Basics & process choice
Which welding process should I learn first?
Quick answer
Learn MIG first — it's the fastest path to competent beads and teaches puddle reading that transfers everywhere. Learn stick first only if your work is outdoors on farms and site steel. TIG first is a mistake for most: it's the piano of welding and rewards prior arc time.
Decision shortcuts
| You mostly weld… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Indoors, steel, general | MIG |
| Outdoors, repairs, thick steel | Stick / gasless flux-core |
| Stainless, thin ally, cosmetics | MIG basics → TIG quickly |
| Production speed (business) | MIG, then laser awareness |