Welding Equipment

Minneapolis Oxygen carries a variety of quality welding and cutting equipment for all welding processes from trusted manufacturers nationwide. Our trained experts are available to help you decide which products best suit your need and provide the necessary knowledge required to help you move forward with the job.

Next-day delivery—offered at most locations—guarantees quick service. Or, just stop into your local Minneapolis Oxygen shop and ask an expert.

Welding Consumables

Minneapolis Oxygen knows the importance of providing the welding industry with quality consumables. We supply a large selection of welding rods and wire for all processes, including Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) and Stick welding (SMAW).

Plasma Cutters and Consumables

Whether you are looking for machinery or consumables, Minneapolis Oxygen is here to deliver. We are a leading supplier of plasma cutting equipment extensively used by sheet metal fabricators, auto body specialists, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industries and metal fabricators.

The plasma process is ideal for cutting steel and non-ferrous material. It can be performed on mild steel, aluminum and stainless. Our expertise will help you optimize your plasma cutting operations.

Abrasives and Grinders

Whether you have to cut, grind, polish or finish a workpiece, Minneapolis Oxygen is a leading distributor of premier manufacturers nationwide for all of your metalworking applications. We provide a variety of products, services and rentals of the high-quality brands you know and trust.

We Know Welding

For more information on welding equipment and supplies, visit one of our many locations or talk to our experts at 800-236-3902.

When choosing a welder, it is important to understand the basic welding processes and their uses. The four basic welding processes are listed below.

MIG Welding

MIG Welding, also known as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), is a process developed in the 1940’s that is considered semi-automatic and requires electricity to produce heat, an electrode to fill the joint and a shielding gas to protect the weld from the air. A MIG welder utilizes a constant DC current while wire and gas are fed continuously through the welding gun and leads as the gun’s trigger is depressed. It is most commonly used in fabrication environments where production needs are high.

Common shielding gases include:
  • Argon
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • 75/25 Mixed Gas
  • Helium

TIG Welding

TIG Welding, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), is a manual welding process that requires the welder to use two hands. One hand holds the TIG torch that produces the arc and the other hand is used to add the filler metal to the weld joint. TIG Welding is the most difficult process to learn but is the most versatile. When done correctly, TIG Welding produces the highest quality weld. It is heavily utilized for critical weld joints, welding metals other than common steel and for where precise, small welds are required.

Common shielding gases include:
  • Argon
  • Helium
  • Ar/He Mix

Stick Welding

Stick Welding, also known as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), is a manual process that is often used in high wind outdoor repair situations. It utilizes a power source connected to an electrode holder. Current passes through the leads to the electrode. Shielding gas is not needed for this process because the electrode is covered in flux which protects the arc during a weld.

Flux Cored Welding

Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is very similar to MIG welding. The main difference is the filler metal is hollow and filled with flux, so a shielding gas is not required for this process. Flux cored welding is often used in high wind outdoor repair situations.