Practical Welding Today July/August 2011

Experiencing arc bowing during aluminum welds? Our experts explain what causes arc blow and what you can do to mitigate it when welding aluminum.

Q: I work for a structural steel fabricator and we are getting ready to start work on a bridge job that specifies A588 material. We have worked on this material in the past using a weathering-grade filler metal. Our engineer has recommended we use a 1 percent nickel electrode. Is this right? A:...

Q: I know of welding manufacturing companies that do not use welding procedure specifications (WPS), their welders are not qualified, and their welders inspect their own welds! How can these companies get away with this? Nelson M. A: I have been in many fab shops that lack documentation on...

Welding and fabricating using exotic metals requires a special touch, one that Schwabel Fabricating Co., Tonowanda, N.Y., has built its business on for the last 53 years.

Resistance welding transformers generate a lot of heat, which is why most of them are designed to be water-cooled. But when condensation forms internally as a result of an improperly set chiller temperature, a number of catastrophic issues can arise. To avoid this, it's best to understand what causes internal condensation and how you can prevent it.

Ray Carrington will tell you that he is not an artist. However, the 81-year-old retired math teacher has metal sculputres on display throughout the nation, and continues to work on pieces to give away.

Today's job shops must be prepared to deal with a variety of materials for fabrication and welding. As each material may require a different mixed shielding gas for gas metal arc welding (GMAW), familiarize yourself with these gases and the most efficient supply methods for various applications.