Welding Basics for Beginners

If you are a new or beginner welder, watch this video to learn about the three most common welding processes — MIG, stick and TIG — including the advantages and disadvantages of each, when it’s best to use each and what material can be used.

Welding is the liquefaction of base metals with heat to fuse them together. There are three basic elements: heat source, filler metal and the shielding gas or flux. The three most common types of welding processes are MIG, stick and TIG. MIG welding is the most common type of welding and it is easier to learn, much cleaner than stick welding and can be used on a variety of material thicknesses. Stick welding is a flux process, so is better suited for outdoor use and with thicker or dirty materials. TIG welding provides the highest quality weld, both cleaner and more esthetically pleasing.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro to welding basics
0:17 What is welding?
0:47 What is MIG welding?
1:15 What is stick welding?
1:59 What is TIG welding?
2:47 What type of welder should you buy?
3:20 What metals should you use with each welder?

For tips on buying your first welder, visit:

For more welding resources, visit:

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Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller® brand arc welding and cutting products. The Miller Welders channel provides the tips and techniques you need to tackle even the most challenging applications, and shares the stories of welders around the world who believe that together, WE BUILD.

[AndrewCloud]

I'm really looking to get into welding. I've never welded anything in my life lol. Thanks this really helped.

[phillipebaccam]

Younger folks. This is awesome i hear you want to get a head start to learning early. Around here not many children are thinking like that. Thank God my children are doing great also. Keep the hard work and life will bring you great things and good people. God bless you all!

[robertgraves]

finally found a video that explains it right from the basics.

[bibahu]

I'm a mum of 3 young kids, 41 years old and i started welding last week with arc welding machine and it's soooo cool!
I really love, even if the beginning is pretty physical and not so easy, after few days i feel more in confidence and i can see my progress!
I also take little time alone for me while welding hehe

[pengu]

Going to trade school for welding. Wish me luck, guys.

[johnklinekurtz]

Thanks for the great video... I am learning from scratch... Here are my notes... Got a couple of question marks in there...
Welding - Liquification of a Base Metal with Heat and then they fuse together.

3 Common Characteristics
1. Heat Source
2. Filler Metal
3. Shielding Gas or Flux

3 Types:
1. MIG
a. Parts
i. Heat - ?
ii. Filler - Electrode on a spool of wire
iii. Uses Shielding Gas
b. Benefits
i. Easier to learn because you preset all your parameters
ii. Much cleaner welds because you don't have any slag process
iii. Can be done with a wide variety of metal thicknesses
iv. Good for in a garage or shop
c. Weldable metals
i. Steel
ii. Stainless steel
iii. Aluminum
2. Stick
a. Parts
i. Heat - ?
ii. Filler - ?
iii. Uses Flux
b. Benefits
i. Can be done outside
ii. Wind does not effect it as much
iii. Works well on thicker metals
iv. More forgiving when welding dirty or rusty metal
v. Great for welding farm equipment
vi. Great for welding gates in your driveway
c. Drawbacks
i. Produces a lot of spatter, vapor and fumes
ii. Welds are not as clean
d. Weldable metals
i. Steel
ii. Stainless steel
iii. Cast iron
3. TIG
a. Parts
i. Heat - ?
ii. Filler - Metal
iii. Gas or Flux - ?
b. Benefits
i. Provides highest quality and precise welds
ii. More pleasing to look at the resulting weld beads
iii. Works great on thin metals
iv. Work on frames like for motorcycles, automobiles, sheet metal
c. Drawbacks
i. Difficult to control because you are controlling all three elements during the process
1) Leg is controlling heat
2) Off hand is controlling your filler metal deposition rate
3) On hand controls non-consumable tungsten electrode that is creating your arc as you move through the bead
ii. Slower process
iii. Requires more skill and practice to master
d. Weldable metals - any metal that can conduct electricity
i. Steel
ii. Stainless steel
iii. Aluminum
iv. Copper
v. Brass
vi. Chromoly
vii. Exotic metals such as magnesium and titanium

What you are going to be doing drives your choice of process.

[freakofnatur]

Ive never welded, i worked in a machine shop.. i now work for a construction company and drive heavy trucks, i know the process i know what it takes to make a strong weld ive just never had a chance to pick up and go with one. Recently had a trailer rack break because the guy who made a repair on it had zero penetration.. the more i see people fail due to poor workmanship the more i want to get into it and run with it just because im tired of seeing things welded and fail.. due to laziness which could cause someone to get seriously hurt.

[TheBillyBoyProductions]

Im learning welding at a tech center next year. I am sophmore in highschool, I am just trying to learn now, so I can get a head start.

[mykaylasamas]

I’m going into trade school for welding in just 2 weeks so excited only ever welded once and loved it ever since.

[adelrayol]

I'm a learner and this is the first video that I watch which makes a better description of both advantages a disadvantages of each process. Great!

[rahdigs]

4 minutes and you led me perfectly in the direction i needed to go!

[Jahsuke]

17 dropped out of high school but got a scholarship through my ged program to learn welding can’t wait to get started

[Noodledarth]

About to weld and been 8 years since highschool class and dropping out half way thru a certification. You jogged my memory instantly. ❤ wish me luck, saving my best friend 300$ welding a trailer tire guard that's hanging off nearly touching the tire

[sensation]

Starting my classes this November, it’s something about welding that really catches my interest. Im stuck doing tech support at my job but I feel like welding is something I would love and make something out of it.

[huevoneousmaximus]

Best beginner video out there. Thank you for keeping it simple, direct, and to the point.

[blurryhm]

Was just offered a beginner job, gonna be taught and trained how too weld, leaving my current job too pursue a career in welding, super excited I’m watching videos so I don’t go in just blank minded, hopefully with the skills and stuff I learn I can take my experience too other places and make a lot more money, being a felon has always steered me away from pursuing a degree and being turned down after having a degree I spent so long on, so I’m super excited too learn a career trait considering I work in a pallet shop now

[chuckkillawood]

Clean presentation, precise knowledge, all in for the series.

[Bone]

i know nothing about welding, or underwater welding (which is what i want to be, an underwater welder) so i figured i should start watching videos like these now, so ill know tons of info on welding when i go to collage. And i figured you probably have to be a welder before you could be an underwater welder. This video helped allot, and i will definitely watching more of these videos!

[kenwade]

I’m going to welding school pretty soon and i’m both excited and nervous to learn. I have no knowledge whatsoever about welding but I am eager to learn. I hear some stories about it being hard and for some it comes natural. I just want to be able to soak in as much information as possible and be the best at it.

[lancethrustworthy]

Thumbs up on the production and post production quality!
People who knew what they were doing were involved.
I might have had the music a bit lower, but it was okay.