What Techniques Do Welders Use?

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

Welders make use of a wide array of techniques in order to carry out their work. Most businesses that supply welding services will employ one or more of the following methods. Others are in use around the world. The four techniques outlined below are among the most popular in Australia today. Read on to discover more about them.

SMAW Welding

More often called stick welding, SMAW welding makes use of an electrical current to melt metal workpieces in a small crater. Both AC and DC power supplies can be used for SMAW welds, which means it is convenient in many different industrial applications. The process was developed in the 1930s and it gained popularity in the 1960s when it was proven as a sound technique in the shipyards of Japan. Unless the welder is skilled, SMAW can suffer from weld splatter. However, it has gone on to become a tried-and-tested technique around the globe.

GMAW Welding

Gas metal arc welding is one of the most frequently used techniques around because it is highly versatile. The method makes use of a constant power source from a DC current and a shielding gas. The method was invented for welding sections of aluminium together but soon became a preferred technique for steel, too. Recently, engineers have adapted the GMAW welding technique to create a form of 3-D printing, that can generate metal objects at a relatively low cost.

GTAW Welding

Sometimes referred to as TIG welding, GTAW stands for gas tungsten arc welding. This method is often used by fabricators who are dealing with large sections of stainless steel. An electrode that is made from tungsten is used to create the arc, and welders who conduct GTAW welding must be highly skilled in order to control it. This is a more time-consuming sort of welding technique than others, but the welds often look great, especially when they are made on non-ferrous metals like aluminium.

FCAW Welding

This technique makes use of a semi-automated arc in order to make robust welds. Because it is highly adaptable and can be used in different situations, FCAW welding is commonly conducted on construction sites in order to weld steel I-beams together. You will often see welders in shipbuilding yards conducting this sort of welding. FCAW stands for flux cored arc welding, and welders who practise the technique can manage to complete many welds over the course of a working day.

Contact local welding services to discuss which option will best meet your needs. 

10 January 2019