and produces more slag and spatter, requiring additional cleanup. That said, flux-cored arc welding is good for windy, outdoor conditions, unlike MIG.

   • MIG usually runs on DC positive, while flux-cored arc welding runs on DC negative.
   • Flux-cored arc welding is also more versatile than MIG welding, as it can weld through rust, dirt, and paint more effectively.
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Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. 1
   How many types of welding are there? There are over 30 welding processes, but the four main types are MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-cored arc welding. Outside those four types are submerged arc, plasma arc, laser beam, oxyacetylene, atomic hydrogen, and electroslag welding.

   • Welding processes are generally categorized by the heat source used, such as arc, gas, or solid-state.
2. 2
   What protective equipment do you need when welding? According to Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company, you should “always wear a welding helmet with a properly shaded lens to protect your eyes from the intense light, and use flame-resistant clothing, gloves, and a welding apron to protect your skin from sparks and molten metal.” Additionally, “welding produces harmful fumes and gases, so be sure to work in a well-ventilated area or use exhaust fans to remove the fumes.”

   • If ventilation is insufficient, “consider using a respirator,” advises Jones Welding & Industrial Supply Company.
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