Plasma cutters online store in the UK by WeldingSuppliesDirect: When you’re looking over different welding helmet options, you might come across the phrase “ANSI Approved.” ANSI is the regulating body that makes standards governing the performance of welding helmet shades, among many other things. The most recent standard comes from 2003 and is called ANSI Z87.1-2003. It specifies various tests a shade needs to pass to be certified. The key here is that many welding helmets were formerly ANSI-approved, but that was before the increased standards that came about in 2003. Make sure any helmet you choose meets the more modern version of helmet standards. There are a lot of basic welding masks on the market. These are simple frame-mounted masks that tilt up and down, have the most basic level of fixed-darkness shading, and have basically no additional protection for things like your neck, ears, or top of your head. See extra info here Welding Supplies.
Welding is a vital process in many industries, but it involves significant hazards that can pose risks to health and safety. Understanding and implementing rigorous safety protocols is not only a responsibility, it’s an essential part of every welder’s daily routine. These measures help prevent accidents, reduce injury risks, and ensure a safer workplace for everyone involved. Welders face various dangers including burns from hot metal and sparks, eye damage from ultraviolet and infrared rays emitted during welding, respiratory issues from inhaling fumes and gases, and risks of electric shock. Each hazard requires specific precautions to protect the health and safety of welders.
The strength of a joint can be imperative or a non-factor, depending on the purpose of the welding process. Arc welding joints are generally extremely strong unless they are not performed properly. The resulting strength of the material is often at least as strong as the base materials and, in many cases, actually stronger. Brazing joints are not structural in general, but they can bear some load. In plumbing, for example, water hammering can be an issue in some systems, so the joints need to be able to stand up to that kind of force. They are not structural, however, so there is a maximum load they can bear. Soldering joints are almost never structural in any way, and the forces they handle are more electrical than tensile, linear, or shear. As such, they are not very strong, but they don’t need to be. There should, ideally, be next to no force put on them.
Shielding gas is simultaneously supplied to the weld area to create a protective layer from atmospheric contamination. The simplicity of this welding technique allows it to be one of the preferred choices for industrial welding, manufacturing, construction and for the automotive sector. GMAW has pretty much replaced atomic hydrogen welding (AHW), mainly because of the availability of inexpensive inert gases. Tungsten inert gas welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and an inert shielding gas. In contrast to MIG/MAG welding, using separate filler metal in TIG welds is optional and depends on the project. As welding continues to evolve, its standards and norms also improve with time. New possibilities constantly arise, allowing us to weld new material combinations while guaranteeing and improving weld strength and process safety. With the recent developments in hybrid welding, we can only expect welding technology to continue shaping the future of engineering.
How to pick a welder tips: Duty cycle: The advertised amperage of the machine offers a headline guide, but the duty cycle of the machine gives up the truth. Light industrial machine duty cycles can be as low as 20%, but more heavy duty MIG’s should range between 40-60%. If a 300amp MIG has 30% duty cycle for instance, it’s on the edge of acceptability. Duty cycle is determined by how many minutes out of 10, it can weld at 100%. Duty cycle testing: MIGS tested at 20 Degrees & 40 Degrees we consider good. (Beware any manufacturer who doesn’t quote an ambient temperature for testing) Manufacturer’s warranty: Always a great guide to quality. A three year warranty is good. Weld characteristics: Make sure the arc is smooth & suits your application. (Some machines are better suited at the low range and others at higher amperage range).
Power tool pioneers Bosch have been in the game since 1886. They certainly know a thing or two about making one of the best corded angle grinders on the market. I was amazed at the power output and precision you can achieve with the GWS 7-115 angle grinder. Starting off with the look and feel of this grinder, it’s surprisingly slimline and lightweight. It’s certainly easy to hold on to and weighs less than 2 kg. Bosch have made use of a clever 20° angle side handle as well for ultimate precision grinding. Making use of one of Bosch’s brilliant 720 Watt Champion motors, you know this is a tool that’s built to last. Everything is chunky and built for hard work. They’ve included a two-stage safety switch to avoid accidental starts, which is essential for any tool like this. The motor spins a 115 mm cutting disc up to an impressive 11,000 rpm. There’s a relatively low amount of vibration when in use as well. Just 6.5 m/s², which isn’t bad at all for corded grinders. I like the fact that Bosch have flattened the gear head. This reduces the overall size and makes it easy to get into tight spots. If you’re looking for one of the best angle grinders from one of the top names in the business, this is a great choice.
