Having just learned the basics of welding recently, I am quite excited. Acquiring a new skill that is quite useful is making me think about the possibilities and what I can do with it in the future. For one thing, I have something productive to do with my spare time around the house, which is already a positive thing. We have a little shop at the back of our home that’s always been used as a woodworking shop. But since it is spacious enough, I have been allowed to set up my own little welding shop there, or what I am hoping would look like a real welding shop pretty soon.
Since I have not been into welding that long, I haven’t had any extensive experience with most of the top welding techniques. I’m attributing that to the fact that I’m just a few months into my study of it, and I also have quite a busy work schedule besides. So far, I have tried using these welding processes: Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), which is also called Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding; Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding; Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), or Manual Metal Arc (MMA) welding, or simply as stick welding. Of these processes, I have been most partial to stick welding, and as can be noticed, each one is a form of arc welding. It is one of the most basic and oldest welding techniques, and many still use it and many more are still learning it, like myself.
Arc Welding: The Process
So how does an arc welder work? For the many who are interested in finding out about this common yet very useful method, here is some useful information:
• Arc welding is a basic welding technique, heating two pieces of metal which will then melt into each other. After it cols down, the two distinct pieces of metal are joined, and are actually just as strong as the rest of the structure. Arc welding is performed through heat that is provided by an electric current.
• The arc is created through a high initial voltage, producing the spark needed to ignite arc. An electric current that runs through a positive and negative electrode makes up the arc. A second option, which is simpler, requires simply touching the electrode to whatever piece of metal is being worked on, and to then slightly withdraw it. The extreme heat of the arc is enough to melt most industrial metals.
• The arc welding circuit is made up of current carrying electrode between itself and the metal that is worked on. Attached to the metal is a work cable, which then creates a full circuit that the electricity can pass through. Electricity is provided by the power source, which goes to the space between the electrode and the metal.
• Arc shielding is a technique used to protect the metal from the corroding effects caused by outside chemicals. A vapor or gas shield is created around the arc, which serves to protect the liquid metal from the chemicals in the air that may be harmful to it by minimizing contact.