Advanced Welding Techniques You Need to Know About

Welding is an art form, and over time, you start to develop skills that improve your welding capabilities.

12:26 07 March 2020

At some point, you will need to take the next step to improve to a point where you can be considered advanced. For some, it might come naturally, while others need a little push. The important thing to know about getting advanced in welding is to know the techniques.

These techniques can help introduce more opportunities for you to find work as you hone your craft. While for many, it might just be time to add to your repertoire of abilities so you can be more productive. Whatever your needs are, these advanced welding techniques should be must-have information.

Weld Purging

Technically speaking, weld purging is not an advanced technique, but improving at this function of welding will allow you to be more productive, which should be the goal of any tradesperson. Weld purging is the removal of gases, water, and other materials that can be harmful to the joints of a weld. Since joints are extremely hot during the welding process, these materials can conjoin, which reduces the overall strength of the metal. By inserting gases like nitrogen, argon, or helium, you can push away the unwanted gases or moisture to perform a clean weld. If welding is an art form, then creating a great product with weld purging should be part of your arsenal of knowledge.

Hyperbaric Welding

Hyperbaric welding, or as it is more commonly known as, underwater welding, is the process of welding in high-pressure environments. With the development of more technology, we are now able to weld underwater, which is a very lucrative career venture. You might not be looking to do welding on deep-sea oil rigs, but knowing that welding near or in water is important. Working around any kind of water with welding involves requires better materials, and water soluble paper, dissolvable tapes, and other durable materials are a must. Welding workspaces, dry or wet, should take into account the need for cleanliness, as safety can be impaired when there is material laying around or getting in the way.

Ultrasonic Welding

Using the power of high-frequency sound, materials move at a high speed until heat is formed, which starts the welding process. The advancement of technology in the field of welding is amazing when you consider the techniques that are employed to further the craft. Welding with ultrasonic techniques creates a weld that is not unlike a spot weld. However, this technique is not used much for metal and is used primarily for plastic. This is still useful, as a good welder should have a diverse range of materials they are comfortable working with, and plastic is such a common material in everyday life that there is little to no reason not to work with it.

Automated Welding

Do not be worried, automation will not take over everything, but it has opened up a new world for welding techniques. With the use of automated welding technology, the ability to create tight arcs is very possible, as well as reducing power output. Even though the actual welding is being done by an automated piece of robotics, you can still benefit. This helps reduce the amount of work you need to do, and you can focus on the potential for mechanical repair skills. Automation does not mean replacement, as human welders are still highly valuable compared to robotic variations. Regardless, knowing the potential for enhanced gas uses, and weld quality is still something to consider for advancing your knowledge.

Electron Beam Welding

If we are talking advanced welding techniques, then this one is probably the hardest to top. The name is as advertised as the welding is done by firing electrons into the material at a fast rate to create heat, and thus, weld. You are probably unlikely to use this, and it is costly to do because it is needed for dense materials or precise welds, but again it is good to know. Improving your knowledge does include having the heads up on these kinds of techniques if you are tasked with using an electron beam weld project.

Advanced welding techniques are aplenty with the growing need for more precise weld jobs. With that in mind, improving your skills as a welder means knowing what these techniques are. As evidenced by the above points, you can see what kind of changes have occurred over the years for welding potential, and these are just a few of those techniques you should know.