Welding is an essential part of most Industries or organizations. When metals are to be formed or worked on, a welding machine is needed to join two or more pieces of metal together. Are you a brand new technician in welding? Are you buying a welding machine for the first time in Nigeria? This buying guide will help you. The technical team for welding solutions at GZ Industrial supplies, in partnership with Tikweld welding, has made it so simple to understand the basics of welding. Even for those who want to own a small welding machine at home for handling small jobs at home, we will support your buying decision-making from this article. Read on and get better at knowing what you need to know before your first investment in welding machines.

Kaierda Electric Welding machine WN-315N

List of the different types of Welding Machines

There are four types of welding machines, as below;

1. Mig-Gas Metal arc welding (Wire Feed/ GMAW)

MIG: inert metal gas—welding is the most straightforward form of welding. It’s generally best used for large and thick materials. It employs a consumable wire that acts as both the electrode and the filler material. Compared to TIG welding, it is much faster, resulting in shorter lead times and lower production costs. The availability of semi-inert gasses like carbon dioxide, which used to be tougher to find, has made its usage with steel products far more common. Mig welding machines can weld various materials like Alloys, Steel, Aluminum, Copper, etc.

Kaierda Gas-Shielded Welding Machine CO2/MAG KE-500

2. Tig-Gas Tungsten arc welding(GTAW)

TIG welding also uses an electric arc like MIG. When working with TIG welding, you use an electrode made of tungsten. Tungsten is one of the most rigid metal materials. It will not dissolve or burn off. Welding can be done through a process known as fusion which is using or not using a filler metal. TIG also uses an external gas supply, such as argon or helium.

Aerospace and auto also use TIG welding as well as other industrial markets. Tig welding also a great type of welding as it can be advantageous for farmers to use welding wagon frames, fenders, and other essential equipment.

You may also like: Understanding TIG vs MIG welding machines: A comprehensive guide

Maxmech Inverter Welding Machine MIG/MMA-250

3. Stick- Shielded Metal arc welding (SMAW)

One of the positives about Stick welding is that it’s portable. Stick welding is used in construction, maintenance and repair, underwater pipelines, and industrial fabrication.

You will use a shielded metal arc welding or more commonly known as Stick welding, for this type of welding. You will use a consumable and protected electrode or stick. The stick softens and combines metals by heating with an arc between a covered metal electrode and the base metal workpiece. As the stick melts, its protective cover also melts and shields the weld area from oxygen and other gases that may be in the air.

4. Flux-cored arc Welding (FCAW)

Flux-cored arc welding is similar to MIG welding because both use continuous wire and power supplies. It combines a continuous electrode with a base metal. When welding outdoors, a flux shield offers protection against weather elements. This type of welding supplies welding is used for welding thick metals. It’s commonly used because of its high welding speed and can yield clean welds on aluminum and steel.

Ingco Diesel Welder Generator GDW65001

Major guide to choosing the right welding Machine

1. Select the perfect welding location

A suitable welding machine is dependent on the location of the welding. It’s essential to know the place of the welding to decide which welder to use. If you are welding indoors, you could operate your machine to a 115 Volt AC machine or a 220-240 volts AC supply. 220 Volt supply is a standard supply that any commercial or domestic location receives in Nigeria (Single phase), and generally, welding machines operate at this voltage.

2. Examine the nature of the metal

Being aware of the thickness and the components of a material that a job will require is also imperative as not all welders are appropriate for all metals.

Welding is generally done on three elements, carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Carbon steel is the most commonly used as it is compatible with a majority of the welding machines and can handle any excess heat that might be applied to the metal.

Using stainless steel, it is compatible with TIG or MIG welding machines and does not need much strength to operate as carbon steel. If you are using aluminum, it requires more complex welding machines, like the MIG machine. You can also use a high-end TIG machine for the aluminum weld. As all the elements have a different nature of work, it would be best to examine the metal that you wish to conjoin before selecting a welding machine.

Askaynak Welding Machine Welding Inverter 405 Ultra

3. Analyze compressed gas requirements

Various welding procedures require different compressed gases. Gasses like Argon, Oxygen, and carbon dioxide are some of the most widely used compressed gases. Therefore, you must know the exact compressed gas required for the welding machine in mind.

4. Always refer to the manual

The essence of a manual is to assist the user further on the standard usage of any machine. The Manual points out key things to look out for and do while using the machine. You can measure how much continuous welding a machine can execute in a period. If you exceed the required limit, then it may heat the machine and cause damage to the internal control.

Maxmech Inverter Welding Machine TIG/MMA-400

5. Choose the ideal amperage range

It is essential to pay attention to the thickness of the metals you would be working on. If your metal is thick, you need more current to be appropriately welded, unlike thin metals. Welding aluminum is similar to welding a relatively lighter metal. It requires welders that provide the proper amount of heat for the weld. The guidelines mentioned earlier could be beneficial in buying a good welding machine. Tikweld welding supplies offers a wide range of quality and portable welding machines that are best suited for all your welding needs, like TIG and MIG welding machines, welding accessories, etc., at the best price.

Contact us for more enquiries on welding machine