10 Easy Welding and Fabrication Tips & Resources

Ever since that first stone was used to cut other stones into a wheel, humans have naturally desired to turn the material into something useful. As a result, our evolving community has moved us from rocks to metals to plastics, while tools have evolved from stone to sophisticated tools such as grinders, drills, and welders.

Although many crafts of Welding and fabricating finished products are written and taught, many valuable tips and resources are still left undocumented. This article pays close attention to easy Tips & Resources for improving your Welding and Fabrication process.

Welding Tips & Resources 

Below are the detailed tips and resources for a couple of steel welding processes, including MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas). Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding relies on the continuous spool feeding of hot metal wire to health two metals. However, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) uses a tungsten electrode with shielding gas. Therefore, TIG is more precise than MIG but a very time-consuming method.

Point your Wire at the Leading Edge of Weld Puddle

For best accuracy during the MIG Welding process, keep your electrode towards the leading edge. If you are welding in an unusual place, you should use smaller diameter wires to keep the weld pool small and reduce friction.

Choose the Right Rod Size

The thickness of the rod should preferably match the metal thickness you’re working with. You don’t want to use a thick metal rod, because you can easily place it on a high-temperature rod instead of a sheet. TIG welding has several advantages such as increased precision, but you still need to use the right tools.

Clean the metal before Welding

If the metal you want to weld is scaled, rusted, or painted, you should clean it before starting. Unlike MIG welding, uncleaned metal can easily damage the metal in TIG welding. In addition, simply polishing the metal is not enough and can lead to a sticky texture if you choose to take shortcuts in preparation.

Make sure you extend the tungsten electrode to the correct length.

During TIG welding, it is essential to have the electrode tip at the correct length to get the desired product. If the tip is not sticking out far enough, you won’t see it or where you’re welding the metal. However, if the tip is too far from the cup, the heat from the torch won’t focus properly on the area you are trying to weld and eventually burn the rod into the weld.

Check your ventilation

It is imperative that you breathe clean air while you weld. Therefore, you must wear an appropriate respirator to protect yourself from harmful metal fumes and oxide compounds. If you face issues with your ventilation system, stop Welding and immediately address the issue.

Fabrication Tips & Resources 

Adopt new technology to become a better fabricator

The best examples of continuous improvement are those that improve the quality of a part or increase the number of parts. One way to start Kaizen’s most significant change is by talking to your tool supplier. These people spend their days traveling to different shops and get to see firsthand what works and what doesn’t, who attend company-sponsored seminars on new production technologies, and whose salaries are often determined by customer success.

Adopting Lean Management

There are many ways to improve the production process, but lean management is at the top of the list. Lean management helps fabricators develop the best practices to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and continually improve performance. While these endeavors may seem overwhelming, implementing the lean concept will help fabricators improve quality and achieve faster results.

Market your fabrication business vertically.

What is vertical integration? If you had a stainless-steel, DeLorean, you could accelerate to 88 miles per hour and go out much easier as the machine bends, shapes, and rotates. But for many manufacturers, these easy days are over. Their customers prefer cost-effective and economical sources for their production needs, and they want suppliers to be able to deliver finished products, even if it means you have to master machining, fabricating, painting, testing, and assembly, all under one roof.

Shorten Setups, increase productivity

Workshops in the US, Europe, and Canada are expected to produce small items in a short time and at a competitive price and lead time.

Unfortunately, the ability to complete the task in minutes, not hours, depends mainly on the type of equipment and software. For example, most press brakes have quick release devices, such as a system that control inexperienced operators through proper die placement and punch.

Offline programming and simulation software also eliminates the working hours of machines. All are essential factors in shortening the repair time, but be careful. It needs a lot of investment and a small amount of planning.

Analyze your fabrication workflow

Over the years, you have relied on instinct and perhaps a solid drive to improve your fabrication process. Nowadays, these old-fashioned skills are not sustainable if you clearly understand your current workflow. So instead, identify everything needed to provide the product, including processes, people, technology, methods, communication, and resources required for construction.

Another consideration is a mapping exercise to help you assess, monitor, and identify areas for improvement. For example, when you document your workflow, you can specify a labor-intensive or high-quality area. It allows you to eliminate workflows that don’t add value to the product.

Wrapping Up

Every welder and fabricator aims to obtain consistent and stable operation for his project. So, the welder and fabricator who wants to deliver the best results should follow these tips. Make sure you read all the tips and resources of welding and fabrication. Welding can be a fun and safe professional as long as you educate yourself with some valuable tips.

Whether you are a seasoned professional, just getting into the welding and fabrication profession, or a passionate welding hobbyist, it can’t hurt to brush up on some easy tips and resources.

If you are a beginner and want to read more valuable and informative articles you are at the right place.