The Price of Welding Electrode + Purchase of Various Types of Welding Electrode
If you're a professional who welds every day, it is important to know the different types of welding electrode and their uses.
Welding electrode types
Welders must use a variety of materials to create durable welds. But do you know the different types of welding electrodes?
The choice of electrodes depends on the type of base metals, the thickness of the metal, and the current you are using for welding.
Electrodes are classified as either consumable or non-consumable.
Arc welders and MIG welders use disposable electrodes, but TIG welders use non-consumable electrodes.
Unlike non-consumable electrodes, consumable electrodes melt into the base metal.
Welders use electrodes to create an arc which creates a weld puddle and melts the two base metals.
The electrode is a thin metal wire available in a variety of diameters, lengths, and coatings.
In MIG welding, the electrode is a coil of wire that the MIG machine feeds into the welding gun.
However, the electrodes used for SMAW and TIG welding are similar to Long Son.
Without machine power, a welder holds a TIG or SMAW electrode during the welding process.
Speaking of types of welding rods, some electrodes are suitable for more metals and currents.
However, it is important to investigate what types of electrodes are designed for specific metals and situations.
If your primary focus is not TIG welding, consider using a consumable electrode.
The exception is when using a carbon electrode.
Carbon electrodes are non-consumable and are filled with carbon graphite.
Non-consumable electrodes include carbon electrodes and tungsten electrodes.
Tungsten rods for TIG welding are more common than carbon rods in industrial and household applications.
Carbon arc welding (CAW) is an older and less common form of welding.
Although CAW is still used today, it is a process you will rarely see in a welding shop or at home.
Carbon electrodes produce a large arc that is much more difficult to control than arcs from other processes.
The giant arc is good for heating metals and cutting holes or channels in metal, but it is not designed for detailed welding on thin metal.
Tungsten electrodes are the most popular non-consumable electrodes and are used with a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welder.
Tungsten electrodes are made of pure tungsten or a combination of tungsten and thorium or tungsten and zirconium.
Pure tungsten electrodes are suitable for small projects on thinner metals that do not require high amperage.
Welding electrode numbers
The digital electrode classification system may seem confusing at first, but once you understand the meaning of the numbers, buying a welding electrode becomes a piece of cake.
The AWS system indicates the pressure the rod can withstand, the correct welding position, the composition of the flux, and the current drawn by the rod.
The most commonly used welding rods are the 7018, 7014, 6013, 6011, and 6010.
Using the example of a 7018 bar, you can use the first two numbers to determine the tensile strength of the bar.
The numbers indicate the pounds per square inch (psi) the resulting weld can withstand.
If you multiply 70 by 1000, you can see that the weld can withstand a pressure of 70,000 pounds per square inch.
The third number on the electrode indicates your optimum welding position.
Only 1, 2, and 4 are used.
The number 1 means that the electrodes can be used in any position.
The number 2 means a horizontal flat position and the number 4 means the top position or the vertical position up or down.
For the 7018 bar, this means that the bar can be changed in all positions.
The last digit represents the flow rate and current to be used.
8 means the bar is made of potassium powder, and low-potassium iron.
It also means that the correct electrode current is AC, DC-, and DC+.
The electrode cover is made of different materials.
Welding electrode selection
Even if you know the different types of welding electrodes, deciding on a specific application can be difficult.
Here are some other factors to consider:
Base metal
One thing to consider is the composition of the base metal.
Your main goal is to find a solder wire that closely resembles the base metal.
This increases the likelihood of producing a strong, stable weld.
If you're unsure how to set up your base metal, keep the following considerations in mind:
Metallic look
Are you dealing with a piece of metal or a broken component? If so, check the texture.
A rough or grainy surface means it is a molten metallic material.
Magnetic vs Non-Magnetic
Determining whether the material is magnetic or non-magnetic is another distinction from the base metal.
If it's magnetic, chances are it's alloy steel or carbon steel.
When not magnetic, the base metal can be austenitic stainless steel, manganese steel, or a non-ferrous alloy such as brass, aluminum, titanium, or copper.
The guy with the spark
You should also check what type of spark the base metal produces when it hits a grinder.
The rule of thumb here is that the more sparks, the higher the carbon content of the base metal.
The reaction of a chisel to metal
When a chisel strikes a soft metal like aluminum, it leaves bite marks.
However, if it hits harder metals such as cast iron or carbon steel, it will bounce back.
Tensile strength
It is also important to match the tensile strength of the welding wire to that of the base material.
Failure to do so may result in cracks between other weld discontinuities.
To determine the tensile strength of an electrode, you only need to check the first two numbers.
For example, a 6011 bar means it will produce a weld with a minimum tensile strength of 60,000 psi and then work well with the steel of reasonable tensile strength.
The lowest offer is queue 6012. These tasks manage bindings between links. They are also used for the high-quality, high-speed welds that are made.
How useful is this article to you?
Average Score
5
/
Number of votes:
1
