They say that welding is not a one-time job. You need perseverance, compassion, and aptitude to become a pro-welder. If you aren’t willing to put in something now, you will not receive anything in the future.
Welding demands non-stop, unrelenting, and implacable practice on a daily basis. This is because welding is not a one-step process. It is a lengthy process that comprises multiple stages, accessories, and worth-considering points that play the role of make-or-break components.
For example, as a welder, you must wear a fireproof, full-length dress and safety goggles while working. Similarly, you must know about the kind of shielding gas that will shield the weld you are working on. And truly, the list goes on to infinity!
If you are devoid of background knowledge and still are involved in welding, you are going to create a DISASTER for sure in the future.
So to save you from any sort of disaster, we have taken an oath to guide you with the right kind of information. This article is our first effort in this regard. This instruction can’t explain everything related to welding due to some restrictions and hindrances.
However, this article will help you with one of the most prevalent issues that young, uninformed, and untrained welders face at the start of their journeys. And that issue is related to welding rod types!
So brace yourself wholly as an ocean of knowledge is about to hit you and make you wet from head to toe!
What are Welding Rods?
A welding rod comprises 2 different fillers, metals, or wires that readily connect with the base metal. Once both the metals or wires are connected to a base metal, electric heat will be produced that will keep the attached pieces together.
Welding rods are also known as welding electrodes and are frequently used in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). The primary function of a welding rod or welding electrode is that they pass electric current to the arc and delivers filler metal to the concerned workpiece.
Now that we have illuminated our minds with the basic definition of welding electrode or welding rod, we will now proceed to learn something, if not everything, about welding rod types that are repeatedly used in the welding process!
5 Major Kinds of Welding Rods
Knowing about different kinds of welding rods is crucial before embarking on your welding journey. Right knowledge not only provides you with seamless confidence in work but also saves you from impending disaster or damage!
Let’s check out common types of welding rods that can transform you into one of the best welders in your area or make you infamous for poor welding skills!
1. Carbon Electrode
Carbon electrodes are resilient rods made up of graphite. These electrodes are commonly used in Carbon Arc Welding (CAW).
CAW is one of the primitive welding types that welders use to connect metallic pieces. During this process, the carbon electrode is expected to generate an electric arc between the targeted work piece and the carbon electrode. The bond between metals is formed at a temperature as high as 3000 °C.
Carbon Arc Welding is now replaced by Twin Carbon Arc Welding (TCAW), during which an electric arc is reproduced between two carbon electrodes.
2. Aluminum Electrode
One of the welders’ most favorite welding rods that help them to use in a variety of projects is Aluminum welding rods. Although they can be used for multiple purposes, if a welder is going to treat pure Aluminum or its alloys with this, then the results would be magical.
There is no doubt in the quality of the weld produced because it is strong as well as crack-free.
To enhance productivity, expert welders always suggest seeking help from Aluminum welding rods because they give hassle-free operation with fast welding rates.
Moreover, they are available in the market in a variety of diameters and lengths, so don’t worry about your needs!
3. Stainless Steel Electrode
Stainless steel welding electrode or welding rod is particularly made for stainless steel welding. This is one of the basic welding rod types which is available in different grades to be used for the most suitable welding purposes.
These electrodes are responsible for creating welds that are high in strength, durable, and can easily withstand environmental effects.
In truth, a welder would be happy to use it because the results are corrosion free, which seems ideal in the case of stainless steel welding.
4. Tungsten Electrode
Another great example of a non-consumable electrode is the tungsten electrode which can be efficiently used in the tungsten inert gas or the so-called TIG welding arc processes.
If you are going to plan a weld with a thin metal, then surely the pure tungsten electrode is the best recommendation.
But for the long assignment and thick welds, a welder is suggested to use a mixture of tungsten with some other metal like zirconium or thorium. This gives the most promising results, and you can experience it.
5. Bronze Electrode
Bronze welding rods are another type of consumable electrodes that are commonly used to repair the different work pieces of bronze.
This electrode is also helpful in treating copper because it can efficiently join this particular metal with dissimilar metals.
The weld gaps can be readily filled with bronze welding rods because this electrode exhibits a lower melting point than the adjacent metals involved in welding.
Although the main kinds that should be known to you are done, still there is a long tail of welding rods, and their types as some coated electrode types are further described as light-coated electrodes, medium-coated electrodes, and heavily-coated welding rods.
Moreover, there are welding rods that are categorized based on numbers.
You can get their details in some other article!
Final Statement
The welding rods are famous to produce smooth welds with high quality and complete control over the arc. There are several welding rod types, and the major 5 kinds are already explained above. Hopefully, now you are familiar with the types of welding rods and can easily use them for various applications!
