The profession of welder is a profitable occupation, especially if you plan to be a specialist in a specific field. Experts abroad are remunerated very well, so the question of how to weld appears more and more frequently on the web. In fact, it is not very complicated in the basic scope and can be learned by almost anyone. Practice and technique grinding are still important to ensure the best possible quality of welds. Safety is key, as ignoring the recommendations leads to, among other things, severe burns and blindness.
Welding mask, gloves and non-flammable coverall
Safety is paramount in any job. Therefore, before you learn in a nutshell how to weld, you need to be aware of the basic equipment of each welder. The mask is the key because the welding arc is a strong beam of light and UV radiation. Prolonged exposure of the eyes without cover to these two factors can cause blindness. In addition, the helmet protects the respiratory tract against harmful vapors that are released during welding. When connecting elements, sparks and hot metal filings fly in the air. It is very easy to get burned. Therefore, you must wear long-sleeved clothing and gloves. Importantly, they cannot be made of flammable material. Ideally, they should have non-flammable properties. Shoes are also essential. They should also protect the feet from burns.
How to weld? Learn the basic methods of connecting elements with welder
Welding consists in joining two elements together with a binder. All with the help of high temperature that melts the contact point. Welders are most often used to join metals together. However, plastic is also increasingly being welded. Over the years, welders, together with manufacturers of accessories, have developed several methods of joining components together.
The most popular welding methods
Let's start chronologically with the oldest method of connecting elements. The MMA method uses an electrode which, under the influence of, inter alia, melting, connects individual elements with each other, which after cooling form a coherent whole. The greatest advantage of this technique is its versatility, as you can also weld underwater. Next are the MIG and MAG methods in which welding is done with wire on a roll. For MIG welding, a gas shield is required. As a rule, it is argon or helium. When you choose to use the MAG method, use carbon dioxide or a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide.
Similar to MIG/MAG welding is the FLUX method, which uses flux-cored wire (so-called self-shielding wire), which does not need an additional gas shield.
The last method is TIG, which allows to obtain the most visually beautiful weld, but it is recommended for more advanced users. Welding with this method uses tungsten electrodes and additional material in the form of wire in rods. Depending on the type of material to be welded, welding can be performed with alternating current (aluminum) or direct current (carbon steel, stainless steel and their alloys).
