An overview on types of welding

Welding industry has developed a lot and many welding techniques are followed and new welding machines have been introduced. There are different types of welding process and each one has its own merits and demerits. Arc welding is a welding technique that uses a welding power supply and creates electric arc between electrode and base materials and Forge welding is a process that joins metal by heating them to high temperature. Tig welding uses tungsten electrode to produce the weld and it is the other name for gas tungsten metal arc welding and it is used to weld thin sections of stainless steel and non ferrous metals. Mig welding is an automatic arc welding process preferred for its versatility and speed and weld aluminum and non ferrous materials. Spot welding is a process in which metal surfaces are joined by the heat obtained from resistance of current flow. Gas welding is also called as oxy-fuel welding and use gases to weld and cut metals. Stick welding or shielded metal arc welding is a manual arc welding process that uses consumable electrodes. Plasma arc welding uses plasma gas and has narrow penetration with greater energy concentration.

Precautionary measures in welding

We know that welding is a process which deals with heat and flames so there is a possibility of getting some severe injuries and if no precautionary measures are followed, it may even let to death. Let us have a look on some precautionary measures to be followed in welding

• Wear protective gears such as goggles and welding helmets
• Keep combustible materials away from the workplace
• It's better to have a fire extinguisher in the welding industries
• Welders should definitely wear protective clothes made of durable materials
• Have steel toed boots and ear muffs
• Welding work should be done in proper ventilated space
• The old machines should be replaced by a new one and standard operating procedures should be followed
• The welding industries should be equipped with proper respiratory protective equipment and the precautionary measures should be displayed in all parts of the welding industry
• Do not breathe fumes use fume collectors and respirators
• Avoid standing on wet floors and perform the welding operation with the standard electric circuit with rated capacity

How to get a welding certification

Welding is absolutely not an easy trade and is one of the hardest when it comes to proving yourself. For mastering the welding technique, you need to master codes, specifications and procedures and also prove all this time after time. You can be a certified welder once you attain the certification papers. The papers authorize that you have passed a welding test.

You can become a certified welder by passing the test but that does not necessarily make you an expert welder who is good hand. Sometimes you may find yourself spending hours welding test plates at the weld school. This would surely enable you to polish your talent and pass the code to become certified. But all the certification is not enough when it comes to working at the job site.

Several nationally established codes are there which you can take up. Among these three of them are occupy the top position in establishing welding codes for welder certification namely American Welding Society (AWS), the American Petroleum Institute (API), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). If you want to be a certified welder any of the agencies, you need to follow the specific code set forth in the organization's welding procedure specifications or WPS. These organizations are having different standards but they are usually very similar in the tests they give for welding certifications as well as their set codes.