MIG Welding is short for Metal Inert Gas Welding, it's a process that has been widely used since 1948 and has largely remained the same. They changed the name a few years ago to Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).but the name has never really stuck!
MIG welding is so useful because of the versatility when it comes to welding different types of metals such as Carbon, Stainless Steel, Magnesium, Aluminium, Nickle, Silicon Bronze and other alloys.
MIG Welding involves a solid wire electrode being fed through a copper contact tube in the welding gun, this conducts a welding current into the wire and an ARC is struck between the end of the wire electrode and the workpiece, and this melts both of them forming a weld pool. The weld pool surrounding atmosphere is protected by a shielding gas which is fed through the nozzle surrounding the wire. Your shielding gas selection depends on the material being welded and the application.
ADVANTAGES OF MIG WELDING
MIG welding gives you the ability to join a wide range of metals and a variety of thicknesses.
Generally regarded as one of the easier types of welding to learn.
High quality welds are produced often faster than other welding techniques.
Minor weld spatter is produced due to the gas protecting the arc.
Fewer stops and starts due to the continuously fed wire electrode.
No stub end losses caused by changing electrodes.
All-position Welding capabilities.
As with everything in life nothing is perfect, we have also included a list of disadvantages.
DISADVANTAGES OF MIG WELDING
Unsuitable for outdoor welding since you need shielding gas to protect the weld.
Cost Consumables need replaced regularly.
MIG welders can only really be used on thin to medium/thick metals, it doesn't deliver proper penetration on thicker metals.
Not ideal for portability due to the wire feeder and gas bottle needed.
So there it is, a basic guide to MIG welding. Don't hesitate to contact us if you need any other information or check out our range of MIG Welders here.
On 14 January,
the HSE.GOV shared with the Industry and Regulatory Forum that they have
raised enforced control measures for welding operations in the UK.
This follows an announcement from the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC), who classified welding fumes and UV radiation from
welding as Group 1 carcinogens.
The raised enforced control standards are highlighted below:
All forms of welding fume can cause cancer.
Control is required
Indoor welding tasks require the use of LEV. If LEV is unable
to control all of the fume capture then Respiratory Protective Equipment
(RPE) is also required.
Outdoor welding requires use of RPE.
Enforcement of the raised control standards is with immediate
effect under COSHH Regulation.
Action
required
Make
sure exposure to any welding fume released is adequately controlled
using engineering controls (typically LEV).
Make
sure suitable controls are provided for all welding activities,
irrelevant of duration. This includes welding outdoors.
Where
engineering controls alone cannot control exposure, then adequate and
suitable RPE should be provided to control risk from any residual fume.
Make
sure all engineering controls are correctly used, suitably maintained
and are subject to thorough examination and test where required.
Make
sure any RPE is subject to an RPE programme. An RPE programme
encapsulates all the elements of RPE use you need to ensure that your
RPE is effective in protecting the wearer.
*Premier welding can
help* We have stock ready
to go ensuring all our customers comply with the new guidelines. The industry
is struggling to keep up with demand and this stock wont last long.
After many years of successfully selling the Jackson range of Air Fed Helmets it's now a case of ‘all good things must come to an end' as the Airmax Blower Unit sold with the Jackson Helmets is in the process of being discontinued??
There are very limited stocks of the Airmax's available, but as the Main Filters will also be discontinued I have taken the decision sadly to not promote the Jackson range anymore.
We do however have excellent stocks of both Filters and Helmet spares to enable us to supply our existing customers for some time yet, so all is not lost!!
The good news however is the two new ranges I've sourced.
The Malina Clean Air & Horizon Momentum helmets, Both offer fantastic & unique products, with the more competitively priced Horizon Momentum System offering a price similar to that of the Jackson, but with far more features and benefits such as True Colour Technology and TH3 Certification and already these are flying out the door to my local customers who have numerous Jackson Systems that need to be replaced.
So have a look at them on our website where there is a presentation highlighting these benefits and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch
As always thank you for your continued support and custom.