Views: 8 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-08-11 Origin: Site
Soldering and welding are terms that are often mentioned in sheet metal fabrication and are often used interchangeably. It can be confusing, and there may be a number of you who can't tell the difference between soldering and welding when they are two different techniques with different applications.
Although both techniques can join metals, there are some differences between them, and it is essential to use the correct technique for your project. In this article, Goldconn, a sheet metal fabrication manufacturer, will share with you the differences between Soldering and Welding and how they differ.
How does soldering join metals?
Soldering is the process of joining two metal parts together by melting solder. This soft metal alloy is usually made from tin and copper. Depending on the solder type, it has a melting point between 190 and 840℉
This melting point is well below the base metal composition. During the soldering process, you will melt the solder, but not the two pieces of metal to be joined together.
The first step is to clean and position the two pieces of metal you plan to solder together. Then use a soldering iron or gas torch to heat them. This melts the solder and joins the two pieces of metal together.
How does welding join metals?
There are many different types of welding, but they all involve the same basic principle. They will melt and fuse if you apply enough heat to the base metal parts. The temperature required to melt the metal is about 6,500℉
Filler materials are often used to add some additional metal to the joint. These welding rods help ensure enough molten metal to form a strong joint.
Welding rods contain a non-metallic material called flux. This helps prevent the molten metal from oxidizing, weakening the joint. Once the welded joint cools down, it is stronger than two pieces of base metal.
Depending on the type of weld, there are several ways to generate the required heat. An electric welding machine uses a high-current arc to melt the metal. An oxyacetylene torch uses an intense flame to heat and melt the metal.
What does soldering do?
Soldering allows you to join a range of different metals together. These include copper, brass, iron, silver, and gold. It is mainly used to make electrical connections and non-structural metal connections.
Soldering is commonly used to join electrical components together on a circuit board. The use of solder allows these tiny components to be connected without the use of wires.
Another common application of solder is in piping. By heating copper pipes and using solder to seal the joints, the pipes are joined together by a leak-proof connection.
Soldering is also used to make jewelry and musical instruments, such as horns.
What is welding used for?
Many industries use welding to make high-strength structural metal joints. Making these structural welds requires great equipment, experience, and skill.
Depending on the metal you are welding together, you should use MIG or TIG welding. All welders can produce a bond strong enough to withstand extreme stresses.
Some typical welding applications are sheet metal fabricators, construction, shipbuilding, and heavy machinery repair.
Welding is widely used in automotive and aircraft assembly lines. It is also used to join industrial piping.
What are the advantages of soldering?
Soldering does not require much experience or equipment to begin. The temperature required to melt the solder is also quite low, which makes it safer for the DIY enthusiast.
Another benefit of soldering is that once you've made the connection, you can quickly melt the solder and separate the connection. This makes it easy to redo mistakes until you get them suitable.
The great thing about solder is that it is easy to combine different types of metals. It is also easy to join components that have different thicknesses.
What are the advantages of welding?
If you have any metal fabrication application, welding is far superior to soldering. By fusing two metals, you can create a permanent and robust connection.
There are at least seven different types of welding. These specialized welding techniques mean that high-quality welds can be made in various applications. This makes welding more versatile than soldering.
Welding vs Soldering
Depending on the application, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both welding and soldering.
Welding produces a stronger joint than soldering. This makes it suitable for load-bearing and structural metal connections. Welding only makes the connection as strong as the solder you use.
It is usually impossible to weld two different metals together without specialized equipment and techniques. In contrast, it is possible to combine any two metals using certain solder types.
Of course, even if you need a custom sheet metal product, you generally don't need to decide whether to use the soldering or welding process to join the metals. A professional manufacturer can undoubtedly choose the proper process for you. But if you often have sheet metal needs, it's good to know a little about it.
