Gas Welding And Cutting Equipment
Welding has been used in industrial applications since the late 1800s to combine two pieces of metal. This versatile technique is used daily in a number of industries, including construction, shipbuilding, field repair, structural welding, and more. In the welding world, there are several welding techniques that produce similar results, and they are typically selected based on the application and unique working environment. One such technique is gas welding, which is quickly becoming one of the most popular modalities found in workshops worldwide. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about this welding technology, various components and gasses used.
Gas welding makes use of the reactive properties of various gasses to cut or join pieces of metal. Gas welding is generally cheaper and easier to learn than other types, thus leading to its widespread adoption. When trying to understand this kind of welding, it is important to appreciate the various gasses used in normal operation.
Argon: Argon is a widely used non-toxic inert gas that naturally has low thermal conductivity and reactivity with other elements. It is most commonly used in welding as a shielding gas, which helps prevent bubbles from forming in molten metal, which can lead to an uneven weld.
Acetylene: This highly reactive gas is combined with oxygen to quickly produce an extremely hot flame. The heat generated from this flame is used in cutting and welding applications and is the most popular type of gas for both.
Helium: Another inert and very stable gas, helium is used as a gas shield to prevent welding flaws.
Hydrogen: Like acetylene, hydrogen is highly flammable and is thus used alongside oxygen to cut and weld. It also carries the additional capability of being used in high-pressure situations, such as underwater welding and cutting.
Oxygen: Oxygen is used as a combustion catalyst when combined with reactive gasses like hydrogen and acetylene.
Each gas cylinder is equipped with a pressure regulator, which allows the user to modulate the pressure to an optimal working level. Using an adjustment knob, the operator can quickly increase or decrease the flow rate and outflow pressure. Such regulators may come in a single or two-stage configuration, with the two-stage option delivering a more constant outlet pressure and flow rate.
The working end of the gas welding system is the torch, of which there are several classes:
Equal Pressure Torch: This oxyacetylene torch feeds an equal amount of the two gasses into the mixing chamber and can operate between 1-15psi. Although less efficient than other torches, there is a marked reduction in the change of flashback with this design.
Injector Torch: Injector torches use low-pressure alternative fuels like propane and propylene and mix them with high-pressure oxygen. While technically cheaper in terms of resources, these torches are more prone to flashback and are generally incompatible with large heating attachments.
Cutting Torch: This torch is explicitly designed to facilitate metal cutting. They use a pre-heat element to bring the metal to a vulnerable temperature before using a high-pressure blast of oxygen to make an oxide which is then blown away.
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