Often times, the words welding and fabrication are used interchangeably because both are used to work with metals. While they include the bending, shaping and manipulation of metal, different tools and methods are necessary in each process. Some metal fabrication jobs require a welder while others do not. A welder might only play a part in the fabrication process which may require other skills, aside from welding, to complete. Let’s take a look at some of the main differences between welding and fabrication. Welding and Fabrication: What are the Differences? Fabrication. Fabrication refers to ..read more

Ultrasonic welding (USW) uses high-frequency sounds that are generally not heard by humans but instead perceived as vibrations. These high-frequency sounds cause rapid vibrations within the materials to be welded. The vibrations cause the materials to rub against each other which creates friction. The friction in turn creates the heat needed at the contact area of the surfaces of the two materials causing them to bind together. This process has been used since 1940. Through the years, the process has been continually developed and refined and is now a popular method of welding plastics. What a ..read more

Brazing metals together is a process that is three centuries old. Its origin has been traced to Ancient Egypt. Archeologists have found small golden boxes and intricately formed jewelry made by brazing that dates back to 2975 B.C. These artifacts appear to be gifts made for Egyptian Pharaohs and are made mostly out of gold and silver. Through the years, the Sumerians, Greeks, and Romans gave brazing their own touch and developed different heat systems to use in the “manufacturing” of their art objects. By the Middle Ages, brazing was used for copper, gold, and silver to create jewelry, stained ..read more

Tungsten Inert Gas welding, commonly referred to as TIG, is a welding process that uses a tungsten electrode to heat the metal that is being welded. The tungsten electrode carries the arc but is not consumed. An inert gas, like Argon, is used in the welding process as a shield to protect the weld from contamination. TIG welding is the most difficult type of welding to learn. It is therefore usually used in specialty types of welding. The process is also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or GTAW. Overview of TIG Welding TIG welding is desirable due to its high quality and applicability to many ..read more

Purchasing welding equipment is a substantial investment and it’s best to do your research before making this purchase. The equipment you buy will last for years to come so it’s important to consider the quality, life span, repair and labor costs that your particular welding equipment will require. Let’s take a look at these points in more detail. Quality and Life Span The quality of the welding equipment you purchase is of utmost importance! For example, when purchasing a welder look for trusted brands that have a history of excellence. Ideally, you want to analyze what the particular use of ..read more

Welding Magnesium: Understanding the Basics Magnesium is the most lightweight metal on earth and also one of the most abundant elements that can be found within our earth’s crust. Its strength to weight ratio makes it very useful for aerospace as well as race cars! An added bonus to this metal is that it remains corrosion free which means it can be used in a variety of applications. Here are some general points to keep in mind about welding magnesium. Magnesium Can Be a Difficult Metal to Weld Magnesium can be tricky to work with so it may not be the common choice for most welders. The metal ..read more

A Summary and Review of Stick Welding Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also called Stick welding, is the most common type of arc welding. Charles L. Coffin patented SMAW in 1889 and it has been a widely popular process among welders ever since. It can be used both in the production and manufacture of new products and for repairing older ones. What is Stick Welding? A simplified explanation of the process is that an electrode, shaped like a stick and coated with flux, is used to form the weld. Electricity, either alternating current (AC) or Direct Current (DC), from the power supply forms ..read more

A Summary and Review of Stick Welding Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also called Stick welding, is the most common type of arc welding. Charles L. Coffin patented SMAW in 1889 and it has been a widely popular process among welders ever since. It can be used both in the production and manufacture of new products and for repairing older ones. What is Stick Welding? A simplified explanation of the process is that an electrode, shaped like a stick and coated with flux, is used to form the weld. Electricity, either alternating current (AC) or Direct Current (DC), from the power supply forms ..read more

MIG Welding: An Overview and Guide Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW), is widely considered to be one of the easiest welding processes to learn. The process was patented in 1949 primarily for welding aluminum. It has now expanded and is used for almost all types of metals such as stainless steel, copper and carbon steel, to name a few. With the welder using a MIG welding gun and wearing the right protective gear to protect the hands and eyes from the high heat and bright light of the welding arc, even the novice welder can quickly learn how to fuse tog ..read more

Different Types of Welding Metals Archaeologists have discovered evidence that welding existed at least as far back as 3300 B.C. during the Bronze Age. Small golden boxes from that era were uncovered in Egypt with the handles apparently welded on. It is thought that the welding process consisted of heating two pieces of metal and hammering them together. Fast-forward to the Iron Age, which started around 1200 B.C. Bronze, copper, gold, iron, and silver metal artifacts have been found with pieces welded together. In addition, metal tools used by the farmers of this era have been found which ..read more