https://weldbase.au Independent Australian welding knowledge base: every process explained, every machine category priced, every common question answered. Compare welders and request quotes from Australian suppliers. en-au https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-stick-welding-outdoors/https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-stick-welding-outdoors/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes — that's stick's superpower. The rod's flux generates its own shield right at the arc, so wind, rust and paint barely matter. It's the Australian site and farm standard for exactly this reason.… https://weldbase.au/qa/common-stick-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/https://weldbase.au/qa/common-stick-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe most common stick welding mistakes: arc too long; dragging too fast, leaving thin, weak, undercut beads; not chipping and brushing slag between multi-passes. Each traces to setup or technique basics — fix those first and the process behaves.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-stick-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-stick-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTA 250 A stick inverter welds 10 mm+ plate with 4 mm rods and multi-pass; a 120 A entry unit tops out around 4–5 mm with 2.6 mm rods.… https://weldbase.au/qa/why-does-stick-welding-not-need-gas/https://weldbase.au/qa/why-does-stick-welding-not-need-gas/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTStick welding needs no bottled gas — the flux coating on the rod burns into shielding gas and slag as it welds.… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-stick-welding-to-learn/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-stick-welding-to-learn/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTExpect a week of ugly beads before it clicks.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-stick-welding-used-for/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-stick-welding-used-for/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTStick welding is used for outdoor and site work, thick steel, dirty or rusty metal, wind and structural repairs. In Australian terms: site structural work, farm repairs and anything rusty outdoors.… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-stick-welding-work/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-stick-welding-work/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTStick welding (MMAW/SMAW — Manual Metal Arc Welding): a flux-coated consumable electrode burns under its own shielding gas, with slag chipped off after. It's the process most Australian workshops default to for general steel fabrication.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-settings-for-3-mm-steel-on-tig/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-settings-for-3-mm-steel-on-tig/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTFor 3 mm mild steel on TIG: 90–130 A DCEN with a 2.4 mm tungsten and 2.4 mm filler — enough to establish the pool fast and travel before the heat spreads.… https://weldbase.au/qa/push-or-pull-which-technique-for-tig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/push-or-pull-which-technique-for-tig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMostly neutral to a slight push (10–15°). The rule that matters more: keep the tungsten 2–3 mm off the work and feed rod into the pool's leading edge — never let filler touch the tungsten.… https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-tig-welding-outdoors/https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-tig-welding-outdoors/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTNot practically: TIG's gentle argon shield is even more wind-sensitive than MIG. TIG belongs indoors or fully screened.… https://weldbase.au/qa/common-tig-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/https://weldbase.au/qa/common-tig-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe most common tig welding mistakes: dipping the tungsten into the pool; too much torch angle: 10–15° from vertical is plenty; forgetten post-flow gas: tungsten oxidises and turns black as it cools. Each traces to setup or technique basics — fix tho… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-tig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-tig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTIG welds from 0.5 mm foil up to 6 mm comfortably with the right tungsten and current; thicker sections need multi-pass or bevelled prep like any process.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-does-tig-welding-use/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-does-tig-welding-use/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTIG welding uses pure argon (100%).… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-tig-welding-to-learn/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-tig-welding-to-learn/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTExpect a week of ugly beads before it clicks.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-tig-welding-used-for/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-tig-welding-used-for/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTIG welding is used for stainless steel, aluminium, thin material and visible/structural quality welds. In Australian terms: stainless benches, food-grade gear, aluminium boat and 4x4 work, and anything visible.… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-tig-welding-work/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-tig-welding-work/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTTIG welding (GTAW — Gas Tungsten Arc Welding): a non-consumable tungsten electrode arcs under pure argon while you hand-feed filler rod. It's the quality benchmark where appearance, control or exotic metals matter.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-settings-for-3-mm-steel-on-mig/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-settings-for-3-mm-steel-on-mig/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTFor 3 mm mild steel on MIG: roughly 110–150 A on 0.9 mm wire at 12–15 L/min gas — set voltage and wire speed as a pair, watching for a consistent crackle, not a spattery hiss.… https://weldbase.au/qa/push-or-pull-which-technique-for-mig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/push-or-pull-which-technique-for-mig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTPush (torch angled 5–15° toward travel) for better visibility and a flatter bead on thin material; pull for deeper penetration on thicker steel. Gasless flux-core is the exception — always drag it, like stick, so slag forms behind the pool.