No profession can be easy to get skilled with. Skills are a matter of practice with passion and welding is no exception. Though there are several welding process but Stick Welding, MIG Welding and TIG Welding are the most commonly used forms of welding.
Arc or Stick Welding is precisely SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) is the basic technique which uses oxygen mixed with acetylene. In this process, the flux in the stick electrode keeps the atmosphere from contacting and contaminating the molten metal. Arc Welder is the perfect choice for welding thicker metals. Since it is a manual process, it is hard to get the hang of it even when with practice it is possible to produce some really sound welded products. The arc welder can be effectively used in open and even in windy weather conditions. It is indeed great to use it for thick metals. Another characteristic is that arc welding is messier and thus requires more clean up as compared to the MIG.
On the contrary, MIG welding is a semi-automated process that is more effectively used on thinner metals. It is much easier to get skilled with MIG Welders. It is immensely handy and its spool of wire, tacking and thinner metal makes it useful for long production runs. It can also be used to weld heavier metals and works effectively on various metal surfaces irrespective of the plate/pipe thickness.
Since Arc Welding is a manual basic technique, precision may not always be the same. Mastering the same is challenging and hence it requires better skilled welders. In order to overcome any impact on the quality of work, many companies introduce Arc Welding 101 and try to achieve the code requirements. In this initiative, the Welders undertake annual testing for the possibly benefiting welder continuity. The concern which might arise with such a drive is that, “What will happen to the welder who fails the annual test?” Another dire truth about this precision testing is that, “The only welder that hasn’t failed a welder test is the one that hasn’t been a welder very long.”
Hence, this clearly implies that with aging, the welders’ vision is affected and if assisted with some cheaters, it will be possible to reinforce the techniques which bring effectiveness in the quality of their work. Needless to say that MIG Welding is the most popular and economical of the various welding techniques.
|