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…
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…
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…
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…
