When it comes to stainless steel welding, the process varies dependent on the finish and thickness of the material that’s to be welded. It’s crucial to take the final use of the finished product into account when deciding on the way it’s to be fabricated. The welding needs to be robust as well as completely fit for purpose. While it’s true that there are so many ways to weld stainless steel, there are three that are arguably the most common. So, for the purposes of this blog, let’s take a look at resistance welding, TIG welding and MIG welding!
Resistance Welding
Resistance (also known as spot) welding is known as one of the most economical welding types. What’s more, is that resistance welding equipment can be used on both big and small projects because it is so versatile. RW uses electricity to seal metal sheets and components together. This welding type is particularly good for use on metals with lower melting points as the process can be tailored to prevent any metal distortion.
The weld itself is made by conducting a particularly strong current throughout the metal to melt it at localised points. These points are already determined via either the pieces to be welded or the actual design of the electrodes. There will also sometimes be a force applied before, during and after the current application to connect the pieces. Additionally, force is applied to make the weld strong.
TIG Welding
TIG welding is also known as gas tungsten arc welding. The process itself was created by the aircraft industry for magnesium welding in the ‘30s and ‘40s. TIG welding is such a versatile type of operation. It can be used for more metals than other welding procedures. It is even used in aeroplane and spacecraft fabrication! In addition, car manufacturers and auto repair shops use this type of welding as it’s anti-corrosive.
TIG welding offers amazing quality versatile results that last. This welding is widely considered to be the most commonly utilised stainless steel process of its kind. TIG welding is great for use on thin materials because it creates a low heat input. Depending on project need, argon gas can be mixed with other gases like nitrogen, helium and hydrogen.
MIG Welding
A semi-automatic process, when it’s done correctly, MIG welding creates a hugely robust join between two different pieces of stainless steel. A continuous solid wire electrode is put through a welding gun into a weld pool to join metals together. The process also involves using an argon rich shielding gas.
This type of welding is enduringly popular as it enables the welder to use a pulsing current supply. Because of this, it’s useful to weld in confined spaces as well as tough-to-reach spots when it comes to working on stainless steel fabrication Perth. There are also various gases that can be used, including mixes of carbon dioxide, helium and oxygen. These tend to be utilised to stabilise the arc improving weld quality.
So, Which Stainless Steel Welding Method is Best?
As you will imagine, choosing the best method for welding depends on what exactly you’re looking for. You need to ask yourself what aspects are most important to you. For example, if you want to keep the price down, perhaps spot welding is best for your project. However, if you’re working with the pretty thin material, then perhaps TIG welding might be the right choice.
When you’re choosing someone to deal with your stainless steel fabrication, Perth, it’s crucial to choose a provider who has a great track record in their field. Choosing a local engineering company that has knowledge of your specific weather conditions etc should be high on your agenda. Using a contractor that’s not local will result in them perhaps not having the in-depth knowledge that closer welders have. So, there’s that to keep in mind.
You also need to choose a welding team that’s experienced so they have a real and robust understanding of welding. You want to choose a team that is well-qualified and that will work with you to find out your requirements and to action these.
To conclude, when it comes to stainless steel welding, the importance of choosing a professional who has both the knowledge and skills to complete your project on time and to a high standard cannot be stressed enough.
