Welding Equipment

Each welding Equipment varies from one to another.  Being that there are so many types of metal alloys used for industrial and domestic purposes, there are consequently more than a few types of welding Equipment available.  Choosing the right welding Equipment for the project will save time and resources.  Here are some of the most common types of welding Equipment.

The TIG—tungsten inert gas—welding Equipment is one of the most commonly used types of arc welders.  Like almost all other modern welding Equipment, it requires the use of a power supply, work clamp, and torch.  However, at the tip of the torch is the collet that holds the long thin metal stick unique to this type of welding—the tungsten electrode.  This non-consumable metal electrode is composed of no less than 97% tungsten and less than 2% of any other alloy in its composition.  An electrical arc formed between the electrode and the base material heats up the metal and creates the weld puddle.  Tungsten electrodes are usually purchased separately from welding Equipment themselves since they come in a variety of alloyed compounds—each type of electrode more suitable for one weld job or another.  The inert gas argon is an important shielding gas which protects the metal workspace from being contaminated by atmospheric oxides, and thereby ensure purer, stronger, and more durable welds.

One such TIG welding Equipment available from www.longevity-inc.com is the ArcMate LW-200ACDC.  It works excellent with lightweight metals such as aluminum and magnesium, but, being a multi-purpose piece of equipment with both AC and DC current, it can also be used with other metals.

There is also the MIG or gas metal arc welding Equipment.  MIG—metal inert gas—welders also use argon gas as a shielding agent.  It does not, however, use a non-consumable tungsten electrode.  This type of welding Equipment requires a constant feed of consumable solid and flux wire supplied to the weld by a welding gun.  These work well with thicker base materials such as stainless steel. Offering quick welds at just the right temperature and voltage.

Another kind of welding Equipment is the stick electrode welding Equipment—also known as a shielded metal arc welding Equipment.  Unlike the aforementioned welding Equipment, this one does not require any shielding gas.  Instead, its consumable electrode is coated in a layer of flux which, when heated, vaporizes and provides the necessary shielding agent.

If it seems hard to choose from any of these options, there is a selection of multi-purpose units for sale at www.longevity-inc.com such as the WeldAll LS-160 which serves as a plasma cutter, arc, and TIG welding Equipment.  Most notable it provides both alternating and direct current settings that allow for even more versatility in the work place.

When choosing a welder, pay attention to the base material being welded together and the purpose it will serve.  Is it aluminum?  Steel?  Stainless steel?  Nickel?  The chemical compound and thickness of the metal being welded together will determine what type of welding Equipment is needed.