Welding
Welding amperage charts, tungsten electrode selection, shielding gas mixtures, filler rod cross-reference, and weld symbol guides.
5 tools available
Welding tools collect the settings and reference data that determine a sound weld: amperage by material thickness, tungsten electrode selection for TIG, shielding-gas mixtures, filler-rod cross-reference, and weld-symbol guides. They put the numbers a welder needs to dial in a machine — and verify a drawing — in one place.
Good welds live and die by heat input. Too little amperage and the weld lacks penetration; too much and you burn through or distort the part. The right current depends mainly on material type and thickness, with the classic rule of thumb of roughly one amp per thousandth of an inch as a starting point. Process choice matters too — MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-cored each suit different metals, positions, and skill levels. These references help you start close to the right settings and read joint symbols correctly, so there is less trial-and-error on the actual workpiece.
Welding process comparison
| Process | Also called | Best for | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIG | GMAW | Speed, thicker steel, beginners | Easy |
| TIG | GTAW | Precision, thin metal, aluminium | Hard |
| Stick | SMAW | Outdoors, dirty/rusty metal | Medium |
| Flux-cored | FCAW | Thick steel, windy conditions | Easy |
A common starting point is ~1 amp per 0.001″ of mild-steel thickness — then adjust for joint, position, and penetration.