There are many ways of fixing different sections of metal together, but among the most commonly used techniques is welding. Industrialised welding is conducted in all sorts of manufacturing processes, often using robots to conduct repeated work. Although this method is highly suited to welds which are done in exactly the same way each time, such as on a production line, manual welding is preferable for one-off projects. As such, steel fabrication is usually done by highly skilled individuals who ensure that the correct method is employed each time. The choice of welding method depends on the nature of the project and of the type of metal being joined. Read on to take a closer look at the various welding techniques used in contemporary metalwork fabrication today.

Gas Metal Arc Welding

A popular method of welding because of its reliability, gas metal arc (GMA) welding is often conducted with fabrication projects involving mild steel and stainless steel. It is also a preferred method for attaching multiple sections of aluminium together. Welders consider GMA welding as being one of the simplest methods to master, and it is frequently the first technique that trainees will learn to perfect.

Tungsten Inert Gas Welding

This approach to welding is conducted by highly trained operatives who use extremely high temperatures to achieve very neat finishes with their joins. Unlike other forms of welding, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding means that joins are not fabricated with large residues left in place afterwards. Not only does this mean that TIG welding requires less sanding down or grinding, but it produces more elegant structural joins. It is commonly used for prestigious gates, railings and other types of architectural fabrications. 

Oxyacetylene Welding

By mixing together a combination of oxygen and acetylene, a high temperature flame can be produced that is sometimes used for welding. Many steel fabricators will use this method as a means of cutting metal as well as for welding. It is a multi-purpose method of working with a number of different metals but is probably mostly associated with fabrications that use mild steel as their principal material.

Stick Welding

Sometimes called arc welding, the process of stick welding is among the most basic methods to pick up. It is often used in domestic situations and for putting together small constructions. Heavier metals are suited to stick welding than alloys due to the temperatures involved. This technique is frequently used for motor mechanic repairs as well as fabrication projects that use precision laser cutting to make smaller components.

Share