Top 3 Common Methods for Welding Stainless Steel
Steel has been a metal of choice when it comes to household appliances and utensils. Stainless steel is preferred over other metals because it exhibits durability and resistance to rust and corrosion. Welding of stainless steel is essential to mold it into the desired finished products.
Choosing the right welding method is extremely essential to determine the thickness and durability of the metal based on the product being made with it. There are various methods of welding stainless steel, but we will look at the 3 common methods used by welders that you should be aware of.
Resistance welding is primarily used for welding stainless steel wire. The process is highly cost-effective, which makes it the preferred method of welding by stainless steel wire manufacturers. In spot welding, pressure is applied alongside electric current to combine pieces of metal sheets together.
Electrical resistance welding is versatile enough, making it a reliable choice for both small and large projects. These days robotic spot welding is highly used in the automotive industry due to its reliability and effectiveness.
Gas metal arc welding, or MIG welding, uses rich shielding gas and solid wire electrode for gluing together two pieces of stainless steel. Argon-rich shielding gas prevents oxygen from reacting with the stainless steel ensuring effective welding. MIG welding is popular due to its usage of pulse current that enables a welder to connect hard-to-reach areas of the metal in a complex project.
Welding stainless steel by using the MIG process has the flexibility to fuse other gasses such as helium, carbon dioxide, and oxygen to enhance the welding quality. In addition, MIG welding records very less time which makes it an excellent choice for welders when it comes to welding stainless steel.
When it comes to ensuring good welding quality with longevity, TIG welding is the popular choice. The welding process also involves the use of argon gas along with other gasses such as helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen to weld delicate pieces of stainless steel. The process applies low heat, which does not ruin the thin pieces of metal.
The versatility offered in the process makes it usable for making utensils on one end of the spectrum to power plants on the other. In addition, TIG welding provides much more durable and cleaner results on stainless steel when it’s done.
Which is the best stainless steel welding method?
It can be extremely tricky to determine the best stainless steel welding method as each has its separate sets of utilities. As a welder, you need to set priorities and choose a method that aligns with the kind of project you are working on.
Spot welding offers good results at a much cheaper cost; hence it is an affordable choice. In the case of thin metal sheets, nothing will work as flawlessly as TIG welding making it the best choice. In the case of complex projects, MIG welding is the most flexible option.
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