What is welding and what is specialist welding? Find out everything you need to know in this blog.
Welding is a common process in the metal fabrication industry. Particularly, it’s crucial for sheet metal fabrication.
Welding joins materials using high heat to melt the parts together, forming a strong bond. Welding is typically done using metal materials, though can also be used on thermoplastics for other purposes.
Specialist welding differs from traditional welding in a few ways. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about specialist welding, but first starting with the basics.
The four main types of welding are Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Metal Active Gas (MAG) welding, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), gas welding and brazing. All these types of welding produce a strong bond that’s hard to break. Customised Sheet Metal are experts in all four of these main welding types.
Read more about welding in our blog how to weld here.
Specialist welding covers a wide range of stainless steels in their numerous forms. This includes, but is not limited to:
The reason for the different types of stainless steel is that they all have slightly different properties. Duplex and super duplex stainless steel both typically have properties including heat resistance and higher corrosion resistance.
This makes them ideal material choices for tough applications and for products which require corrosion resistant and strength.
310 grade stainless steel similarly has heat resistance properties, and it’s one typically chosen for products such as heaters, furnaces, crucibles and kilns for pottery, as it withstands corrosion under high temperatures.
320 stainless steel additionally has the heat resistance properties.
Specialist welding is the welding of this variation of metals for specific applications and purposes.
It’s the job of the welding specialist to weld the chosen metals together to start forming the joints and shape of the required product. Using knowledge and experience in the industry, the welding specialist will typically use one of the four common types of welding to bond the specialist materials together.
The main difference between standard and specialist welding is the choice of material. Typically, welding is done with mild steel to manufacture products. This often includes; storage units, such as racking and shelving, used in our warehouse solutions, vessels such as guns and tanks, balustrading, guarding for machinery, control panels and electrical cabinets, to name a few!
Other popular creations made using mild steel welding include architectural structures, steel buildings, bridges and fencing, as more commonly known pieces.
The main difference between standard and specialist welding is that standard welding uses mild steel, and specialist welding uses more specific types of materials.
The specific materials that are used in specialist welding contain certain properties to create products to serve a particular purpose.
An earlier example of this is the production of a furnace, which would require a very specific metal with an incredibly large heat resistance. Manufacturing this product would be a task for a specialist welder.
When you work with an experienced team of welders, such as Customised Sheet Metal, you should have many options with your choice of metal when it comes to specialist welding.
Our specialist welding services extend to being able to weld aluminium, copper, brass, zinc, and tantalum.
We have the ability to weld all grades of weldable aluminium. Note, that some grades of this metal can’t be welded. Examples of specialist welded aluminium would include rainwater goods, aluminium structures, aluminium moulds, and electrical cabinets.
Using specialist welding, we have created copper worktops and other copper fabrications, including for the use of electrical applications.
Specialist welding has allowed us to weld brass for both decorative and practical purposes. This includes bar tops for decorative reasons, and back fittings for more logistic usage.
Although more of an exotic material, tantalum is still used and can be welded for electrical solutions. This material has high temperature resistance and high conductivity, making it ideal for electrical usage.
Titanium is as strong as steel but less dense. This type of metal is high in strength with high corrosion resistance making it an ideal metal for use in aircrafts and sporting goods such as tennis rackets, bicycle frames and golf clubs.
In order to weld large materials and products, a company needs to be UKCA marked. This is something that CSM are certified for. In addition, we have both certification and welding procedures for pre- and post- heating metals, which is essential for specialist welding.
No matter the specifications of your product, using skills and experience in specialist welding, we are well-equipped to deal with your requirements.
Interested in how our expertise can create the product you need?
Contact us today.