To the outsider, it can be easy to see how welding would look the same. Torches applied to metals look similar much of the time (particularly as looking directly at the torch in practice is rarely a good idea), but in fact they can be wildly different to suit different welding purposes. Welding refers to the coalescing, or merging, of materials to join them seamlessly. Typically, materials that are welded constitute various metals or thermoplastics. Intense heat combined with a filler forms a weld pool that forms an extremely strong bond when cooled, making it ideal for situations demanding highly robust materials. Read on to learn a few ways welding is applied to different materials and why.
Common forms of welding
Arc welding is one of the most popular forms of welding, and first saw great use by the British in World War 1. For arc welding, electrodes and power are used to create a welding arc between the electrode and the materials being welded. The joining happens when materials melt and then cool, which results in an extremely strong fusion. Within arc welding there are an additional three welding types in TIG welding, MIG welding and stick welding. TIG welding, or tungsten inert gas welding, is a non-consumable form of welding that relies on argon gas to produce ahigh quality, strong welds. Heat in TIG welding is created by running electrical current through a tungsten electrode. MIG welding, or metal inert gas welding, is also a highly popular form of welding. A MIG weld involves the fusion of two metal materials using a wire connected to the electrode current, which then passes through a welding stick protected by an inert gas. Despite being a form of arc welding, stick welding is more or less an outdated form of welding due to it being a manual form of welding relying on electrodes coated in flux and filler material.
Less common forms of welding
Depending on the circumstances (such as the environment where welding occurs and the materials being welded), other forms of welding might take priority. One of these is submerged arc welding, which is typically used in conjunction with nickel-based and ferrous steel alloys. This form of welding is prized for its minimal fumes emissions and the little preparation required before welding can commence. Plus, it’s highly effective, resulting in a deep weld that is created swiftly and efficiently. Electroslag welding is typically used on non-ferrous thick materials in the aerospace and maritime industries. It is a single-pass welding process that is highly efficient, but as it is requires a single pass, electroslag demands significant skill and is frequently used in the aerospace and maritime industries. Finally, solid state welding creates bonds by using temperatures below the melting point of the materials being used. This form of welding requires no filler, and pressure, time and temperature all play a role in helping join metals without melting them too much, so you won’t have to visit your steel suppliers in Perth too regularly!
Considering the right welding for you
With all the different kinds of welding out there, choosing the right one for your circumstance may at first seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be the case – most forms of metal welding are suited to highly specific circumstances, or are better paired to different skill levels. You’ll likely know what to use, but if you’re still confused, it’s worth getting in touch with an expert.
