Welder World Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Learn’

The average person’s impression of how metal is welded is that you simply fire-up a blow torch and run it along the edge of a metal seam to weld it together. Or they probably think you can just run that same torch across any kind of metal and cut through it, like in the safe-cracker movies. But the reality is that professional welding actually involves some fairly extensive knowledge, and is somewhat of an art form that takes many years of experience to master. Even so, if you are wanting to learn, you can start with a few simple techniques. Once you’ve mastered the basics and have a beginner’s idea, you can then move on to the more complicated skills that take longer to master.

Safety Precautions

Before you ever start any project, always think about safety precautions first. Equipment and supplies can be replaced; you cannot be replaced. You may think that getting burned is the worst thing that can happen in a welding accident. However, damage to your eyes can occur from the intense light that comes from the process. Some metal welding techniques make use of high voltage electricity to create a weld, which always raises the possibility of electrocution or death if the you are careless. As you start any welding project, be sure to wear a proper helmet to protect your eyes, head and hair. And don’t forget protective gloves and clothing. Lastly, be sure to read and follow all safety precautions written by the manufacturer of the particular metal welding equipment you are using.

Oxy-Acetylene Welding (also known as Oxyfuel Welding)

This is the type of welding that the average person is most familiar with, and which is often casually described as a “blow torch”. However, even though oxy-acetylene welding is the most commonly-known type, it is actually the least used technique among professionals. On the upside, it is less complicated and less expensive than other types of welding. However, oxy-acetylene is less common nowadays because it is less accurate, doesn’t produce a weld bead as cleanly as other methods and can result in weaker weld joints due to the slower cooling time it involves compared to other welding techniques. Even so, if you are interested in learning how to weld metal, you may want to practice oxy-acetylene welding in addition to other types of welding. It will be a handy skill to have because it’s the best type to use on certain common welding projects, such as pipes or tubes, and when you have to use welding equipment to do repairing, bending and cutting.

Arc Welding

The most common technique used these days is “Arc Welding”. If you’re learning how to weld metal, you will definitely need to practice arc welding. Rather than using a gas torch, arc welding involves using high voltage electricity passing into the piece of metal. In Arc Welding, a spark (or “arc”) jumping across from one piece of metal to the other causes enough heat to melt metal and form a weld. This process is more desirable in most cases because it is more accurate and produces a cleaner, stronger weld. Within the category of “Arc Welding” there are actually several different methods to choose from, depending on the type of metal welding work you need to do.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) may be best when you have large welds or metal welding in unusual positions, where a rough weld is acceptable. With this method, the electricity runs through an electrode rod (or “stick”) which actually melts, producing the welded joint. On the other hand, MIG Welding, also know as Metal Inert Gas Welding, or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), may be better if you are involved in a metal welding project that requires more speed. With this welding technique you don’t use rods that you have to keep replacing as they melt. Instead, you use equipment that sends the electricity through a metal tip that doesn’t melt, and a separate piece of continuous wire is fed to the tip which melts and forms the weld. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding is somewhat similar to MIG welding, but is better when working with thin materials where you need a high-quality weld and speed is not important. As you learn you will also hear of other methods, such as Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), Plasma Welding, etc. But don’t worry too much about remembering all of the various techniques. Just focus on one method at a time and get to the point where you are comfortable that you know how to weld with that method before you learn something new.

Other Welding Methods

Although you will primarily be concerned with Arc Welding and Oxy-Acetylene Welding as you learn how to weld, you might hear about other types and wonder what they are, such as Resistance Welding, Energy Beam Welding and Solid-State Welding. Don’t let that overwhelm you right now. Many of those welding methods are primarily useful in large, specialized industrial applications and don’t really affect you as you learn how to weld.

Conclusion

Hopefully you now know a little more about the basic concepts that will be important to you as you learn how to weld. As you can see, although there are numerous methods, each with it’s own unique set of equipment, procedures and purposes, there are actually only a couple of basic methods you need to remember and practice. To get started learning, start practicing with an inexpensive arc welding setup. Get yourself a machine and just start experimenting with it on some scrap pieces of metal (after reading all instructions and taking all safety precautions, or course). Figure out what works, and what doesn’t. You will soon begin to develop a style that is most comfortable for you. Also, get yourself some oxy-acetylene equipment and try that type, too. With a lot of practice, you will become a good novice fairly quickly and will be able to master just about any common project you may encounter.

