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Welding & Soldering

Welding & Soldering

MIG, TIG, stick consumables, torches, filler and solder.

Also searched as: welding wiretigmigwelding rodsolderflux

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About welding & soldering

Welding and soldering consumables encompass a range of materials essential for joining metals through heat. MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding) consumables include solid wires, flux-cored wires, and shielding gases such as argon, CO2, or argon/CO2 blends. Wire diameters typically range from 0.023" to 0.062" (0.6mm to 1.6mm), with common alloys like ER70S-6 for mild steel, ER308L for stainless steel, and ER5356 for aluminum. TIG (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) requires non-consumable tungsten electrodes, typically pure, thoriated, ceriated, or lanthanated, with diameters from 0.020" to 0.250" (0.5mm to 6.4mm). Filler rods, available in similar alloys to MIG wires, are fed manually. Stick welding (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) utilizes flux-coated electrodes, classified by AWS standards (e.g., E6010, E7018), indicating tensile strength, position capabilities, and coating type. Solder, used for lower-temperature joining, commonly consists of tin-lead (e.g., Sn60Pb40) or lead-free alloys (e.g., Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5). Flux, either liquid or paste, is critical for cleaning surfaces and preventing oxidation during both soldering and brazing processes. Torches, for both MIG and TIG, are selected based on amperage rating, cooling method (air or water), and ergonomic considerations, with various nozzle and collet body sizes available to accommodate different electrode and wire diameters.

How to choose

Selecting welding and soldering consumables begins with the joining process: MIG, TIG, stick, or soldering. This dictates the primary consumable type. Next, identify the base material to be joined (e.g., mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper) to determine the appropriate filler metal alloy or solder composition. Consider the required mechanical properties of the joint, such as tensile strength, which influences electrode classification (e.g., E7018 vs. E6010) or filler wire alloy. For welding, evaluate the joint configuration and position, as some consumables are position-specific. Finally, match the consumable dimensions (wire diameter, electrode size, solder gauge) to the equipment's capabilities and the desired deposition rate or joint size, ensuring proper fit and performance.