The demand for welding experts has continued to grow year over year. This growth has been driven mainly by the ever-growing fabrication, manufacturing, and repair industry. Noting that of all the products produced in the United States today, more than 50 percent require welding. With that in mind, here are some basic factors you should consider before engaging a welder or welding company.

Welding method

A number of them exist today. The choice of which one to use depends on several factors. They may range from the material being welded, welding equipment available to the repair services being provided. Here are some of the most common methods available.

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG): This method is ideal for high-quality precision welding. It utilizes a tungsten electrode and an inert gas such as argon to shield the weld pool.

Metal Inert Gas (MIG): This method uses a consumable electrode made of similar material as the parts being welded. It also uses inert gas to shield the weld.

Gas Welding: It uses two gas-filled cylinders. One is filled with oxygen and the other with oxyacetylene. With the help of pressure regulators, they are both delivered to the welding torch where they are used to start a flame. The weld metals, together with the filler material, are heated to create a molten pool which then cools to form a weld. Gas welding is the most important on-site repair technique due to its versatility.

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW): It’s a method that uses a consumable flux covered electrode. It uses minimum welding gear as it only requires a constant current welding power supply and an electrode. It is widely used for small projects, repairs, and industrial fabrication. It’s mostly used to weld steel and iron.

Weld quality

The welding method used plays a significant role in determining the weld quality. However, an expert should be able to produce high-quality finishes regardless of the technique used, especially when precision is required.

Weld quality also determines the durability of the weld. The higher the quality, the longer you can expect it to last.

Materials

An expert will immediately know the most effective welding method for different materials. For example, gas welding can be used for on-site repair of pipes and tubing, while MIG can be used for aluminum welds.

Adherence to safety standards

It's important that as the client, you hire a welder that is conscious of their safety. One can easily do this by checking for simple safety gear such as safety glasses and welding helmets. This minimizes the chances of injury and liability, especially when they are doing on-site repair.

As a potential client, you may not be an expert on welding. This, however, should not stop you from getting the best welding services available in your area. With this checklist, you are now better informed on what to look out for before engaging a welder or a welding company.