Although welders use a variety of methods to create a welding process, there are different ways of filling weld gaps and fusing metals that use different kinds of equipment, including welding rods and wires. You might need thin electrodes, non-consumable electrodes or rods for "stick welding."

Whatever your need, you can find welding rods and wires online from distributors who will help you outfit your shop. Business leaders turn to welding suppliers for situations like these:

1. For getting together all of the equipment needed in starting up a new welding process area.

2. To resupply an existing shop where stocks of welding rods and wires are running low.

3. To make changes in equipment to accommodate new, more efficient or safer processes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get wires and electrodes for arc welding

For a lot of arc welding processes, welders use consumable electrodes or wires with metal filler that goes into the weld. Find good welding rod manufacturers of the electrode types you need to get a good bind with metal filler for MIG and other types of arc welding.

I recommend: Get welding rods and wires of a variety of alloys and materials at welding supplier Weld Wire Company in King of Prussia, PA. Browse the online catalog for models and pricing. For more arc welding wires, electrodes and materials including flux-cored types, check out Select-Arc, Inc.

Get tungsten electrodes for TIG welding rod processes

Some kinds of arc welding have a different system for adding filler and need other welding electrode types featuring tungsten, a harder material that does not fill into the weld. Some processes add filler with a separate rod or wire: some don't add filler at all. Get tungsten electrodes online for TIG welding.

I recommend: Get tungsten electrodes and other materials fabricated to specs at Cleveland Tungsten Inc. For more TIG welding rod types and other welding rods and wires from an ISO certified manufacturer, try Saturn Industries.

Get welding rod types for shielded metal arc welding

In shielded metal arc welding or 'stick welding,' the welding rod material goes into the weld. A welding rod is a different kind of gear than an electrode, with more material for filling welds. Get aluminum welding rod buys and other similar materials from welding rod manufacturers and suppliers.

I recommend: Get welding rods with diverse alloys and filler metals at The Welding Warehouse manufactures and distributes materials for shielded metal arc welding, MIG, TIG and more. Tech Metals and Materials LLC. custom manufactures welding rods cobalt, nickel, nickel alloy and "Inconel."

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use caution in setting up the welding process. Welding rod injuries have become so prevalent, workers have a need for a welding rod lawyer that specializes in litigating lax shops with improper safety precautions. Eye injuries or fume injuries are common in welding. Prepare to battle the dangers in your workplace through educated process implementation to protect yourself from welding rod litigation and other threats to the health of staff members.