How does welding work?

Have you ever wondered how the process of welding works or even the fact that there are different types of welding techniques? Read our latest blog to find out more…

Arc welding uses an electrical current or ‘arc’ to heat and melt the materials together. Arc welding involves attaching a grounding wire to the welding material or other metal surface. Another wire is placed on the material to be welded. Once the lead is pulled away, an electric arc is generated – a bit like the sparks when you jump leads off a car battery. The work pieces are then melted along with the filler material that helps to join the pieces.

Feeding filler into the welding joint takes steady hands and an eye for detail. As the rod melts, our Emsea welder will continue to feed the joint using small controlled motions. This movement is what gives welds their distinctive appearance and often a good indication on how well the joint has been welded. Moving too fast or slow, or simply holding too close or distant can create poor welds.

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), metal inert gas, (or MIG, welding) and tungsten inert gas, (or TIG, welding) are all types of arc welding.

These 3 methods each offer their own individual advantages and drawbacks. For example, TIG welding is quite to learn and requires a more elaborate welding rig. However, TIG welding done well will create high-quality welds and can weld materials that the other methods aren’t able to.

Another popular method of welding is torch welding. This method uses an oxyacetylene torch to melt the working material and welding rod. The welder controls the torch and rod at the same time which provides a huge amount of control over the weld. Torch welding is still frequently used for general maintenance and repair although it is less common now industrially.