Types of welding for steel pipe

At PIECSA, we handle a variety of welding methods and processes used for stainless steel pipes. Almost all welding methods can be used to weld stainless steel pipes. Today, we will tell you a little more about the different welding methods. 

  1. Manual arc welding

Manual arc welding is one of the most economical types of welding. In it, an electric current is used to heat the frayed metal edges and seal them together. The arc length is adjusted manually, depending on the size of the gap between the electrode and the workpiece. At the same time, the electrode can also be welding filler material.

This welding method is simple and versatile, which means it can be used on small and large projects. It can be used to weld almost any material and maintains good outdoor adaptability, even underwater. If you’re looking for a more affordable weld, spot welding might be the best choice for the job.

  1. Gas tungsten arc welding.

Gas tungsten arc welding (TIG) is the most commonly used welding method for stainless steel pipes. It is suitable for welding in all positions, causes almost no spatter, and leaves a faithful, fixed, and very nice-looking result. It is ideal for thin wall steel pipes, especially 304 light wall pipes, avoiding the defects of manual arc welding, which is prone to cracking and slag removal. If you are working with thin material, TIG or gas tungsten arc welding may be the best choice.

Tungsten gas can effectively insulate air and is insoluble in metal to ensure chemical composition requirements. 

  1. Gas metal arc welding.

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is an automatic method of gas-shielded arc welding. The arc between the fusible wire and the workpiece is used as a heat source to melt the wire and base metal. Shielding gas is transported into the welding area so that the arc, molten wire, molten pool, and base metal nearby are shielded from the surrounding air. The continuous feed metal melts alongside and transits into the molten pool, which forms the weld metal with the molten base metal to connect the parts.

Gas metal arc welding can be divided into fusion inert gas (MIG) welding, fusion oxide hybrid gas (MAG) welding, CO2 gas welding, and flux cored wire gas welding. Due to the universality and excellent performance of the MIG/MAG welding method, it is still the most widely used welding method in the world and is suitable for all types of stainless steel materials.

The stainless steel pipe’s welding process varies depending on the thickness and use of the tube. Choosing the correct stainless steel welding method for your project depends on the qualities you are looking for.

In Piecsa you can find various consumables and machinery to improve your welding and get the best quality for your steel pipes.

We are a company that cares about the quality of our processes and our customers, which is why we have been ISO 9001 certified for more than five years, continuously seeking to exceed our customers’ expectations.

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