While welding may appear to be a modern solution for many fabrication businesses, it’s actually a practice that has been employed for joining metals since the Middle Ages. Some of the earliest examples of welding come to us in the form of gold boxes.
When investing in welding equipment, it’s recommended that you consider both your present needs and what you will need in the future. If you plan to expand your welding activities to projects that require more power and amperage, then it’s best to upgrade at the onset.
You may already know it's possible to weld underwater. In fact, the prospect of participating in an underwater welding project may seem pretty enticing. Care to guess the depth in feet of the deepest wet weld ever accomplished? If you guessed 2,000 feet, you're right.
When it comes to welders, the “duty cycle” is the percentage of a 5 or 10 minute period that you can weld before the welder will overheat. For instance, with a 60 percent duty cycle at 100 amps over 10 minutes, the welder will be able to operate continuously for 6 minutes before it requires a 4 minute break.
Flow problems in the MIG gas gun can restrict the passing of the shielding gas. If the flow is impeded, it will create porous welds because the molten material has not been protected (shielded) from the surrounding atmosphere. Check to make sure there are no flow problems.
It’s easy to think of welding as a modern technology. However, archeologists have uncovered examples of welding dating back to the Bronze Age. These early pieces were joined using forge welding techniques.
Welding is one of the oldest artisanal trades, dating all the way back to the Bronze Age. The ancient Egyptians took welding into a new age when they began making iron tools that used welding in their manufacturing process.
Tears or holes in the gas line will affect the flow of the shield gas during welding. In addition, bad o-rings and defective valves can impact the rate of flow of the shield gas as well, resulting in substandard welds.
Has your welding hobby evolved into a business faster than you could upgrade your equipment and supplies? Let’s talk about which pieces of equipment will provide you the most flexibility in usage.
Did you know that the welding and metal fabrication industry accounts for some $40 billion dollars per year, including welding and welding related costs? This amazingly high number breaks down to around $350 dollars per US household per year.
Protect yourself from electric shock with the best copper grounding clamps that you can find. When they are in constant contact with the work piece, they not only protect, they also make it easier to start an arc.
So what is overload protection when it comes to today’s modern welders? This is a great feature to have, as this means the welder contains a thermal switch that will automatically shut the welder off if the duty cycle is exceeded, thereby protecting it from damage.
When choosing a welder, you need to think about the available power input at the site where you will be working and whether the welder will be compatible. If there isn’t an electrical hookup available, then you’ll want to invest in a gas power welding generator to supply the power.
Sometimes the welding arc can be too loud or spatter too much. In these cases, the current setting is too high or the polarity is wrong. Try using an amp meter to check the current, or try reversing the polarity.
Constant voltage power supplies are usually used for automated welding processes like gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding, and submerged arc welding. The automated welders keep a steady arc length, which means the voltage needs to be constant.
Oxyfuel welding (also called gas welding) refers to any welding technique that uses fuel gases and oxygen to generate heat. The most popular method is acetylene welding, but other gases can also be used, including gasoline, hydrogen, butane, propane, and propylene/fuel gas.
Your clothing is some of the most important equipment you can buy. Burns are the most common injury that afflict welders, and investing in clothing that keeps sparks and flame from attacking your skin is a sound investment.
If the cable for your arc welder is the wrong length (too long or too short), it will generate sluggish welding arcs. To correct the problem, check the voltage drop from the cable, and change it if this is the issue.
If hand and arm comfort and protection are important when performing MIG welding operations, consider gloves with longer cuffs and that are lined with cotton. The cuffs keep your arms safe, while the cotton lining keeps hands dry and cool.
The numbers of hours you have on your arc welder can take their toll, and you may find that the welder starts but is not delivering a welding current. Check for poor brush connections, broken or missing brushes, or if there is an open series field and armature circuit.
Check your hoses on a regular basis, and replace them if they leak or you think leaking is imminent. In addition, check all connections and couplers for signs of deterioration and replace defective parts.
There is a shortage of welders and lots of career options for qualified applicants. Pipeline installations, military projects, and manufacturing and maintenance jobs here and overseas all require competent, experienced welders.
Because welding arcs emit both infrared and ultraviolet light and radiation, safety glasses or goggles must be properly rated to protect your eyes from damage. IR radiation is known to cause cataracts and UV radiation will cause “welder’s burn.”
If the cable for your arc welder is the wrong length (too long or too short), it will generate sluggish welding arcs. To correct the problem, check the voltage drop from the cable, and change it if this is the issue.
