You probably already know that welding is the process of combining two pieces of metal—but did you know that not all metals can be welded or that certain metals need to be welded with different welding techniques?
This post from your welding service will cover the different types of metal we can work with and which techniques we use to weld them.
Steel
The most commonly used metal in a welding project is steel. It’s a metal composed of iron and carbon with high tensile strength, meaning it can withstand a ton of stress before breaking. It’s also incredibly ductile, which means it’s easy to work with.
There are several different forms of steel, including stainless, carbon and low-carbon mild steel. The higher the carbon content, the harder it is to weld, but it’s still doable with the right techniques.
Common welding methods for steel pieces include stick welding, flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), resistance spot welding and direct current tungsten inert gas (DC-TIG) welding. The only method not commonly used by a welding service for steel is alternating current tungsten inert gas (AC-TIG) welding.
Aluminum
Aluminum is the most abundant metal on earth. Due to its availability, light weight and ability to resist corrosion, it’s used in a variety of industries and applications. You’ll find aluminum in vehicles, airplanes and even buildings.
But just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’s always easy to weld. Aluminum welding is best performed with stick welding, gas metal arc welding or AC-TIG welding. As long as you work with a reputable welding service, they’ll know the best way to go about welding your aluminum pieces.
Cast iron
As the name suggests, cast iron is a type of iron. The term “cast” means it’s shaped for a particular purpose (i.e., a cast iron skillet). In addition to finding it in your kitchen, you’ll find bridges, statues and fences made of cast iron.
Cast iron has a lower melting point than some other types of metal, so it’s great for welding. The low melting point also means it doesn’t require specialized welding methods. Traditional stick welding is just fine when working with cast iron.
Copper
Copper is a popular metal due to its electrical and heat conductivity, corrosion resistance and appearance. There are many different copper alloys, but to be considered true copper, the piece must contain at least 99.3 percent copper.
Before beginning the welding process, the copper piece must be cleaned with a bronze wire and then degreased. Copper pieces are typically welded using the TIG method or the arc welding method. Any oxides that form during the process must be removed after the job is done.
Ensure you hire the best welders
Don’t settle for any other welding service than Metal Pro, Inc. the next time you need to hire a welder. With years of experience and fair pricing, there are no better welders in town. In addition to our welding, we offer metal fabrication services, including plasma cutting, press brake jobs, shearing, sawing and more. Contact us today to learn what we can do for you.