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Don’t worry too much about how your welds look at first:
* While you’re improving electrode control, you’ll be learning more about different welding job situations.
* Plus I’ll tell you WHY it’s important to have good rod control.
* After you read these tips, THEN you can practice your welding rod control techniques.
* Whether you swing a golf club or a bat, if you don’t practice in correct ways, the results can be at least EMBARRASSING!

Let’s talk about arc pressure and gravity:
1) Arc pressure is produced by the voltage from the machine as it’s pushing the molten metal outwardly.
2) The pressure will vary depending on machine settings, rod size, & the amount of arc gap.
3) Gravity not only effects the direction of the molten metal, but also it’s going to try to make your puddle drip.
4) If you’re arc welding in a flat position, you mainly just worry about keeping the rod at right angles to the work-pieces, & tilted away from the puddle, to help control the puddle & the slag. (And that will help you to SEE THE PUDDLE!).
5) If you’re going to weld in a vertical position, you need to aim the arc up-ward to preheat the metal & to help keep the puddle from dripping.
6) At the same time, in vertical welding, you no longer need to worry about slag, because gravity is keeping it out of the way.
7) For horizontal positions it’s a lot the same. Gravity will try to drip the weld, so you aim the arc upwardly.
For overhead jobs you keep the rod nearly straight up for the same reasons. You don’t want to do any weaving in overhead welding, instead just use straight “stringer” beads.

Pipe welding:
* Pipe welding is rather unique, in that it involves all positions as you go around it. You will gain real electrode control experience in pipe welding!
* Horizontal welding on pipe can be tricky too, because you need to keep changing the rod angle as you go around.
* Save overhead welding practice for last. Get used to ELECTRODE CONTROL & amp settings in the easier welding positions first.

General tips:
* Learn to keep the arc length as steady as possible, plus keep the rod angle steady.
* Weld in a straight a line. This helps to give your welds to look better, and to give them more strength.
* Use both hands to steady the rod. Either place both hands on the rod holder, or one hand on the rod itself, until it gets too short (or until the rod gets too hot).
* Work on a steady speed to keep a uniform puddle shape. An oval shape is good, but don’t let it get too pointed. A round shape may be too wide, unless you need a wider or heavier bead for the job you’re doing. You’ll soon be able to judge that your welding speed is right for the job size & situation.
* Finding a good amperage setting for the job at hand, will help you to concentrate on getting a good weld, & not be fighting sticking rods, or having the rod burn through the work-piece.
* Learn to hesitate slightly at the start of your welds to ensure that the “puddle” forms sufficiently.
* Also pause a bit, at each side of the bead, when you’re doing a weave weld, to make sure there is good penetration.

REMEMBER, Don’t worry too much about how your welds look at first! Now start practicing!

Joel Ort of Miller Electric Mfg. Co. shares his tips for MIG welding success. Placing the focus on MIG technique, Ort’s useful comments are applicable for many garage applications involving farm and automotive repairs. Topics include: simple setup, butt joints, T-joints, lap joints and horizontal, vertical and overhead welding positions.

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An excellent career option for many people is to become a welding inspector. A welding inspector is an individual who inspects completed welding work and reviews welding plans. Becoming a welding inspector requires years of welding experience, which can be difficult to obtain without first going to welding school. One of the best ways to start your welding inspection career is to attend a Texas welding school upon graduation from high school.

While attending a Texas welding school, you will learn all about different fields within welding. You will also learn about all of the different types of metals, welding techniques, and all of the different welding machines. Furthermore, you will learn about current welding laws and codes that must be followed. As a welding inspector, you will need to be well versed in the current laws and codes in the location where you will be a licensed inspector.

What to Expect When You Enroll in Welding Inspector Training

When you start taking classes at a welding school to become a welding inspector, you will have to learn the basics first. This means learning how to weld properly and how to weld using various welding techniques. After that you will begin your welding inspector courses. These will teach you about inspecting welds and how to safely determine the strength of a weld. After completing your school work, the next step in becoming a welding inspector is to get a job. The best place to find a job is working for either a union or through a privatized construction company. After completing a few years of experience working as a welder, you may now be prepared to sit for the welding examination.

Prior to taking the CAWI (Certified Associated Welding Inspector) exam, be sure to follow up with your state to ensure you have all necessary qualifications. If available, you should take any seminars which are geared to helping individuals pass the CAWI examination. Once you have completed the CAWI examination, you are qualified to be a certified welding inspector.

