What is the difference between arc welding and gas welding

Arc welding relies on an electric current to melt metal edges and create a weld. These processes, which consist of several types, usually produce a much cleaner weld; this makes them ideal for auto body work and other situations in which the cosmetics matter. The high voltage used by most arc welders also puts them at risk for explosion, but these accidents are extremely rare. The higher cost of the equipment is offset by the fact that arc welding is usually much faster than using an oxyacetylene torch.

To learn more about their reputation for excellence and to request a quote, visit their website or call To learn more about the welding process, follow the shop on Facebook. Contractors Welder. Understanding how arc welding and gas welding differ makes the advantages of arc welding apparent. Gaining the knowledge and understanding of the underlying issues in welding will make the decision of selecting the method of welding easier.

Below are the differences and advantages of arc welding and gas welding. Welding requires the metals to be heated to a temperature at which the two pieces of metals will fuse into one single piece along the joint line. Gas welding produces the heat to raise the temperature of the metals by burning gases. The two most popular gases used in gas welding are oxygen and acetylene. When mixed in the proper proportions, this gas mixture can produce heat in the range of to degrees Fahrenheit.

This is more than enough heat to melt most metals. Other gas mixtures can be used, especially for gas welding special metal alloys. However, the oxygen and acetylene mixture is the most prevalent in welding shops. An arc welder produces the required heat by creating an electrical arc between a welding rod and the metal being welded.

This electrical arc generates as much as degrees Fahrenheit. The heat generated by an electrical arc is almost instantaneous when the arc is struck. Arc welding can be performed with both DC and AC current, which can be produced by portable systems or by using electricity supplied by the grid to a fixed shop. There are several variants on the arc welding process, but DC welding is the choice in most shops.

Gas welding with acetylene was first introduced in the early s when the first practical torch was invented. Gas welding provided the first viable alternative to the traditional forge welding that had been done for thousands of years. The introduction of the first powerful DC generators provided the necessary power to generate an arc of sufficient power to fuse metal. Gradually, arc welding has overtaken gas welding as the predominant method of joining metals in shops and construction sites around the country.

There are several reasons for choosing electrical arc welding over gas welding. Arc welding tends to be more efficient than gas welding. Basically, you use a torch to heat the metals to be welded, creating a shared pool of metal and then adding filler metal, but since you use a torch and gas, you need to really precisely aim and heat the metals before adding filler wire into the mix. These are some of the major difference between arc welding and gas welding. Although there are more these are the prominent ones that can make you decide which one works best for you.

These will help you decide the type of welder that fulfills your requirements. One of the major drawbacks of using a gas welder is that it tends to create welds that in most cases are not up to the standards today.

The finished welds are not aesthetically pleasing since a lot of times the heat from gas welding wraps the base metals because of the high heat distribution which makes the joint appear rough.

But to some, the appearance might not be so important. The modern-day arc welding can not be beaten by oxy-acetylene in my opinion. There are just so many advantages that technology bring to us, but still, I will list a few. You can braze metals, you can cut metals, you can weld a larger variety of metals than with arc welding, but the process itself is a headache.