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Welding requires many tools and equipment that may be overwhelming to wade through, especially as a beginner. As a welder, you would be working with so much heat and open flame. Worry not. Whether you are a beginner in the world of welding or you're curious, here's a list of essential welding equipment to operate safely and with precision.
An auto-darkening welding helmet shields the welder's eyes and face from sparks, spatter, debris, and infrared and ultraviolet light rays. This helmet comes with an in-built auto-darkening filter. It automatically changes from a light to a dark vision level when the welding arc is struck and returns to a bright state when welding is suspended.
Before welders start welding, the auto-darkening helmet helps them see their work at normal and balanced light levels (DIN 4 state) while protecting their face and eyes. The moment the welding arc is struck, it becomes darker to accommodate the light from the sparks and rays. Once the welding stops, the lens returns to a balanced semi-transparent state. This semi-transparency helps protect their eyes from
ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) protection at all times around the clock. This protective feature complies with several safety regulations and welding safety standards.
Additionally, auto-darkening welding helmets reduces the pressure and strain on the neck linked to “helmet nodding.” With auto-darkening welding helmets, welders have improved accuracy and do not need to raise their helmets to look closely at the welding work in progress; this reduces the need for rework. It also helps welders avoid retina burns that can lead to severe vision loss.
Welding gloves are essential equipment required for any form of welding you do. Welding gloves are made with layers of durable fabric and insulation. They aim to prevent your hands from high heat exposure, sparks, flame and splatter. There are two types of welding gloves you should know:
MIG welding gloves are padded on the back of the hand to protect your dormant hand while supporting the dominant hand during a weld. They are thicker than other welding gloves. MIG welding gloves have a looser fitting design that lets you remove them easily when it becomes extremely hot.
TIG welding gloves are crucial to precision. The gloves are soft and thin. Welders who do TIG welding must have mastery and skill of tools. TIG welding gloves have a snug fit to enable accurate and calculated movements while working with a rod and welding torch.
Welding goggles or glasses are safety equipment welders use to protect their eyes from harmful ultraviolet or infrared radiation, gas flames, flying sparks and debris during welding and cutting tasks. They protect the welders from severe cornea burns (Photokeratitis), commonly known as welder’s flash. However, welding glasses are not suitable for arc welding.
A welding apron is Personal protective equipment (PPE) used by welders to protect their torso and upper legs from burns, spatter and sparks. Burns are very common injuries that occur during welding. Gas flames, spatter and flying sparks can cause second and third-degree burns; it can also ignite their clothes. Welding aprons are made from durable materials like leather or other materials like cotton that are flame-retardant. Welding aprons can be half or full aprons. Full aprons cover the welders' entire front and side, while half aprons protect the lower waist.
A welding jacket is personal protective equipment. Welding jackets are part of the industry standard for safety. They give more protection because they cover the neck, arms, shoulders, chest and back. A welders jacket must be heat resistant and fireproof. It should also allow for ideal movement even when closed and be comfortable to ensure productivity. A standard welders jacket should protect against heat, flames, flying debris, scraps and spatter generated during welding.
The best form of ear protection for welders is fire-resistant foam or silicone custom-moulded earplugs or ear muffs. Ear protection is a must-have for welders. They need them for noise levels and to prevent injuries.
MIG welding pliers are an essential part of a welder's gear. They are used for different functions, which include
Removing the nozzle from a MIG gun
Loosening and tightening the gun nozzle
Cutting wires that stick out
A metal brush consists of stainless steel wires and has stainless steel bristles. It is used for cleaning the welding work surface before and after welding operations. It is used often during welding. The metal brush scrapes off stony materials separated from metals during smelting(slag). It also removes black stains from burns on the surface of cooled welds.
The chipping hammer has the same function as a metal brush. A normal occurrence in MIG welding is slag buildup while the metal melts and produces the weld. Most times, the slag needs to be chipped away; this is where a chipping hammer is essential. It has two sides; one is pointed, and the other is flat. Its design allows it to remove various types of slags from welds. Chipping hammers and metal brushes make the welding process easier to handle.
Unlike the name implies, soapstone is not made from soap. It is derived from a soft clay mineral commonly known as talc. Soapstone is used in every stage of fabrication in welding operations.
The soapstone makes visible marks in welding that do not disappear with heat exposure. It is a marking tool for welders. Welders use it to know where to cut and make accurate markings on metal sheets. It is a preferred choice because it is heat resistant, and the mark remains visible while you are welding. It allows welders to draw complex patterns, lines and designs directly on the metal. It also allows them to write directly on the metal without worrying about fading away.
An angle grinder is a piece of essential welding equipment because of its versatility; you can use it for multiple functions. It can be used for cutting, grinding, deburring, finishing and polishing. It makes the most intensive jobs easier and faster.
Welding gas cylinders are different from cooking gas cylinders. Welding gas cylinders are manufactured from thick steel sheets to withstand the high gas pressure required in welding. The manufacturers supply already filled gas cylinders to welders or welding companies. The gas used in welding is oxygen and acetylene gas. Also, manufacturers always supply the gas in separate cylinders.
Oxygen and acetylene gases are channeled from the gas regulator to the welding torch. The function of a gas regulator is to control and stabilize the gas pressure during welding operations. It also helps supply the gas at low pressure. The body of a gas regulator is typically composed of brass metal.
Gas is delivered from the regulator to the welding torch through the hosepipe. Acetylene and oxygen gases are transported through separate hose pipes. Hosepipes are composed of high-quality rubber and attached using clamps on suitable regulators and welding torches. In a real sense, oxygen gas is transported through a black or blue hosepipe, whereas acetylene gas is transported through a red pipe.
A welding torch is a tool that uses an open flame to melt and join two pieces of metal together. It is the device that produces the oxygen-acetylene flame. The gases are combined in the mixing chamber. Then, the mixed gases are released from the nozzle of the welding torch, which is ignited with a spark lighter. The nozzle of the welding torch is built to withstand extreme temperatures.
There you have it; these are essential welding equipment every welder should have. However, this list is by no means exhaustive. There is various essential welding equipment; some depend on the type of welding you do. The only constant essentials are personal protective equipment (PPE).
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