When it comes to welding, weldable metals are more receptive to the process than others. A metal is often defined by its weldability, which indicates whether you’ll be able to weld easily. As you’re preparing to start a project that will require metals and welding, considering the weldability is crucial.

See below four basic things to know for your next welding project.

Identify the metal you need

At the beginning, it’s first important to decide which metal will work best for your project. Once you have that down, you can figure out the welding method that is best suited for that metal. 

Determining weldability

In order to determine a metal’s weldability, first take into account its cooling rate, electrode material, shielding gases, and welding speed. Although all metals are weldable to some degree, they’re all unique and have different reactions to welding.  

Decide on the kind of welding

When preparing to weld, deciding on the method you’ll go with also makes a difference. For example, stick welding is a very common method and is often used for iron, copper, aluminum and more. With stick welding, you melt a metal rod with a special flux coating that prevents oxygen from contaminating it. 

A more industrial method

Another type of welding, gas metal arc welding doesn’t use a coating. In this case, you use a welding gun to disperse a shielding gas. Gas metal arc welding is the most common industrial process and is used for cast iron, steel and many more.

Weldable Metals: In conclusion

When it comes down to it, it’s hard to have a definite answer on which metals or methods to use. The best way to proceed is to determine the ideal metal for your project, and then the corresponding welding method. It’s also important to keep in mind your experience and skillset when choosing which welding method to use.

Visit Megstar Industries today to find out more about our professional welding and media blasting services.