With DRYPAC® you can rest assured that the electrodes are dry when you need them. They are vacuum packed in factory dry conditions and come in a moisture controlled paper tray. The package is resealable with a new kind of tape that provides extra protection for electrodes left in an opened DRYPAC®. The outer pack …

Continue reading „DRYPAC® – dry electrodes in any weather“

As any contractor knows, most jobs sites are far from being clean, dry or orderly—at least for any length of time. Unfortunately, the environmental conditions on the average job site can wreak havoc on welding filler metals, and in turn on a contractor’s overall productivity and bottom line.

Damaged filler metals, whether they are stick electrodes, flux-cored wire (self-shielded or gas-shielded) or solid wire, can all cause poor weld quality, including porosity, cracking and a host of other weld discontinuities. Singularly or combined, these issues can lead to expensive and time-consuming rework. But that’s just the beginning.

With so many factors to monitor — equipment, weld procedures, filler metals and consumables — it’s inevitable that mistakes will occur in most welding operations on any given day. Human error dictates that a welding operator can easily set a power source and wire feeder to the wrong parameters or trim and install a MIG gun liner improperly. But there are other mistakes that can occur in welding operations on a regular basis — ones that many companies may not even realize that they are making.

The reality is, however, that these mistakes can have a significant impact on quality, productivity and a company’s bottom line. Fortunately, they don’t have to happen. Consider these top 10 mistakes involved in running a welding operation, along with some recommendations for solving them.

Every welding power source, component and filler metal has its unique benefits, as well as certain limitations. Metal-cored wires are no different. While certainly not a new technology, metal-cored wires have been gaining popularity in recent years, particularly in the manufacturing, fabricating and repair industries. Still, there seems to be some mystery surrounding this filler metal, with much less known about it among the general public compared to its counterparts, including solid wires. In many cases, there are some common misconceptions surrounding metal-cored wires, too.

To gain a better understanding of metal-cored wires, it helps to consider the technology behind these filler metals and the applications for which they are best suited. Additionally, it is important to know the general characteristics of metal-cored wires, along with the ways they can bring potential improvements in the welding operation.

When used with the right applications, metal-cored wire can help minimize costs, improve quality and increase productivity in the welding operation. Like any filler metal, metal-cored wire has unique characteristics, benefits, limitations and applications where the wire is best suited. Knowing when and how to use this wire can help companies achieve the best success with the product.

This article discusses the most appropriate applications for metal-cored wire, some of the characteristics to consider when choosing this filler metal and tips for welding successfully with metal-cored wire.

Reducing the opportunity for moisture pickup — in the filler metal and deposited weld metal — is important in any welding operation, but especially in industries with more critical applications.

Controlling moisture helps minimize the risk of hydrogen-induced cracking in these demanding, high-strength applications, and with it costly repairs or potentially catastrophic weld failures.

Seamless wires can help in moisture-control efforts. These filler metals also offer excellent impact toughness, even at lower temperatures, and low hydrogen properties to further mitigate cracking risks.