… https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-mig-welding-outdoors/https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-do-mig-welding-outdoors/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTOnly with shelter: any breeze over ~8 km/h blows the argon shield away and the weld goes porous. For real outdoor work, switch to flux-core or stick — or rig proper windbreak screens.… https://weldbase.au/qa/common-mig-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/https://weldbase.au/qa/common-mig-welding-mistakes-and-how-to-fix-them/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe most common mig welding mistakes: stick-out too long; travel too slow on thin sheet, burning holes instead of building a bead; wrong wire size for the job. Each traces to setup or technique basics — fix those first and the process behaves.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-mig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-thickness-can-you-weld-with-mig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTA 180 A hobby MIG welds to about 6 mm properly in a single pass; 200 A+ machines handle 10 mm+ with prep and multi-pass. Under 1 mm needs care and 0.6 mm wire.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-does-mig-welding-use/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-does-mig-welding-use/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMIG welding uses an argon-CO2 mix (Argoshield-family) or 100% CO2.… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-mig-welding-to-learn/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-hard-is-mig-welding-to-learn/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMIG welding is the easiest process to learn. Expect same-day usable beads.… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-mig-welding-used-for/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-mig-welding-used-for/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMIG welding is used for beginners, speed, sheet steel, general fabrication and trailers and gates. In Australian terms: trailers, gates, general fabrication shops and home workshops.… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-mig-welding-work/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-does-mig-welding-work/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMIG welding (GMAW — Gas Metal Arc Welding): a continuously fed wire electrode melts into the weld pool under an argon-CO2 shield. It's the process most Australian workshops default to for general steel fabrication.… https://weldbase.au/qa/mig-or-stick-which-should-i-learn-first/https://weldbase.au/qa/mig-or-stick-which-should-i-learn-first/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTLearn MIG first if you'll weld mostly indoors on clean steel; learn stick first if your work is outdoors, on farms, or on thick dirty metal. MIG builds fundamentals fastest; stick builds the harder, more portable skill. Most Australians end up needin… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-do-i-get-a-welding-ticket-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-do-i-get-a-welding-ticket-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTBook an assessment with an authorised examiner, pay the fee (typically $500–$1,500 depending on class), and pass a practical test welding the position and process you're being certified for under AS 1796. Tickets are skills tests, not courses — most … https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-weld-aluminium-with-a-mig-welder/https://weldbase.au/qa/can-you-weld-aluminium-with-a-mig-welder/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes, with two conditions: the machine supports a spool gun or has an aluminium-capable drive, and you use 100% argon with aluminium wire (ER4043 or ER5356). Soft aluminium wire jams in long conventional MIG torch liners — that's what the spool gun so… https://weldbase.au/qa/is-gasless-mig-actually-any-good/https://weldbase.au/qa/is-gasless-mig-actually-any-good/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes — self-shielded flux-core is a legitimately good process for the right jobs: outdoor and windy work, dirty or painted steel, and farm repairs. It welds deeper than gas MIG for the same amps. The trade-offs are spatter, slag to chip, and smoke — i… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-the-difference-between-mig-and-tig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-the-difference-between-mig-and-tig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMIG feeds a consumable wire automatically — fast, easy, the go-to for steel fabrication. TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode while you hand-feed rod — slower and much harder, but delivers precise, beautiful welds on thin material, stainless … https://weldbase.au/qa/how-much-do-welders-earn-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-much-do-welders-earn-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTWelders in Australia typically earn $70,000–$110,000 a year: around $30–$40/hr base for tradesmen, more with tickets, overtime and shutdown work. FIFO and pressure-pipe welders commonly clear $130,000–$180,000+, while first-year apprentices start nea… https://weldbase.au/qa/do-i-need-a-licence-to-weld-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/do-i-need-a-licence-to-weld-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTFor your own projects, farm repairs and most hobby work: no licence exists — welding itself is unregulated. What's regulated is the work: structural, pressure and boiler welding generally requires certified welders (AS 1796 tickets) working under qua… https://weldbase.au/qa/can-i-run-a-welder-off-a-normal-power-point/https://weldbase.au/qa/can-i-run-a-welder-off-a-normal-power-point/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes up to a point: any 10 A-rated welder runs from a standard Australian power point — that covers most machines up to about 180 A claimed output. Machines rated 15 A need a 15 A outlet (a different, larger plug), and three-phase machines need an ind… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-do-i-need-for-mig-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-gas-do-i-need-for-mig-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTFor MIG welding mild steel in Australia use an argon–CO2 mix — 92/8 (Argoshield-style) is the standard. 