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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Cold welding is not a new concept. Archaeologists have discovered tools dating back to the Bronze Age that were joined using cold welding. In the 1940s, the process took hold for use in modern times. Although the process is not for all types of metal, it certainly has its place in the current world of…
Understanding polarity is critical to being a good welder. Whether the project has the quality and strength of a good weld depends on the polarity selected. Polarity can be either AC or DC. AC means alternating current, which flows half the time in one direction and the other half in the other direction. It changes…
Flux core welding is a process used for almost every type of welding, from simple home repair projects to heavy fabrication. If you are just learning how to weld, flux core welding is a good process to begin with. It is less expensive than other types of welding and easier to learn. Some projects work…
Titanium is Earth’s ninth most abundant element. Small amounts are found in almost every kind of rock there is. The element is used in many products people use every day, including things like mobile phones, scissors, and bicycle frames. It is also used in surgical instruments, metal implants used to help repair bone injuries, tennis…
