The Complexity of the Weld Depends on the Complexity of the Job
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by: RobertLankford
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Choosing between a tig welder and spot welder depends upon the type of job required. When the work is more detailed and requires a stronger, higher quality weld, a tig welder is the best choice. But while it creates a stronger segued weld, tig welding requires considerable skill to do correctly. For welds where strength is not as crucial, a spot welder may be more ideal because it's simpler and more cost effective.
Spot welding is simpler, easy enough that it can be done through automation. It's better when you need a more consistent and efficient job. It just depends on the complexity of the weld needed. For welds that require more control and strength, use a tig welder, and spot welder for simpler jobs where strength isn't as essential.
Using electrodes to create heat and high pressure to melt the weld, spot welding concentrates on a small spot. Its advantage is speed, as the weld can quickly be performed in a split second, making it easily repeatable.
While it's not very good for thick metal, spot welding works quite well on sheet metal. It's speed and efficiency make it ideal for automation, although the weld can cause the metal to harden and twist, which will ultimately weaken its strength.
Tig welding is more complicated as the material must be kept absolutely clean and free of contaminants. It uses a shielding gas to protect against contaminants, as dirt and oil can weaken the quality of the weld.
On top of the cleanliness required, tig welding uses a short arc, which makes it more difficult to control. Tig welding is easily the hardest weld to perform in the industry, as keeping the electrode and work piece from contacting can be difficult and takes experience to master. The weld also takes more time and care to be performed correctly.
But when performed correctly, tig welding wields some of the strongest bonds possible. Because an unlimited amount of material can be applied to the weld in complex configurations, the weld can be as strong as whatever's necessary.
But whether you need tig welding or spot welding, portability will give you more options on the job. Frequently, you'll be welding large objects that are too heavy to take to the shop. Many of the newer welding models take this into consideration and are designed to be light and portable. It's important to be able to weld on the move.
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Interested in learning more about how to become a welder but don't know what a mig welder or tig welders are, here are a couple places the author says can help you learn more about how to become a welder.
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