TIG Welders fall into three categories: light, industrial, and heavy duty. Most TIG welders do stick welding as easy as TIG welding, (but most stick welders don’t do TIG welding.) Most TIG welder packages come with a hand and or foot pedal that lets you control the heat. TIG welders are also come with both water and or air-cooled torches. (Use a water-cooled torch for hotter welds.) TIG welding machines are available in both AC and DC current. Use AC for aluminum, not DC.)
TIG welding supplies
Different kinds of TIG welding supplies and equipment available. They often include a hand or foot pedal to control the heat. They come in both AC and DC current. Both water and air cooled torches are available. Each type of machine carries different amperage ratings and run on single or three-phase power. Consult the appropriate guides/manuals for the type of machine and torch to use.
Advantages of MIG Welding
This article covers the basic process and equipment used for gas metal-arc welding (GMAW MIG welding)
Gas metal arc welding (GMAW or MIG welding) is an electric arc welding process that uses a spool of continuously fed wire. It can be used to join long stretches of metal without stopping. The weldor, or apparatus, holds the wire feeder and a wire electrode is fed into a weld at a controlled rate of speed, while a blanket of inert argon gas shields the weld zone from atmospheric contamination. Shielding the arc and molten weld pool is done by “externally” supplying gas or a gas mixture.
What is MIG Welding?
MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas welding, often called Wire-feed. It is also referred to as GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding). The “Metal” refers to the wire which is what is used to start the arc. It is shielded by inert gas and the feeding wire also acts as the filler rod. A semi-automatic process, it is fairly easy to learn and use (Check out our Mig Welding Rod Ovens).
Those who practice mig welding are often referred to as wire-feed welders. It is used on all thicknesses of steels, aluminium, nickel, stainless steels etc. It is most typically utilized in commercial fabrication settings where continuous welding is desired, and where environmental conditions, joint preparation, and materials can be controlled.
Stick Welding Techniques
This article will cover basic welding techniques in “stick welding.”
Stick Welding TechniquesBefore welding make a final check and remove consumable material. Remove the cigarette lighter from you pocket. Check your machine to make sure it’s on and adjusted to the approximate settings. Clean the joint. Clamp the rod in the stinger at a 45 to 90 degree angle. Warn those around you. Place the rod about two inches from the work. Adjust your hood so that when you nod your head the hood will fall over your face. Strike the arc using the tip of the rod on the surface using a wrist motion, just like when you strike a wooden match. When the arc is struck lift the rod about 1/8″ above the base material. If the rod “sticks” snap the stinger backward from the direction of the work. Become light handed. Practice on scrap pieces.
The Portable Rod Oven: An Indispensable Welding Tool
The portable rod oven is an indispensable welding tool to have while on the welding job. As one of the many welding accessories available to welders, the welding rod oven – also referred to as an electrode oven, hot box or welding electrode stabilizing oven – has been refined and redesigned over the years in order to accommodate welders that operate in a variety of challenging environments. At Rod Ovens.com, the portable range of rod ovens seeks to provide the welder a convenient means to maintain electrodes at optimum temperatures where the welding job may take them.
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Storing and Re-drying Electrodes
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) electrodes must be properly stored in order to deposit
quality welds. When electrodes become absorb moisture from the atmosphere, they
must be dried in order to restore the ability to deposit quality welds. Electrodes
with too much moisture may lead to cracking or porosity. Operational characteristics
may be affected as well. If you’ve experienced unexplained weld cracking
problems, or if the electrode arc performance may have deteriorated, it may be
due to your storage methods or redrying procedures.
Storage and Reconditioning of Welding Rods
All
of the electrodes listed below should be stored dry at room temp when in unopened
cartons.
The Importance of Low-Hy Rods in a Welding Job
Low-hydrogen welding rods are the backbone of structural welding. Known as “low-hy” to welders in the field, this versatile electrode is manufactured to contain less than 0.6% of moisture in the covering and is required by currently acceptable welding standards and procedures to be stored in an environment that maintains factory quality dryness. Its low hydrogen content ensures a smooth, strong weld that is very ductile, making it the welding rod of choice for structural welding jobs.
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Heat Treating Steel Definitions
Heat Treating Definitions– This glossary of heat-treating terms has been adopted by the American Foundrymen’s
Association, the American Society for Metals, the American Society for Testing
and Materials, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Since it is not intended
to be a specification but is strictly a set of definitions, temperatures have
purposely been omitted.