Is owning a stick welder still important? Part 1

A lot of people are looking for their first new welder when they come to Everlast. We often answer the questions about which welder should they get first. When a stick welder is mentioned as a possible solution, you can often hear the crickets in the background. For some reason people are scared of stick welding and feel that it really limits their welding capability. Whether this idea has been encouraged by buddies wanting their friend to over spend for selfish reasons (i.e. needing to borrow it) or by social media opinions, it seems that the capability and suitability of stick welding is often discounted. But if you are serious about getting into welding, stick welding may very well be the welding process you need to consider. First, don’t feel that stick is going to limit your ability to weld the most common metals, including aluminum. It won’t. Steel, stainless and aluminum can all be welded with a stick welder. Although aluminum can be pricey to weld with the stick process and takes a little practice and careful planning, it is possible to weld aluminum 1/8” thick and over successfully. Steel and stainless are commonly welded every day with stick. With electrodes available down to 1/16” in diameter, thickness limitations are really not a problem unless you want to weld the thinnest gauges of sheet metal. With the capability of Everlast stick welders to weld at a minimum of 20 amps (most models), heat can be carefully controlled. Stick also allows you to be able to go about anywhere and weld without having to carry a bunch of extra costly equipment, like regulators, hoses and cylinders.