Welding can be done using a DC power supply as well as an AC power supply. Each of these supplies has their own advantages and disadvantages. They are chosen based on the type of power supply that is available of the project that is undertaken. A stabilizer or a voltage regulator is used to keep the power supply that is needed for the welding operation constant. A stabilizer will step up the voltage if it is too low or brings the voltage down if it is too high. When using direct current, the electrode will only provide the arc and no the filler material. For shallow welds, a positively charged electrode is used and for deeper welds, a negatively charged electrode is used. The type of current t be used therefore is dependent on the welding project that is being undertaken. We should keep the availability of the power source as well as the metals involved in the process into consideration before proceeding with welding.

The magnetic pulse welding makes use of magnetic pulse to join to metal pieces together. This welding process makes use of the magnetic forces to drive two work pieces together under high pressure thereby creating a weld. This is mostly used to join two dissimilar metals together. However it should be kept in mind that these two metals are electrically conductive in nature and are not eddy current resistant. The metal to be weld is magnetically accelerated with the help of a conductive coil through with a powerful AC current is passed. This produces a secondary eddy current in the electrically conductive material and with the generation of Lorentz force, this material moves at a high impact trajectory. The base material on which the metal is to weld is kept in the trajectory path and this creates a high impact collision which leads to the formation of the weld. The weld that is formed in this method is a solid state weld.