It's the question we get asked most across the counter. There's no single "best" process — each suits different metals, jobs and budgets. Here's an honest rundown to help you pick the right one, and know what to buy with it.
MIG (MAG) — the easiest all-rounder
MIG feeds a continuous wire through a gun while shielding gas protects the weld. It's the quickest to pick up, lays metal down fast, and handles thin sheet through to thicker structural steel — which is why it's the workhorse of most fabrication shops.
- Best for: general steel fabrication, car bodywork, gates and railings, production work.
- Learning curve: gentle — you'll be running usable beads quickly.
- You'll need: MIG wire in the right diameter, shielding gas (or gasless/flux-cored wire if you weld outdoors), contact tips, shrouds and liners.
Welding outdoors or in a draught? Gasless (flux-cored) wire carries its own shielding and copes with wind that would ruin a gas-shielded weld.
TIG — the precision choice
TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and a separate hand-fed filler rod, giving you fine control and the cleanest, most attractive welds of the three. It's the go-to for stainless and aluminium, and anywhere appearance matters.
- Best for: stainless, aluminium, thin material, exhausts, food-grade and visible welds.
- Learning curve: steepest — both hands are busy and it rewards practice.
- You'll need: tungsten electrodes, TIG filler rods to suit the material, collets and ceramic cups, and pure argon shielding gas.
MMA / stick — simple and rugged
MMA (manual metal arc, or "stick") burns a flux-coated electrode that both adds filler and shields the weld, so there's no gas bottle to lug about. It's tolerant of dirty, rusty and outdoor conditions and brilliant for repairs and heavy work.
- Best for: outdoor and site work, thicker steel, repairs, agricultural and structural jobs.
- Learning curve: moderate — striking and holding an arc takes a little practice.
- You'll need: the right stick electrodes for the metal and position, and somewhere dry to store them (see our storage guide).
Quick steer: Want easy and versatile for steel? MIG. Welding stainless or aluminium, or want it to look immaculate? TIG. Working outdoors, on site or on heavy/rusty steel? MMA (or gasless MIG).
Tell us the job, not just the process
The best buying decision comes from the job in front of you. Tell us what you're welding, how thick it is, whether it's indoors or out, and how it needs to look — and we'll match you to the process, the consumables and the gas. That's what the counter's for.