100% CO2 is the budget alternative with more spatter. For MIG on aluminium or stainless you need straight argon or a specialist mix respectively.… https://weldbase.au/qa/why-do-welders-drink-milk-after-welding/https://weldbase.au/qa/why-do-welders-drink-milk-after-welding/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMilk does nothing to protect you from welding fume — that's a myth with no clinical basis. It dates from the idea that calcium 'binds' toxins. The real fix for fume exposure, including zinc from galvanised steel, is ventilation, extraction and the ri… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-thick-can-a-handheld-laser-welder-weld/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-thick-can-a-handheld-laser-welder-weld/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTMost handheld fiber lasers weld steel comfortably to 4–6 mm in a single pass: 1,500 W handles ~4 mm well, 2,000 W pushes toward 5–6 mm, and 3,000 W machines reach ~8 mm with wire. Beyond that, multi-pass or a traditional arc process wins — lasers tra… https://weldbase.au/qa/how-much-does-a-laser-welder-cost-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/how-much-does-a-laser-welder-cost-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHandheld laser welders in Australia cost from about $4,600 for imported 1,500 W eBay-class units to $33,000 for branded 3 kW industrial systems. The serious-use sweet spot — 1,200–2,000 W from a supplier with local service — sits between $12,000 and … https://weldbase.au/qa/are-laser-welders-legal-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/are-laser-welders-legal-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes — handheld laser welders are legal to buy, own and use in Australia. They are Class 4 laser products, so suppliers must import them compliantly, and workplaces must manage the radiation risk under work health and safety law: rated eyewear, contro… https://weldbase.au/qa/do-cheap-welding-machines-work/https://weldbase.au/qa/do-cheap-welding-machines-work/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTYes — cheap inverters genuinely weld. A $150 stick box or $200 gasless MIG lays real beads, and for occasional fence repairs they're rational buys. What you lose is duty cycle, arc quality at the edges, consumable availability and lifespan under dail… https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-the-best-welder-for-a-beginner-in-australia/https://weldbase.au/qa/what-is-the-best-welder-for-a-beginner-in-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTA 135–180 A multi-process inverter around $400–$800 is the best first welder for most Australians: it MIGs and sticks from a standard power point, with lift TIG for later. The UNIMIG Viper Multi 135 ($399) and Cigweld BlueVenom XF-series are the cate… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-price-index-methodology/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-price-index-methodology/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow the WeldBase Australian welding machine price index is built: sources, observation rules, refresh cadence, GST treatment and how to cite the data.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welder-career-salary-australia/https://weldbase.au/guides/welder-career-salary-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTWelder pay in Australia 2026: award rates to FIFO packages by segment, the ticket ladder that raises the ceiling, job market outlook, and how laser-welding skills change the maths.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-standards-australia/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-standards-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTAS/NZS 1554, AS 1674, AS 1796 and AS 2214 explained in plain English: what each governs, when certification is legally required, and how the ticket system works.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-gases-explained/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-gases-explained/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTAustralian welding gas explained: argon vs argon-CO2 mixes vs 100% CO2, flows by process, bottle sizes and hire economics, and never-rules that protect your welds and equipment.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-safety/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-safety/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTWelding safety in Australia: PPE standards, fume hazards by material (including hexavalent chromium and zinc), fire watch routines, electrical safety and cylinder handling — to AS 1674 practice.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-for-beginners-australia/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-for-beginners-australia/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to start welding in Australia: what process to learn first, what machine and safety kit to buy on a real budget, where to practice, and the path from first bead to first project.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-galvanised/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-galvanised/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTWelding galvanised steel safely: zinc fume risks and ventilation, grinding the coating back, process and settings choices, and why metal fume fever is a warning, not a rite of passage.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-cast-iron/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-cast-iron/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to weld cast iron without re-cracking it: nickel filler, preheat, short staggered beads, peening, and slow cooling — the full repair method for Australian machinery and heritage castings.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-aluminium/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-aluminium/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to weld aluminium in Australia: why the oxide layer rules everything, AC TIG settings, spool-gun MIG setups, ER4043 vs ER5356 filler, and the fast-travel technique that prevents blow-through.… https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-stainless/https://weldbase.au/guides/welding-stainless/Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow to weld stainless steel: gas choices, ER308L vs ER316L filler, sugaring and purge, distortion control, and the contamination mistakes that rust later.…