This is a professional MIG welder by Lincoln Electric with brass-to-brass connections, solid metal wire drive and a 220v / 240 volt input. Every feature is of professional quality. The case is much thicker metal than the Chinese machines, the circuit board is enclosed and it uses stainless steel hinges. These details matter when you put food on the table with your welder. With a welding range between 30 and 180 amps, the Easy MIG 180 can weld on everything from thin sheet metal on a car grille all the way up to frame modifications on the same vehicle, including metal up to ½-inch thick. At 130 amps, the duty cycle is 30 percent, making it unlikely you’d ever reach the point for most jobs where the automatic thermal shutoff kicks in. The Easy MIG 180 comes with a Harris regulator and the gun has a 10-foot connection. Lincoln Electric has an arc-starting technology that’s almost completely spatter-free, giving you time to dial in just the right settings for the task at hand. Lincoln includes both gasless and MIG nozzles, backing the Easy MIG 180 with a 3-year warranty.
Some advices about welding equipment, MIG and TIG welders, plasma cutters. Welding faster may sound appealing, but aside from practice, there are few shortcuts when creating a strong weld. In fact, unless a situation calls for a fast-moving weld, there’s a good chance that slow and steady is the way to go. An online search for ways to weld faster, will yield either descriptions of the ways automated welding has increased welding speed or press releases from companies who claim their gas or electrode holds the key to improving welding speed. In other words, it can seem like spending a lot of money is the only way to weld faster. However, for those looking for some ways to save time on their welding projects, there are some ways to weld faster for certain projects. While it’s not always a good idea to find a way to weld faster, there are situations when welding faster may produce a better product or a few simple changes can speed up the time on task.
The X-Tractor from Lincoln has a “Mini” in it, which is self-explanatory. The machine isn’t as heavy-duty as most welding fume extractors, but no other device can beat the X-Tractor Mini in terms of portability. The X-Tractor Mini is compact and extremely lightweight. You can just pick it up and set it anywhere you like, from your garage to a store. But, the lighter weight doesn’t compromise efficiency. 2 Different Airflow Settings and 2.4 HP Motor This portable weld fume extractor comes with 2 different settings to choose the preferred airflow. The lower one will generate 95 cubic feet per minute, and the higher one will generate 108 cubic feet of airflow per minute. The amount of airflow seemed a little less to me, but you can’t expect more from a 2.4 HP motor. Besides, the size of the machine speaks for itself that it’s highly portable, which requires a bit of compromising on the power’s end.
The Skil 10 inch drill press is equipped with a 5-speed gearing system which makes it versatile. Thus speed variation can quickly be done for drilling with different bits, bit sizes, and materials. This is a manual belt adjusted for changing speeds. Skil 10 inch drill press is built with quality materials, and one of the best budget mag drill presses in the market available. This low price pick drill press powered with 120 volts. It has a five-speed function like 570, 900, 1390, 2050, 3050 rpm.
The story of ESAB is the story of welding. When our founder Oscar Kjellberg developed the world’s first coated welding electrode in 1904, he launched a company whose innovation and uncompromising standards have helped create the history of welding itself. For more than 100 years, ESAB has been powered by the will to continuously seek new and improved ways of serving our customers. This has made ESAB a world leader in welding products and advanced cutting systems. In 2012, ESAB was acquired by Colfax Corporation, one of the world’s leading diversified industrial manufacturing companies. Colfax, like ESAB, is a solidly customer-focused company that places strong emphasis on constant innovation and improvement. From the firsts by our founder to our global growth, we take pride in what we’ve accomplished in more than a century. But we do so with a keen eye on the future. What can we do better? It’s only when we seek to build upon all we’ve learned, to perfect the innovations our customers count on to work confidently, and push ourselves and our company further that we can boldly face the future. This is how we continue to write the history of welding and cutting. At the end of the day, it’s not where you’ve been that matters most – it’s where you’re going. And for us, that’s forward.