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The filler wire hand is a slow learner. It is the speed bump in the parking lot of tig welding. Learn how to feed that tig rod and you can learn to tig weld better and faster.

During a time when the economy is anything but stable and the job market is proving to be insubstantial, there is hope in a quality career in welding. Currently there is a serious shortage of skilled labor workers and the need for accomplished welders is high. By getting a certificate or degree in the field of welding, one can look to the future for an exciting, successful and financially lucrative career that is a necessity to many American businesses.

Comprehensive welding technology courses are offered all over the nation, providing wide-ranging training in which the end result is a highly profitable and appealing career in welding. Welding involves creating a high strength link between objects. Welding can be used on a plethora of engineering substances, including non-metal and metal materials. The majority of welding is completed manually, using a gas, or an electrical heat source that melts the substance into a joint.

Common Tasks for Welders

A welding graduate is directly involved in applied projects that necessitate labor-intensive dexterity, problem solving abilities, proficiency and skill. Welders can be involved in a variety of tasks including:

- Being a team player with other qualified welders and supervisors.

- Working alongside nuclear systems, storage crafts, and boilers

- Using hand-held welding machines to form strong joints in pieces of metal

- Directing and synchronizing a variety of design items

- Demonstrating strong communication abilities with most prospective customers, clients and supervisors.

- Demonstrates the ability to work on one’s own initiative

- The ability to resolve realistic issues linked with production and the technicalities of design

- The aptitude to use primary math and engineering science skills

- The ability to properly translate blueprints

- Comprehending arc, gas and the resistance welding theory

Learn More about Welding Schools

Welding schools offer a unique environment to learn welding. Because the nature of the job can be dangerous, a certified welding is specially trained in all areas of safety compliance, health protection services and other applicable security measures.

There are many welding schools located in each state. These schools offer a great start in an amazing career. When searching for a good welding school you must be diligent. Check on important factors like accreditation, whether or not the curriculum meets standard welding requirements and the types of welding courses available (entry-level welding, Master welder, etc…). Above all, be excited about participating in a rewarding career.

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Learn how to tig weld. www.weldingtipsandtricks.com The filler wire hand is a slow learner. It is the speed bump in the parking lot of tig welding. Learn how to feed that tig rod and you can learn to tig weld better and faster. For more tips like this, visit www.weldingtipsandtricks.com

The Welders Lens welding home study course is a great place to learn how to weld and work with metal. Learn how to fit pipe. See the easy step by step fabrication of pipe and other metals with welding.

MOTORZ TV www.motorz.tv introduces you welding with the Handler 140 MIG welder and other accessories from Hobart Welders. Show notes & more: www.motorz.tv Please post comments to Part 1/2. Thanks for watching! Website; www.motorz.tv Facebook: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com

MOTORZ TV www.motorz.tv introduces you welding with the Handler 140 MIG welder and other accessories from Hobart Welders. Show notes & more: www.motorz.tv Website; www.motorz.tv Facebook: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com

There are so many different grades that things are made of and it is not always clear which one you are about to weld.

So why is cast iron so troublesome to weld? Because it has a metric ton of carbon in it.

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solid iron contains over 2 p.c carbon and often up to four %. When that much carbon is present in iron, it toughens easily. But all that carbon serves a purpose… It turns into graphite and that actually serves a purpose as a lubricator on cylinder walls of a combustion engine. But for welding, all that carbon and graphite is horrible. Carbon in those pc.s cause toughening of the weld metal and surrounding heat affected area.

It does not bend, it breaks. It may be good for engine blocks, but it is unpredictable under load.

Have you ever lit up on a heavy aluminum casting using straight argon gas and had to wait a really long time to even get a puddle? Not so when you add helium. You get a pool instantly and it’s even a cleaner puddle… An extra bonus.

But I am telling you that when you use an argon helium mix, I will be able to bet you won’t want to use straight argon again excepting actually thin aluminum sheet.

Be careful not to use too much torch gas. Simply to be clear, that’s the gas leaving the tig cup.

Enough is enough and more is worse, not better. Use just enough flow to shield the puddle and not much more.

Come visit us right here for more Welder and Welding Info and get two Welding Ebooks What Is Tig Welding. http://www.welderworld.com/