What Is Welding, Anyway?
• Welding is the joining of two or more materials through heat or heat and pressure, forming a
bond between two pieces of metal.
• Steel melts at 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A popular form of welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), uses a consumable wire
electrode. GMAW is common in high-production manufacturing and construction. Welding a
frame for a chopper would require this MIG welding.
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to make high-
precision welds. GTAW is common in the aerospace, nuclear, and food industries. It is also
called TIG welding, (melting together high alloy thin materials, such as stainless steel and
titanium) puts little heat into the material causing less distortion.
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) uses flux-covered electrodes. Often called “stick” or
“stick-electrode” welding, SMAW is a frequent choice for repair and occasional welding.
• Still another welding method, Resistance Welding, uses electrical resistance and pressure to
fuse metals, instead of an arc.


• Welding is the joining of two or more materials through heat or heat and pressure, forming a
bond between two pieces of metal.
• Steel melts at 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A popular form of welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), uses a consumable wire
electrode. GMAW is common in high-production manufacturing and construction. Welding a
frame for a chopper would require this MIG welding.
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to make high-
precision welds. GTAW is common in the aerospace, nuclear, and food industries. It is also
called TIG welding, (melting together high alloy thin materials, such as stainless steel and
titanium) puts little heat into the material causing less distortion.
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) uses flux-covered electrodes. Often called “stick” or
“stick-electrode” welding, SMAW is a frequent choice for repair and occasional welding.
• Still another welding method, Resistance Welding, uses electrical resistance and pressure to
fuse metals, instead of an arc.