Types of Welding Beads: A Beginner’s Guide

Last Updated: September 11, 2022 by Louis Sham

Introduction

Welding is an important skill that many people need to master. Welders use a variety of tools and techniques to join metals together. There are three main types of welding: stick welding, TIG welding, and MIG welding. Each type of welding requires a different type of bead

Welding beads come in many different types with different benefits. Understanding the types of welding beads can help you choose the best one for your welding process. TIG welding beads are made of a wire that is covered in a substance that makes it heat up quickly. This bead is ideal for welding thin pieces of metal. Stick welding beads are made of a wire that is covered in a substance that makes it stick to the metal. This bead is perfect for welding larger pieces of metal.

In this post, we will examine the types of welding beads that are used in the three main welding processes (TIG, Stick, and MIG). You will be able to determine what type of bead will work for your specific project by learning about different types of beads.

Welding problems caused by bead profiles that don’t match the welding process, inadequate fusion, bad wire delivery or too much porosity include frequent weld spatter, poor penetration, and excessive heat.

Welding arcs can be adversely affected by various causes, including wire feed stoppages and malfunctioning wire feed systems. These causes result in irregularities that may weaken weld beads.

Stick Welding Beads

​What are Stick beads?

Stick welding beads are flux cored, which means that there is a protective layer of flux inside the bead. Flux is an alloy of metals that help to protect the weld from rusting and other environmental factors. Stick beads are used for joining metals together. These beads are usually made out of copper or bronze and are heated to melting temperature. Once melted, these beads are placed between the two pieces of material and then pressed together. This creates an extremely strong bond and prevents any movements between the two pieces of materials.

The main advantage of stick welding is that it allows for quick assembly of large structures. It also helps reduce the weight of the structure which makes it easier to transport.

Stick welding is an effective method for joining metal parts together. It is fast, easy to use, and requires minimal equipment. It is often used when assembling large structures, such as ships, bridges, and buildings. Stick welding is also useful for making repairs to existing structures.

Cellulose stick rods (ie. 6010s and 7010s) must be run with a specific whip and pause technique in order to avoid damaging the rod. When running the rod, hold the handle close to your body with your dominant hand, and use your non-dominant hand to whip the rod in a arc across your body. Pause for a split second before whipping the rod again.

TIG Welding Beads

​What are TIG beads?

​TIG beads are Stick beads that are specifically made for TIG welding. They have a flux core that helps to protect the weld from corrosion and from the elements.

TIG Welding Beads are used to join parts in welding. They are heated until they glow and then inserted into the welding joint to create a strong weld. TIG welding beads are not like regular welding beads because they are designed to be used in a TIG welding machine.

There is a “stack of dime” look to TIG welding beads.

Weld appearance is greatly affected by the timing of the filler metal dabs.

The stack-of-dimes look is not always present in TIG welding beads.

Walking the cup is sometimes done by welders.

It is possible to use multiple filler rods at the same time when TIG welding beads are used.

Beads used in TIG welding often have a weave pattern.

Beautiful welds can be achieved using TIG welding beads.

To achieve maximum weld bead control when welding outside of position (vertical, horizontal, overhead welding), keep the weld pool small and use the smallest wire diameter you can.

MIG Beads

MIG welding is a method of joining metals using an inert gas shield. The shielding gas is generally argon or helium. The gas is heated to about 2000 degrees Celsius and then directed towards the compound. The heat causes the metal to melt and melt. Molten metal is drawn through the joint by a wire electrode. The wire is connected to a high frequency generator. The current passes through the wire and heats it up. The heat melts the tip of the wire, creating a small puddle of molten metal. The wire is pulled through the connection, creating a bead of molten metal. The pearl cools rapidly and solidifies. The thread is then pulled away from the joint and another bead is formed. The process continues until all connections are connected.

MIG welding wire is traditionally made of copper and zinc alloys. These metals are prone to catching fire during welding. Flux cored wire is a type of welding wire that is coated with a layer of flux. This coating helps prevent the metal from burning during welding. Flux-cored wire is also more stable during welding because it doesn’t melt like regular welding wire.

A good MIG weld can be created in a variety of ways because there are so many techniques for doing so. There are those who prefer to push the puddle, and there are those who prefer to pull it. The strength of pushing versus pulling has always been disputed. The user isn’t forced to drag the puddle with hardwire MIG because there’s no flux coating.

The majority of MIG welders won’t weave or use any type of pattern. In this case, they will simply run a straight stringer bead.

Flux Cored MIG Beads

A flux core MIG weld forms a bead by using a small amount of filler wire. In addition to joining thin materials like aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, titanium, and others, flux core MIG welding is often used to join thin materials like stainless steel. Flux cores are made of materials that melt at lower temperatures than base metals. A bead forms around the base metal when the wire melts. A flow of molten metal flows down the joint’s sides. Prior to cooling, the filler wire is melted away.

​What are flux cored beads?

​Flux cored beads are Stick beads that have a flux core. The flux core helps to protect the weld from corrosion and from the elements.

Flux Cored MIG Beads are an alternative to traditional MIG welding wire. They are made of a flux-cored wire core covered in a heat-resistant polymer sheath. This combination makes flux cored wire less likely to catch fire and more stable when welding.

The flux core MIG process (especially dual shield MIG) can deposit a large amount of filler in a short period of time. Beads with flux cores are usually strung by simple stringers. It will usually be necessary to weave a horizontal flux cored weld in order to manage the puddle. Your welding will be free of drips if you use a flux-cored bead. In this case, the molten metal drips onto the floor because the weld gets too hot.

What causes a convex weld?

Convex welds are caused by too low a welding current. Increasing the welding current will cause the arc to become hotter, which will increase the amount of heat transferred to the base metal. This will cause the molten metal to flow more easily, resulting in a smoother weld.. Generally, they occur when the welding parameters for the material are too cold. You can avoid creating a convex weld bead by increasing the voltage on the welding power source.

Conclusion

There are three main types of welding beads: stick beads, flux cores, and tig beads. Each type has different advantages and disadvantages. Stick beads are best suited for welding thicker materials, while flux cored welds are great for welding in hard-to-reach areas. TIG beads are the most versatile, and can be used to weld both thin and thick metals, making them the perfect choice for most jobs.