Arc welding process in a nutshell

There has been such an increase in the affordability and availability of arc welders that most people have their own welder. Many hobbyists also own portable arc welders. Before purchasing an arc welder, it is necessary to know the requirements and the product that best suits the needs. Basically, arc welding is one of the strongest methods of joining metals. During the welding process, an electrical current allows an electric arc to melt the two pieces of metal. A strong, solid bond is formed when a filler material is mixed with the two metals. This process is inexpensive and can vary depending on the shield and filler material.

It should be noted that intense heat is used in all arc welding methods. A welding electrode or wire dispenses the heat in most cases. Usually the electrode is more preferred as it is comparatively easy to change them by taking them out of the electrode holders. However, there are advantages with each welding process. In shielded metal arc welding, a welding rod on an electronic mount would be used. Shielded metal arc welding is also called stick welding and is the most common and portable arc welder. In SMAW welding, a metal cored electrode would be used. The flux around the core melts with the pieces you are working on and fuses the metals together.

If you plan to weld thin metals, use gas metal arc welding (GMAW). During the gas metal arc welding process, a gaseous shield would be used around the molten metal. Generally, carbon dioxide and oxygen are the common gases used in GMAW welding. Hence there is another name for welding; metal inert gas welding or MIG welding. In gas tungsten arc welding, you must apply the arc between a tungsten electrode and the work pieces. Tungsten inert gas welding is also known as TIG welding. One of the advantages of TIG welding is that it does not always require the use of a filler material.

In flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), the welder fuses the metal with the arc welder. This is done by directing the high temperature arc between the filler metal electrode and the metals. In plasma arc welding (PAW), metals are heated with a plasma gas from a torch, and additional shielding gas is used if necessary. If you want to produce metal fusion, use the submerged arc welding (SAW) process by heating the metals between the arc and the work piece.

During any arc welding process, the welder must take the necessary precautions and wear protective clothing. Burns caused by sparks as electrical current enters metal are the most common injuries for welders. Therefore, the welder must wear protective clothing, especially woolen clothing for safety. The light produced by the electrode is also dangerous as it emits a significant amount of radiation. Therefore, it is necessary to wear a protective shield over the face. A great deal of heat is also produced when the current passes into the metal. This heat generates vapors that can be dangerous. So welders must wear masks to protect themselves.

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