List of welding processes


This is a list of welding processes, separated into their respective categories. The associated N reference numbers are specified in ISO 4063. Numbers in parentheses are obsolete and were removed from the current version of ISO 4063. The AWS reference codes of the American Welding Society are commonly used in North America.

Arc welding

Overview article: arc welding
NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Bare Metal Arc WeldingBMAWConsumable electrode, no flux or shielding gasHistorical
Carbon Arc WeldingCAWCarbon electrode, historicalCopper, repair
Flux Cored Arc Welding136
138
FCAW
FCAW-S
Continuous consumable electrode filled with fluxIndustry, construction
Gas Metal Arc Welding131
135
GMAWContinuous consumable electrode and shielding gasIndustry
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding141GTAWNonconsumable electrode, slow, high quality weldsAerospace, Construction, Tool and Die
Plasma Arc Welding15PAWNonconsumable electrode, constricted arcTubing, instrumentation
Shielded Metal Arc Welding111SMAWConsumable electrode covered in flux, can weld any metal as long as they have the right electrodeConstruction, outdoors, maintenance
Submerged Arc Welding121SAWAutomatic, arc submerged in granular flux
Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding185MIABBoth tube ends are electrodes; no protection gas; arc rotates fast along edge by applied magnetic fieldPipelines and tubes
Atomic Hydrogen WeldingAHWTwo metal electrodes in hydrogen atmosphereHistorical

Oxyfuel gas welding

Overview article: Oxy-fuel welding and cutting
NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Air acetylene weldingAAWChemical welding process, not popularLimited
Oxyacetylene welding311OAWCombustion of acetylene with oxygen produces high-temperature flame, inexpensive equipmentMaintenance, repair
Oxygen/Propane welding312Gas welding with oxygen/propane flame
Oxyhydrogen welding313OHWCombustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces flameLimited
Pressure gas weldingPGWGas flames heat surfaces and pressure produces the weldPipe, railroad rails

Resistance welding

Overview article: electric resistance welding
NameNAWSCharacteristicsApplications
Resistance spot welding21RSWTwo pointed electrodes apply pressure and current to two or more thin workpiecesAutomobile industry, Aerospace industry
Resistance seam welding22RSEWTwo wheel-shaped electrodes roll along workpieces, applying pressure and currentAerospace industry, steel drums, tubing
Projection welding23PWSemi-Automatic, Automatic, Welds are localized at predetermined points.
Flash welding24FW
Upset welding25UWButt joint surfaces heated and brought together by force

Solid-state welding

Other types of welding