In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on the various types of metal welding available today. There are several categories and sub-categories of welding, some that are best for steel and others that are generally used for various metal types.

At Wasatch Steel, we’re happy to help by not only offering many pieces of welding equipment, but also expertise on welding for any of our steel products, from steel sheet to bar, plate and more. While part one of our series mostly went over the more well-known forms of metal welding, today’s part two will dig into several other processes that may be used for certain materials depending on the need.

TIG Welding

Short for Tungsten Inert Gas welding, TIG welding is a technique that uses argon gas and is known for the quality and strength of the resulting weld. TIG welding is known as a non-consumable technique, one that’s suitable across numerous applications.

This weld format creates heat by running an electric current through the tungsten electrode. It’s often found used for stainless steel welds, but can also be used for materials like copper, nickel, aluminum and magnesium.

Gas Welding

One of the oldest welding techniques out there for metals today is known as gas welding, or oxyacetylene welding in more technical circles. While this technique is indeed one of the oldest, it will still be used today for certain tube or pipe welding needs in certain applications.

Electroslag Welding

For thicker materials that are non-ferrous in the metal world, another form of welding that will sometimes be used is known as electroslag welding. This is a single-pass efficient welding process, but is a complex technique overall – it should not be attempted by beginners and requires major skill. Part of the reason for this is that electroslag welding is also often used for aerospace and maritime products that require high quality levels.

Solid State Welding

Finally, solid state welding is one that’s done by using temperatures below the melting point of the metals being welded. It utilizes not only this temperature, but also pressure and time to join the metals in question without significant melting needs, a factor that’s very important for the quality of certain parts of applications. This makes solid state welding one of the most unique types out there – nearly every other type requires that the metals being heated do so to or past their melting point so they can combine.

For more on the kinds of welding you might consider for any metal or steel project, or to learn about any of our steel products or services, speak to the staff at Wasatch Steel today.