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Learn everything about gas welding, the equipment required, its techniques and applications, and how to safely wield it while working.
Published 7 Jul 2023
Gas welding is a process used to melt and then join metal parts, this involves fuel—specifically acetylene—in combination with oxygen to generate high-temperature flames of up to 3,200 degrees Celsius. Due to its versatility, portability, and cost-effectiveness, welding with gas is still one the most favored choices since other options require specialized skill. This method is utilized in various applications across industries, including automotive, construction, and manufacturing.
Metal forging is one of the oldest crafts, dating back 3000 B.C. when ancient civilizations created weapons, jewelry, and dining utensils. The practice continued in the Middle Ages, making blacksmithing important as wares like locks, nails, horseshoes, and armors were in-demand. But it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution when modern welding methodologies were introduced.
In 1800, Sir Humphry Davy observed the creation of an arc between two carbon electrodes. This discovery opened the possibility of joining metals by focusing the arc’s heat. Three decades later, his cousin Edmund Davy discovered the use of acetylene, which boosted shipbuilding, railroad construction, and other industrial fabrications.
To understand this welding system better, take a look at the required equipment. Aside from the two pieces of metals that need to be joined, here are the must-haves:
Gas welding does not always require a filler material – one of the reasons why it is a cheaper option compared to other kinds of welding like MIG (Metal Inert Gas) or FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding).
Gas welding has different types, depending on the fuel used. Here are the most common:
Despite the emergence of more high-tech welding methods like plasma, laser, and electron beam welding, gas welding with oxy-acetylene is still quite common these days and is continually used in various industries:
Serious injuries face welders when they do not adhere to basic safety precautions during hot work procedures. Potential hazards include eye damage due to the heat, burns from the sparks, exposure to toxic fumes and radiation, and many more. Fortunately, these are all preventable when both the worker and their employers are serious about following protocols.
Versatility, manueverability, and cost-effectiveness are just a few reasons for gas welding’s continued popularity in various industries. But working with flame and combustible gas is incredibly risky that is why you will need a partner that could help enforce gas welding working protocols and foster a culture of safety among your workforce. Let that reliable partner be SafetyCulture.
Eunice Arcilla Caburao
Eunice is a content contributor for SafetyCulture. A registered nurse, theater stage manager, Ultimate Frisbee athlete, and mother, Eunice has written a multitude of topics for over a decade now.
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