Welding is an important trade in many industries ranging from oil and gas and construction, to automotive and aerospace. The right welding tools and accessories can help new welders get the results they want and finish jobs faster. Linde has a large selection of welding accessories and tools that every new welder should consider adding to their tool set.

Laying Out Materials for Welding

When laying out materials to weld, many welders use marking tools like felt-tip paint markers and ball-point paint markers. An affordable option is soapstone, which when used with soapstone holders, can be an effective marking tool. It is easy to use and creates clear and durable marks on metal - markings can endure flame heating and weld preparation, and still be readable.

Welding magnets are another useful tool when laying out your materials to weld. They can hold pieces in place and have shapes and angles that are useful for making accurate 90-degree joints. Combine magnets with welding clamps and laying out your welds can become quite easy. 

                                                      Welding magnet

Preparing to Weld

As you prepare to weld, keep welding safety in mind - you need proper personal protective equipment (PPE).  In addition to a welding hood and welding gloves. It is recommended to always wear safety glasses when in industrial environments and near welding processes, even when you are welding with your welding helmet down. Consistent eye protection is important for welding safety, even as you raise and lower your welding helmet. Linde carries a wide variety of clear safety glasses in differing styles, shapes and widths to help you protect yourself.

A leather jacket, apron or cape sleeve set can help you to protect your torso from arcs and sparks. They are also available in cotton, if preferable, and some styles have pockets to keep important supplies conveniently nearby.

When preparing to weld, be sure there is adequate ventilation in the welding area. Opening a garage or overhead door and using of shop fans can help circulate fresh air into the welding area. Linde provides a variety of equipment and supplies, including portable fume collectors and respirators, to help you remove fumes or dust from your welding area and to help you work safely in the presence of welding fumes. Visit the welding and cutting accessories product section of our website for more information on products that can help with welding safety.

Finally, consider spraying the weld area on your work piece with anti-spatter spray. Linde carries a few different brands and formulations. The proper application of anti-spatter spray can make it harder for molten steel from the weld to stick to the welded piece, making cleanup easier.

Making Your Weld

There are a number of welding techniques and welding processes. You’ll likely use one of the primary processes welding techniques. MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding is popular process and can weld a variety of metals and thicknesses. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding is frequently chosen for welding thinner materials and welds that may be intricate or require greater control of heat input. SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) welding is often referred to as stick welding and is a common method due to the relative simplicity of the process and equipment.

Linde offers a variety of welding wires for MIG welding and offers TIG rods and tungsten electrodes for TIG welding. Additionally, Linde has coated electrodes for stick welding. Welding wires come in many grades, the choice of which varies depending upon the material you are welding and the expectations for the piece being welded.

The most common welding wire is ER70S-6. It is available as TIG rods as well. ER70S-6 welding wire is intended for welding mild steel for common applications where the tensile strength requirement is 70,000 psi or lower. It is available in a number of diameters, the choice of which varies according to the thickness of the metal you will be welding.

Many other welding wire grades are available and suitable for other types of carbon steel and high tensile steel, chrome moly alloyed wires, stainless steel wires, aluminum, titanium and more. Each of these are available in different grades, forms and diameters for MIG or TIG welding. We also carry a wide selection of MIG welders, TIG welding packages and stick welding machines from leading manufacturers, including Miller Electric, Lincoln, ESAB, and HOBART.

After You Weld

Once you have completed a weld, it is now time for post-weld processing. Always utilize proper PPE for post-weld processing.  If you are MIG welding with solid wire and gas, you may only have some soot on the weld or perhaps a small amount of welding spatter. Soot can be easily cleaned with a hand wire brush or grinder with a wire wheel. 

Welding spatter looks like metal BB’s on the surface of the welded piece. They are droplets of molten metal, generated by the weld, that stick to the metal being welded. They are commonly removed with grinding wheels used with an angle grinder. 

If TIG welding, you may be pleasantly surprised that post-weld processing is rarely needed. Exceptions may be seen with aluminum, where the finished piece needs to be anodized, or with stainless steel, where the weld area or heat affected zone needs to be pickled (removing a damaged chromium-oxide layer) and passivated (restoring a healthy chromium oxide layer) in order to restore the metal’s natural corrosion resistance. Linde has stainless steel pickling and passivation products to help you get the expected performance out of your stainless steel welded pieces. 

When SMAW (stick) welding, the use of stick electrodes can leave slag covering the weld. Slag is a hardened layer covering a weld that is comprised of flux from the coating as well as impurities from the weld. There are several tools to remove welding slag, including chipping hammers, grinding wheels, as well as hand wire brushes and wire wheels. All waste should be disposed of in accordance with local laws, rules, and regulations.

                                                    Welding Spatter

Conclusion

No matter your intended weld project, Linde has the welding accessories and products to help you improve your productivity and final product quality. Visit your local Linde retail store, our Welding Gas and Equipment Centers. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff can assist and make recommendations on which products will suit your particular needs and processes. From contact tips and gloves to welding robotics and automated cutting systems, Linde is your preferred team for products, customer service and technical support.