Industrial & Manufacturing Blog
The electrode is one of the most significant parts of a welding machine. It's usually a coated metal wire made of the same materials as the metal you're welding, and it melts during the welding process, making it possible to join different metal pieces together. If you are in the market for welding electrodes, the selection process won't be as straightforward, especially if you are not a professional. You must consider many factors to find the best alternative for your welding needs. Therefore, if you are unsure of the correct welding electrodes to use, here are some quick tips to help you.
Evaluate Base Metal Properties
The base metal is the material you intend to weld, and it's always a great place to start when looking for the proper welding electrodes. Metals have different properties, and the one you plan to weld will help you find the most suitable electrode. Generally, your welding electrode needs to match the base metal's properties as closely as possible to create a strong weld. Therefore, check for properties such as tensile strength, magnetism, appearance, thickness and more. Significant differences between the electrode and base or parent metal properties create welding discontinuities that can lead to cracking and other issues.
Check Your Power Source
Check your power source to determine whether it supplies direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). Welding electrodes differ when it comes to compatibility with the type of current. For instance, while some electrodes work well with DC power output, others will only function with AC power output. Therefore, pay extra attention to ensure you buy a compatible electrode. Many workshop or home electric outlets and sockets will supply AC, which means the current changes its flow periodically. On the other hand, if you need to connect your welding machine directly to a battery or generator, you would, in most cases, be using DC. This tends to be expected in outdoor applications with no electric outlets.
Worth noting is that while welding electrodes are compatible with different types of current, you can always find alternatives that work with both AC and DC. Therefore, ask for such options if you are unsure of the correct type of current from your power source.
Your specific application can also lead you to the correct option when it comes to choosing between AC and DC welding electrodes. For instance, AC compatible electrodes tend to work well for applications that involve deep penetration of metals, such as when working on thick metals. For more information, contact a welding service.
Share30 March 2021
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