Welding is an incredibly gratifying hobby, but if you’re just starting out then you might have some questions regarding the vocabulary used in welding communities, both hobbyist and professional. We’ve got you covered for arc welding supplies, which you can find in our online store, but you’ll need this blog to best understand all the terminology!
A metal grinder may be an important tool if you’re working with rusty metal. It is important to ensure that your workpieces are clean and shiny before you weld, so a grinder may be used to remove areas of rust before you begin.
Sometimes referred to as GMAW – Gas Metal Arc Welding – where an electric arc between the electrode and the workpiece is used to melt the welding rod and fix metal pieces together. In this type of welding, the welding rod is also the electrode, and is consumed into the welding pool during the weld. This means that the welding rods need to be replaced between welds. MIG welding requires specific types of gas and supplies.
Welding power sources give electricity to the welding gun so that the electric arc can be created. The power source should allow the user to control the voltage, as this will need to be adjusted depending on the workpiece substance.
Tungsten Inert Gas welding functions similarly to MIG welding, however, the electrode is made from tungsten and is therefore non-consumable. This means that the welder feeds separate rods into the electric arc/welding zone to create the seam between two workpieces. TIG welding may also be referred to as GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. TIG welding requires specific types of gas and supplies.
Equipment that cuts through electrically conductive material using hot plasma to melt space between metal sections. These are used in both industrial applications and hobbyist projects.
It is important to regulate the immediate atmosphere of your welding zone; a shielding gas is delivered from the end of the welding torch to control the welding process. Shielding gases for welding are often a mixture of pure gases.
A helmet that protects your face, especially your eyes, from sparks and heat coming from the welding torch. The mask my also filter out dangerous fumes that occur during some welding processes. Some prefer to refer to this piece of equipment as a welding mask.
This is the pool of metal that forms at the base of the welding torch. It is the result of melting the wire and is what will hold your workpiece together.
This is the hardened filler metal between two workpieces after you have finished, sometimes called a welding bead instead of a seam. During the weld, when the metal is still fluid, it is referred to as the ‘weld pool’. A good bead is smooth, and a bad bead is lumpy.
Part of an automatic welding system. The torch delivers the arc and the shielding gas. The shape of the torch often dictates the type of weld; a torch with a bend is usually used for arc welding. You may find that some people refer to the torch as a welding gun, too.
Automatic welding guns feed the metal wire into the welding zone, so that you don’t have to feed it manually. This has both advantages and disadvantages.
Welding is such an exciting skill to have and there is so much more to learn about how to achieve the best weld for different materials. We will keep you updated with the latest welding tricks and tips in our blog, so stay posted.
