Gas welding is a fusion welding process, in which the heat for welding is obtained by the combustion of oxygen and some fuel gas. The fuel gas may be acetylene, hydrogen, propane, or butane. So here this article gives the advantages and disadvantages of gas welding to better understand this topic.
Advantages or pros of Gas welding:
- It is a heavy section that cannot be joined economically.
- Flame temperature is less than the temperature of the arc.
- Fluxes used in certain welding operations produce a flame that is irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
- It can be used as a site.
- It can also be used as gas cutting.
- It is a very simple piece of equipment.
- It is easy to operate and does not require a high skill operator.
- It is probably the most versatile process. It can be applied to a wide variety of manufacturing and maintenance situations.
- It can be easily maintained and repaired.
- Equipment is portable than the other type of welding.
- It is seld sufficient and does not rely on other equipment.
- The rate of heating and cooling process is relatively slow. In some cases this is in advantages.
- The welder has considerable control over the temperature of the metal in some of the weld zone.
- The equipment is versatile, low cost and usually portable.
- The cost and the maintenance of the gas welding equipment are low when compared to that of some other welding processes.
- Since the source of heat and also of filler metal are separate, the welder has total control over filler metal deposition rates.
Disadvantages or Cons of Gas welding:
- Heavy sections cannot be joined economically.
- Flame temperature is less than the temperature of the arc.
- Fluxes used in certain welding and brazing operation produce fumes that are irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
- More safety problems are associated with the handling and storing of gases.
- Gas flame takes a long time to heat up the metal than the use of arc welding.
- Acetylene and oxygen gases are rather expensive.
- Flux shielding in gas welding is not so effective as an inert gas shieling TIG or MIG welding.
- The power density is low.
- A skilled operator is required to operate this machine.
- Slow metal joining rate.
- Higher safety issues due to the naked flame of high temperature.
- It provides low surface finish. This process needs a finishing operation after welding.
- Gas welding has a large heat-affected zone which can cause a change in the mechanical properties of parent materials.
- No shielding is which causes more welding defects.
- The heat-affected zone is large.
- Gas welding is not recommended for welding reactive and refractory metals like titanium and zirconium.
Explore more information:
- Advantages and disadvantages of arc welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Resistance welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Electron beam welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Laser beam welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Projection welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of TIG welding
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Friction welding