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Welding, the high-temperature technique used to fuse similar and dissimilar metals together, is one of the most demanding, and in-demand metal joining processes in the world. And from construction work and heavy equipment manufacturing, to custom garden furniture and fence building, it’s no surprise that it’s also the most widely used fabricating process of any kind.
Unlike metal fusing processes like brazing and soldering, welding doesn’t rely entirely on metal fillers to form joints. It requires temperatures that are capable of liquifying both the base and filler metals, resulting in a joint that’s often stronger than the base metals themselves. The strength of the weld, however, depends on the type of joint being formed; and most importantly, the type of equipment being used.
Modern Arc Welders are the Cost-Effective Fabricator’s Favourite
Let’s be honest: with so many different types of metals required to meet so many different specifications, it can be hard to keep track of which welding process will work best for a given job. The process that’s required to butt weld thick steel plates isn’t the same as what’s needed to repair stainless steel tools, which makes choosing the correct arc-style machines for welding critical to achieving the best joints.
Arc-style welding is arguably the most common type of welding performed; and from the low temperature, 3,000°C MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welders used to create low warpage aluminium joints, to the 25,000°C extreme temperatures that PAWs (Plasma Arc Welders) and PACs (Plasma Arc Cutters) bring to shipbuilding and ship breaking with just the change of a tip, even amateur fabricators can buy welding machines today that make professional-level results possible. The welding machines used by today’s tradies and hobbyists are more compact than ever, and they boast a broad range of process capabilties across the board that include:
- The creation of strong, permanant joints that are typically stronger than the surrounding base metal;
- The ability to produce smooth, consistently finished joints that don’t require excessive cleaning up; and,
- Unparalleled portability that allows fabricators to take their welding machines anywhere.
Perhaps the most outstanding attribute of modern welding machines for sale is their cost-effectiveness. Welding machines, along with the cost of rods and wire, consumables, and even tools are more affordable than ever; and when you’re looking at welders that can combine the most regularly used arc processes into a single welding device, you’re also looking at a machine that makes welding more accessible than ever.
Take Advantage of the Convenience of MIG Welding
With their short learning curve and easy processing, MIG devices have long been the welding machines Australia has turned to for straightforward, get-it-done fabrication. MIG’s reel-fed process and 75% argon / 25% CO2 gas shielding allows fabricators to maintain a continuous, uninterrupted workflow that’s consistent with time- and cost-critical fabrications, and combines a range of benefits that include:
- Increased weld quality. The high-quality compositions and coatings found with MIG wire are a major contributor to their strong bonds and smooth beads.
- Greater welding flexibility. With amperage ratings from 140 – 250, MIG welders are as effective at joining the thinnest aluminium and copper stocks, as they are with steel thicknesses from ¼” – ½”.
- Cost effectiveness. Not only can you purchase MIG welding machines online together with their consumables for noticeably less than TIG machines, they also cost significantly less to maintain than SMAW welding machines.
Ideally, MIG welding is also the easiest, most forgiving, and most convenient welding process for both beginner and experienced fabricators. The integrated circuitry used in modern MIG machines makes it possible for all levels of welders to achieve professional welding results everytime.
TIG Welding Offers Unparalleled Penetration and Precision
While the speed and relative simplicity of MIG welding warrants favour with fabricators who need to make quick joints, the precision beads that experienced fabricators are able to produce with manually drawn TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welders is hard to beat structurally, as well as visually. That’s because with arc temperatures reaching as high as 19,000°C, their 100% argon shielded weld pools are perfect for depositing intense heat in small areas with the narrowest focus.
And although TIG welding is noticeably slower than MIG due to the manual feeding, the slower process allows for:
- A better result with all kinds of non-ferrous and exotic base metals, especially aluminium and titanium;
- Greater penetration along the line of the bead, resulting in an inherently deeper and stronger joint; and,
- Less spatter, together with less of a chance of weld contamination, pitting, or other weakening defects.
The most obvious characteristic of the TIG process, however, is its aesthetic value. Because the tungsten rod has to be drawn slowly, the bead is neater and less prone to discolouration, resulting in a joint that’s as good-looking as it is strong.
SMAW’s Versatility is the Perfect Solution for Indoor or Outdoor Joining
SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), commonly known as stick arc welding, uses a clamped, flux-coated electrode to form a weld joint. And because SMAW’s arc occurs the exact moment the electrode touches the joint, it’s arguably the most versatile of the arc-style welding processes.
Although the electrode is consumed during the welding process, SMAW’s unmatched simplicity makes it the perfect process when it comes to:
- Unmatched portability. SMAW equipment is easy to transport, making it the ideal process for tradies, on-site staff, or remote repair teams who need their welding equipment to be mobile.
- Ultimate cost cutting. With only a power source and an electrode holder to account for, SMAW doesn’t have any recurring costs in shielding gas or other consumables.
- The ability to penetrate. SMAW is known for its deep penetrating and self shielding qualities, making it suitable for all kinds of thick metals in all types of indoor and outdoor conditions.
And because SMAW welding doesn’t require a torch the way a MIG or TIG welder machine does, the process not only affords a fabricator a better view of the joint, but also allows them to run a bead into a tighter area than would be possible with any other type of arc welding equipment.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, picking the right welder can be challenging. And while arc-type welding is arguably the most common welding process for the broadest number of applications, you have to know which one is best suited for the job you’re doing.
Modern arc-style processes and machines for welding allow you to successfully handle the widest possible range of welding jobs. They let fabricators take advantage of unmatched innovations in arc-style machine technology: innovations that can help improve your welding processes across the board.
