The Basic Welding Processes

Basic Welding Processes Some of the very basic processes of welding include: Gas metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and oxyfuel gas cutting. These processes are so unique in certain ways that it is easy to forget about all the dangers that come with welding. When there is a finished weld that is so beautiful from a process that is not really desirable, that is when it is easy to forget. “Oxyfuel gas cutting (OFC) is a process used to cut metal by rapidly oxidizing it.” (Bowditch, Bowditch and Bowditch 259). Oxyfuel gas welding is commonly referred to as “flame cutting” because the flame of the oxygen and acetylene melts the metal enough to cut it. The ignition temperature of steel is 1500 Fahrenheit, which is definitely something to think about before playing with a cutting torch. After lighting the cutting torch, the oxygen and gas must be adjusted until a neutral flame appears, then the metal to be cut

The tungsten electrode does not melt or become part of the weld. Therefore it is considered a nonconsumable electrode.” (Bowditch, Bowditch and Bowditch 163). Gas tungsten arc welding is often referred to as TIG welding, which means tungsten inert gas welding. This is slang for the actual name to be used, because the gas (argon) that is used is not an inert gas. Tig welding is the cleanest welding process of all, because there are not many undesirable byproducts. However, tig welding is still a very dangerous process, just like any other welding process. Many other welding processes rely on heat alone to transfer metal, which causes fumes and undesirable spatter. Gas tungsten arc welding uses electricity to transfer heat from the electrode to the base metal, which causes less fumes and no spatter, so that means not having to worry about nasty little burn marks on the