Welding is an integral part of the manufacturing industry, used to join metal components that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to connect. It is an essential skill for industrial production, employed in a variety of jobs in multiple different fields. Worldwide, it’s estimated that over 60 million tons of steel are welded each year.
But what is used in welding? From welding rods and flux to machines, the welding equipment available can be difficult to navigate.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide that covers everything related to what is used in welding, from what machines are currently on the market to the most popular welding jobs. Read on to discover more about the materials and processes involved in welding.
What is Welding?
Welding is the process of joining similar or dissimilar parts or materials with the help of heat and pressure through fusion. It is widely used in industrial, commercial and automotive industries to create beaming structures, repair parts, fabricate tools and construct materials.Types of Welding Processes
There are numerous welding processes used for different applications such as for fabrication, cutting, and the production of parts, joining, restructuring and repairs. Some of the most common welding processes are listed below.Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW), uses an electric arc against a consumable steel or tungsten electrode. It is generally used to weld and create thicker weld beads, and is ideal for welding several different types of metals of low, medium and high carbon alloy.Gas Metal Arc Welding
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as Metal Inert Gas (MIG), is an arc welding process that uses an arc between a consumable wire electrode and a base material.It is used to weld several metals of low and medium carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel and magnesium alloys.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create a weld on the material.It is used to weld metals such as copper, magnesium, aluminum, nickel, titanium and stainless steel.
Flux-Cored Arc Welding
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is an arc welding process that uses a shielded flux-cored wire electrode and a flux powder to provide a protective gas shield.It is used to weld stainless steel and mild steel, as well as certain alloyed elements such as nickel and copper.
Submerged Arc Welding
Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) is an arc welding process that uses a consumable, continuously fed electrode to produce a weld. It is used to weld large components quickly and is mainly used for welding stainless steel and mild steel.Oxy-Fuel Gas Welding
Oxy-Fuel Gas Welding (OFW) is an arc welding process that uses two oxygen and fuel gases to form a flame. The flame creates a heat that fuses the materials together. It is mainly used to weld large structural components of mild steel, cast iron and Aluminum.Equipment Used in Welding
Various pieces of equipment are used in welding to produce a neat and strong weld. Some of the equipment and materials used are listed below.- Welding helmet and glasses
- Welding gloves
- Welding rods
- Welding MIG wire
- Welding TIG wire
- Welding flux
- Acetylene and oxygen tanks
- Welding torch
- Gas regulator