There are several mechanical processes that may be utilized within a custom metal fabrication job, and one of the single most common and important is welding. Welding, which has popular uses across numerous industries, involves using heat to combine metal parts.

At Cypress Metals, we’re happy to provide numerous laser cutting and metal fabrication services, from custom fascia to cupolas and finials, chimney components and numerous others. Welding is a common process we utilize for many of our clients’ fabrication needs, and this is an area we’re happy to go into further detail on – and one you should be checking on in great detail for any metal fabrication pro you’re working with. This two-part blog will go over the basics of welding in custom metal fabrication, plus some of the questions you should ask a fabricator about their welding station and capabilities.

Welding Basics

As we noted above, welding refers to the joining of two metallic parts, typically using heat application. This method of combining metals is thousands of years old in some form or another, dating back to Arab armorers in Syria, but has improved exponentially in modern times due to technological advances.

There are now numerous types of welding available. These include gas welding, arc welding, resistance welding and others, and advances continue to be made in this field. This is just one of several reasons why it’s important to work with metal fabricators who are welding experts and will be able to adjust to changes in the industry here over time.

Our next several sections will hit on the important welding areas you should check on for any metal fabricator.

Welding Assembly

For a full-service fabricator like ours, multiple formats of welding equipment and welding assembly machinery must be on-hand. Some of the items included here should be:

• MIG welders: Many fabricators have over a dozen of these machines in their facility, reaching 450-amp capacity if needed.
• Stud welders: Proper metal fabrication stations include at least two stud welders with at least 7/8” diameter capacity.
• TIG welders: There should be at least two TIG welders on-hand, each with capacity up to 300 amp.
• Portable welders: There should also be at least one portable welder on the premises with capacities reaching 250 amp.
• OTC welding machines: These provide constant power output and prevent spatter, unlike older MIG machines with less consistent power.

Spatter Prevention

Speaking of spatter prevention, it’s also vital for a metal fabricator in the welding world. Hot spatter is not only dangerous, it can lead to significant welding errors that limit the quality of the final part.

Our fabricators prevent spatter in several ways, as should any quality contractor. We use the proper welding wire application and the right gas mixtures, for one, plus ensure there are never any surface imperfections. We also use the right torch angles and wire lengths, plus check for grounding when choosing our location.

For more on welding and the important areas to check on for any metal fabricator and their welding station, or to learn about any of our custom metal fabrication services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.