If you are looking forward to starting a welding business, it is very important to ensure you are familiar with all the tools involved. Welding electrodes are components that play a huge role in the welding industry and come in several types. You will note that one cannot use any type of electrode on any metal as they may not get the desired results. In this regard, it is very important to put some factors into consideration when choosing welding electrodes as outlined in this article.
The first thing you should consider when choosing welding electrodes is whether you require consumable or non-consumable electrodes. You will note that consumable electrodes are consumed by being melted during the welding process. On the other hand, there are non-consumable electrodes which are not consumed but become part of the welding process. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate if you require consumable or non-consumable welding electrodes during your search. Your choice will depend on the type of welding process you will be using.
You will also find that there are light and heavy coated welding electrodes. For light coated electrodes, they have a light coating that is mostly applied through spraying or brushing and are usually used on light metals or surfaces. On the other hand, heavy coated welding electrodes have a heavy coating mostly made of minerals and cellulose among others. Heavy coated welding electrodes are most used for hard surfaces, steel and cast iron among other metals. The type of metal you will be using determines a lot when it comes to the type of welding electrode to use. You will note that not every type of electrode can be used on any metal. For example, the type of electrode you would use on aluminium would not work well on steel. Therefore, make sure you have identified the type of metal you will be using and choose the electrode that will facilitate better welding results.
It is equally important to consider the ability of the welding electrode to withstand corrosion. This is very important if you are considering buying them in bulk to use them on a huge project. Therefore, if you want to buy them in bulk, ensure the type of electrodes you choose can withstand corrosion for a longer time as this will ensure that they perform as expected. Also, you can protect them from corrosion if you store them in a water and air tight containers as corrosion occurs due to oxidation. You will note that oxidation is the process where metal react once exposed to water and air. It is equally important to note that using rusted electrodes during welding may affect the results in a huge way. Positioning should also be considered during your search. You will note that each type of electrode is qualified for a particular positioning. Here, there are some that may be used in a vertical, horizontal or overhead position. Therefore, depending on the positioning you choose, you will be able to determine the right welding electrodes to use.