Our welding tables are to be self-assembled. This is an easy process; full instructions are provided. A wide range of tools are available for use with these tables and they are available as added optional extras in the custom options above. If you require guidance on which tool set would be the most suitable for you please feel free to call our helpful staff. *Please note that current lead times on these welding tables are 3-4 weeks, however if you require the table quicker please alert us and we will do our best to assist with your enquiry*
The Hobart Handler 230 is unmatched in its field. It’s a powerful welder that can comfortably weld 1/2 inch steel in single phase with fantastic arc quality. Other features include a 60% duty cycle at 175A, 12 different voltage settings, and infinite wire speed control. It’s a huge unit, but there’s wheels to help move it around, and a build in cylinder rack to store your gas cylinder. Most hobbyists won’t need a welder this powerful, but if you want a reliable MIG welder with a bit of extra power, this is our top pick. You can read the full review here.
It’s also worth looking into how your welder will handle things like short-circuiting. If a short circuit issue occurs while you’re welding, you don’t want a surge of power to ruin your work. Fortunately, there are many welding companies that implement strategies in their devices to eliminate the risks of short circuits. To choose the correct portability, size and weight for your welder, you’ll need to think about what you’ll need the machine for. If you’re going to be carrying it around a lot, then you need something that’s going to be highly portable and lightweight. Just make sure that a reduction in weight doesn’t mean that you end up compromising on power or performance. See extra info on here.
The MIG welder performance depends on several parameters. The duty cycle is among them. It means the percentage of a 10-minute period the welder can work until it gets overheated. For example, “90A / 20%” means that a welder can work for 2 minutes at 90A before an 8-minute cooldown, i.e. 20% of 10 minutes. Now, about the material. We should note that the maximum thickness of a material a welder can handle depends on its amperage and welding wire thickness. Lastly, consider the thickness of the joint a welder can make in a single run. Household models can weld metal sheets from 18-gauge to 1/4” thick at the output of 70A – 180A, respectively.
United Kingdom market dive: LOTOS Technology is a California company that has only been around since 2007. Still, the LOTOS MIG is impactful and high quality enough to make it onto our list. This one is a versatile machine that is a fair price of about $400. And—provided that you have the necessary 240-volt outlet in your home—it can be set up in a matter of minutes. The duty cycle of this welding newcomer is impressive, and it can be utilized by pros and amateurs who have been continually impressed by the bang they’ve gotten for their buck. The LOTOS can weld steel and stainless steel from 18 gauge to ¼ inches and aluminum to 1/8 inch or thicker. Thermal overload protection doesn’t let this machine overheat, and infinitely adjustable heat/amperage as well as wire speed makes using the LOTOS simple. Check out the LOTOS MIG140 for a lower power alternative.
Industrial gas cylinders have been around for a long time. They are widely used for welding, medical applications, fermenting liquids, and several other applications across various industries. In addition to these, new applications for these cylinders are emerging, as new industries and technologies are evolving. These cylinders are filled with low molecular weight chemicals in a gaseous form. Acetylene, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, argon, and helium are some gases, which are used regularly. These chemical gases have distinct properties, which are exploited in various industrial applications. If not handled properly, these industrial gas cylinders may be hazardous in various industrial conditions. This post shares some important safety tips for handling industrial gas cylinders in an industrial facility.
Delivery of parts to the welding station in an organized and logical fashion is also a way to reduce welding costs. For example, one company was manufacturing concrete mixing drums. In the fabrication process, the company produced 10 parts for one section, then went on to make 10 parts of another drum section, etc. As pieces came off the line, they were put onto the floor of the shop. When it was time to weld, the operator had to hunt for the pieces needed and sort through them. When the outside welding expert pointed out the amount of time being wasted in this process, the company started to batch each one on a cart. In this way, the pieces needed to weld one drum were stored together and could easily be moved to the welding area. This type of scenario is also true for companies that may outsource parts to a vendor. Though it may cost more to have parts delivered in batches, it may save more in time than having to organize and search through parts to be able to get to the welding stage. How many times each piece is handled in the shop may be an eye-opener to reducing wasted time. To measure such an intangible as this, operators are asked to put a soapstone mark on the piece each time it is touched – some companies are surprised to find out how many times a part is picked up, transported and laid down in the manufacturing process. In the case of one company, moving the welding shop closer to the heat treatment station eliminated four extra times that the part was handled. Basically, handling a part as few times as possible and creating a more efficient production line or work cell will reduce overall costs.