Selecting a welder

[CarlMc]

I came across this video of STEN manufacturing. I see a combination of stick and gas being used. I would imagine that welding was one of the processes that had to be considered in designing a firearm for inexpensive manufacture. We Americans are quite spoiled with our factories generally so far removed from the threats of war, never able to come up with a dirt cheap firearm ourselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAUdrKG31zE

The Liberator Pistol, along with the M3 that Chester mentioned

I was discussing submachine guns, but you're right, the Liberator was literally a two dollar pistol. Unfortunately, it's more of a curious footnote than something that actually had any sort of effect on the war.

[deadshot2]

What processes were the most common during wartime manufacture?

Regardless they were performed by PROFESSIONAL welders that could lay a nice smooth bead on all thicknesses of metal. The average "Hobbiest" will lay down a bead with a stick or flux cored Mig welder that looks like a row of chicken turds. On thinner metals they'll usually burn through several times and especially at the end of a weld where it approaches the edge.

A Tig welder is best as one can control temp as they go and even less expensive welders can do a decent job.

I was taught as a teenager by a WWII shipyard welder. I'm by no means an expert but I certainly wouldn't approach a Sten Kit with a buzz-box and sticks. A good Gas Shielded Mig or Tig setup. Shop around for a good used unit that IS NOT from Harbor Freight. Tig welders are extremely useful.