Take a walk downtown in Melbourne and really take in all of the different types of buildings that you see. From towering structures to short and stout flats, each building had to be carefully constructed after a fabrication and welding team helped to prepare the materials. Every major industry on earth will rely on fabrication and welding services in one way or another, so it only makes sense that we help you to learn a little bit about them. Today, we are going to talk about common and successful welding techniques that are employed during the steel fabrication process. Why steel? Well, steel fabrication is our specialty and it is incredibly common throughout the world.
Welding Techniques Used in Steel Fabrication
Before we dive full-bore into the different successful welding techniques for steel fabrication, we might as well pull back the lens a little bit in order to explain the process in a more generalised way. Welding is used in manufacturing as well as construction in order to help workers take certain metals and turn them into finished products. Welding, as you will soon learn, encompasses a wide variety of different techniques. These techniques change based on the type of metal, the goal output, and the budget of the team involved. Alright, with that out of the way we can dig into the different welding techniques for steel fabrication.
1. Shielded Metal Arc Welding – The easiest and most commonly used welding technique is known as SMAW welding — Shielded Metal Arc Welding. You’ll see professionals in the industry also refer to this style of welding as ‘stick welding’. This technique involves a consumable electrode that helps to create an electric current which burns the metal on contact.
2. MIG Welding – Otherwise known as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). MIG welding involves the use of a gun that has a consumable electrode constantly fed through the interface. Using gas to shield the metal, this is a quick and relatively simple process. This is the easiest form of welding to learn and one of the easiest forms to employ.
3. TIG Welding – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, or TIG welding, relies on a tungsten rod in order to create a smooth, crisp, and efficient weld. This high-quality welding technique is used on metal that is clean and easy to work with.
4. Flux Cored Arc Welding – Finally, we have Flux Cored Arc Welding. This is the most expensive technique on our list. Typically used for thick metal, this type of welding involves a portable machine and is commonly used on construction projects that need efficiency from their workers.