Preheat is used when a base material, due to its chemical composition, thickness or level or restraint, is susceptible to cold cracking (hydrogen induced cracking). Knowing what temperature to preheat your base metal is sometimes a complicated matter. You may hear people say “preheat to 300F to be safe.” The reality is that 300F may […]
One of the first steps in analyzing cracks to find their root cause and take corrective action is to categorize the cracks. We categorize cracks based on three elements. Location Direction Timing In today’s article we discuss the importance of crack location when trying to determine what caused it. What follows is an excerpt from […]
A repair procedure is necessary any time there is a defect in welding that must be corrected. The repair procedure is not just a welding procedure specification, but rather a set of instructions and rules on how to repair different types of defects. There is no standard format for a repair procedure, or a standard […]
NOW AVAILABLE! Troubleshoot common welding and welding equipment problems the way welding engineers do. For more information CLICK HERE or the image below. Learn and follow the process used by welding engineers to find the root cause of welding problems and their solutions. This troubleshooting guide goes beyond your typical troubleshooting charts on the back […]
Cracking is a big problem in welding. Many of our customers experience cracking problems on an ongoing basis. Unfortunately, these cracks are not always detected in the shop. Many times cracking occurs once the product is in service. In these cases, cracking can lead to failure and at the very least an upset customer. In […]
Most types of stainless steels have good weldability and can be welded with all arc welding processes (GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SMAW and SAW). Stainless is used in many different applications for its strength, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance. Unfortunately, many assume it can be welded just like carbon steel. In fact, this is the first […]
Undercut is a surface discontinuity resulting from melting of the base metal at one or both toes of a weld which remains unfilled by the weld metal. It can also occur at the root of groove welds. Undercut presents two problems. First, it forms a mechanical notch which acts as a stress riser and is […]
Troubleshooting of welds and other welding problems increases costs in welding, causes delays and affects weld quality. Even a moderate understanding of welding problems, their symptoms, causes and potential solutions can help tremendously. The more informed you are the better. To successfully troubleshoot and fix welding discontinuities, welding defects and other welding problems we need […]
Competition amongst manufacturers of welding machines is a wonderful thing. Companies like Miller, Fronius, OTC, Lincoln Electric, and many others are continuously improving their equipment, making it more user-friendly and at a lower cost. We as users benefit from this. However, this has brought about a big problem. And that is the belief that we […]
Prequalified welding procedures must adhere to the strict requiremnts of the welding codes which permit their use. AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code (Steel) is one that allows their use. Prequalified WPSs are exempt from testing becasue there is reasonable assurance that as long as all the requirements are met the deposited weld will be sound […]
