What is ‘Welding’?

‘Indian Welders Welfare Association’ has clearly detailed the topic about ‘Welding’ in this article.

Welding

Welding is a fabrication process. It includes two or more parts are fused together by
means of heat, pressure, or both forming a join as the parts cool.

Welding is usually used on metals and thermoplastics but can also be used on wood.

The completed welded joint may be referred to as a weldment.

Characteristics

Some materials require the use of specific processes and techniques. A number is considered ‘unweldable,’ a term not usually found in dictionaries but useful and descriptive in engineering.

The parts that are joined are known as the parent material. The material added to help form the join is called filler or consumable.

The form of these materials may see them referred to as parent plate or pipe, filler wire, consumable electrode (for arc welding), etc.

Consumables are usually chosen to be similar in composition to the parent material, thus forming a homogenous weld, but there are occasions, such as when welding brittle cast irons, when a filler with a very different composition and, therefore, properties are used. These welds are called heterogeneous.

It also refers to the uniting or fusing of pieces by using heat and/or compression so that the pieces form a continuum. The source of heat in welding is usually an arc flame produced by the electricity of the welding power source.

The completed welded joint may be referred to as a weldment.

It also refers to the uniting or fusing of pieces by using heat and/or compression so that the pieces form a continuum. The source of heat in welding is usually an arc flame.

In addition to melting the base metal, a filler material is typically added to the joint to form a pool of molten material (the weld pool) that cools to form a joint that, based on weld configuration (butt, full penetration, fillet, etc.), can be stronger than the base material (parent metal). 

Pressure may also be used in conjunction with heat or by itself to produce a weld. Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler metals or melted metals from being contaminated or oxidized.

IS WELDING HARD TO LEARN?

Welding is easy if you have acquired proper training for it. There are different demands of welding tasks, and each one is different with varying levels of complexity.

Our Association called ‘Indian Welders Welfare Association’ provides training for the newcomer welders, intermediate welders, that is . . the training will be given for the register members with their welding knowledge.

For instance, welders who work in shops manufacturing metal furniture have it easy compared to underwater welders tasked to construct oil rigs.

Welding is easy if you have the right tools, too, but the level of complexity may rise depending on the type of welding tool used. For example, welders using inert tungsten gasses need specialized training to use their equipment while stick welders may not require extensive training.

Still, welding is easy if you have a lot of experience with the activity. Newbies may find it too complicated and may fail once, twice, or thrice, but it’s a guarantee that with time and continued practice, this will be an easy and worthwhile activity.

The difficulty of learning to weld depends on the person, ranging from moderately to very hard. Welding is not easy, and videos and books are insufficient sources for learning this skill, which requires hands-on practice. Some people practice for months and years to attain the desired level of craftsmanship. Basic difficulties include:

• Holding the electrode holder
• Keeping the welding electrode in angle
• Maintaining an arc length
• Local exhaust
• Much practice is required to master the skill of stick welding. Stick electrodes come in a broad range of types, which have different mechanical properties. Specific welding power sources are necessary to operate each type.

Maintaining an arc length requires synchronized holder hand; head screen; and eye, power adjustment, and personal protection. Adjustable and fixed exhaust hood positioning must maintain a 100 ft/sec capture velocity and keep air contaminants below allowable limits.

Welding also takes a toll on the body. UV radiation can damage eyesight and potentially damage the skin. The welding fumes are often toxic or carcinogenic (Hossain et al., 2015). Positions required to weld cause arthritis and back problems. There are not a lot of “old” welders because welding has the potential to shorten one’s lifespan.

There is a welder shortage in the U.S.; therefore, many companies hire welders on the spot who pass the welding test. It is possible to earn a comfortable living with limited technical training, and advanced degrees and certifications are paths to low six-figure yearly incomes.

Welding is a skill that you won’t pick up right away, but with practice and the application of a few simple techniques, you’ll be laying down beads you can be proud of.

So, is welding hard? It depends on the type of welding and the material you intend to work with. Stick and Mig are pretty easy to pick up, Tig and Gas welding will require more skill. The type of materials play a part too, and mild steel is easiest to work with, stainless steel and aluminum will require a higher level of skill.

If you’re interested in classic car repair, you’ll want a Mig. If precision and a super pretty weld are important, you’ll need a Tig, and if most of your work is outdoor on heavy gauge steel and aesthetics isn’t a concern, a Stick is perfect.

These welders are all different and require particular knowledge and skill, some more than others. In this post I’ll outline what it’s like to use each of them, the skills and knowledge you’ll need, by the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of what type of welder is right for you.

I like to keep things simple, the four most common types of welding are Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) known as Stick welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) also known as MIG welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding (GTAW) also known as TIG welding and Oxygen Acetylene welding also known as Gas welding.

PRO TIPS IN USING BETTER STICK WELDING:

• Clean the work area
• Fit the ground clamp close to the weld area
• Clean ground clamp area really well
• Use correct size electrode for base material
• Use correct Amp, usually marked on the stick box
• Maintain correct Arc size – about the width of the electrode from the weld pool
• Drag the weld pool and tilt the stick towards the pool at about 10°
• Have test material same size as work piece
• I make a repeating joined letter c shape when welding heavy materials
• Adjust your speed and Amps as necessary

To know detail about ‘Arc welding’, click it.