Using the right shielding gas is essential not only to prevent porosity but to get proper penetration, the mechanical properties you desire including weld strength, and overall weld quality. In order to select the right shielding gas you need to consider the following: – Alloy of filler metal – Material thickness – Mode of GMAW […]
A common question that is asked when manufacturers are trying to determine costs associated with welding is: How many pounds of wire can I deposit per hour? Or, how many pounds of wire can I deposit at a specific amperage or wire feed speed? There are charts to help you determine this, but it’s always […]
In our last post we explained short circuit transfer; if you missed it you can go back and read Modes of Metal Transfer: Short Circuit. In this post we’ll spend some time going over globular transfer by covering its basics as well as its advantages and limitations. Globular transfer occurs in GMAW and MCAW processes […]
The modes of metal transfer refer to the different ways in which the filler metal (electrode) is transferred through the welding arc and into the weld puddle. We can write a book on this topic but we’ll keep it simple to provide an understanding of the different modes of transfer, what they require and what […]
GMAW (mig welding) uses shielding gas to protect the weld puddle from the atmosphere while in a molten state. This is general knowledge, but many in our industry believe this is the only function of the shielding gas. Shielding gases can affect welding in many different ways and an evaluation of your current choice of […]
Proper storage of both opened and unopened packages of welding consumables is crucial. It should avoid quality issues such as porosity, excessive slag fluidity, rough weld surface, difficult slag removal and more importantly, elevated levels of diffusible hydrogen which can lead to cracking. Adequate storage, handling and re-conditioning of electrodes vary according to type. The […]
One of the most frequently asked questions is if there is a valid reason to use an ER70S-3 (S3) mig wire versus the more commonly used ER70S-6 (S6) wire. Both wires belong to AWS Specification A5.18 and can be used interchangeably in most applications because they provide almost identical mechanical properties. There is subtle difference between the two […]
