Preheating steel before welding is common practice. Sometimes we apply heat after we are done welding as well. Other times we apply heat between passes to maintain the minimum interpass temperature. Many use preheat simply because it is written in the WPS, but not really understand why it is necessary. Preheating is used for […]
We recently helped out a customer in determining why some of their welds were cracking. It was determined that cracking on their parts was due to rapid cooling and improperly sized welds. The discussions we had before and after determining the cause were quite interesting. We went over the typical causes for cracking with our […]
We are frequently asked if there are any real benefits of using pulse over CV in the MIG process. The short answer is “absolutely.” But before we can answer we need to ask: “what is the application?” To really appreciate the benefits of pulsed GMAW compared to traditional CV (short arc or globular) it is […]
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was signed into federal law by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010. This act promotes financial stability for the US by making the financial system more transparent and accountable. But what does this have to do with the so called Conflict Minerals? As it pertains […]
Should I use 4043 or 5356 aluminum wire for my application? This is a very commonly asked question. The application of these two aluminum alloys has such a big overlap that a lot of times it simply comes down to welder preference, cost or availability. When determining which filler alloy to use the most important […]
If you are involved in the welding industry you are constantly surrounded by all sorts of acronyms. Below is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations in our industry. ABS American Bureau of Shipping AC Alternating current AlSl American Iron and Steel Institute. AL Aluminium AMP Amperes (measure of current) ANSI American National Standard Institute. […]
We all have probably heard about destructive testing in welding. After all, those of us who are certified welders or work at a place that needs to certify welding procedures, have at one time or another heard about a bend test, or a charpy v-notch test. However, there are several types of non-destructive testing available. […]
The ability to interpret welding symbols is very important, yet the vast majority of welders have hard time doing so. A very small percentage of companies require that welder candidates know how to read symbols. With the shortage of welders in today’s market imposing this prerequisite would not be feasible. What companies need to do […]
One of the most common questions we get on our day to day activities is How can I get may welder(s) certified? The immediate is response is: Certified on what? Most manufacturers assume that there is a single certification for which their welders can apply, test and become certified. Unfortunately this is not the case. […]
