What is Gas Welding? Advantages, Disadvantages and Applications

Gas welding is a process of joining metals together by using heat generated from oxygen and fuel gas. It is one of the most popular and iconic process of welding.

What is Gas Welding?

Gas welding is a process in which two metal parts are join together by using heat that produced by the reaction of oxygen and fuel gas. Gas welding is also called as oxy-fuel welding.

Gas welding is one of the important types of welding in the welding processes. It is one of the oldest and most popular type of heat-based welding processes that used in many industries for various applications.

Other welding techniques uses electricity to create heat such as arc welding, TIG and MIG welding whereas in gas welding the heat flame is created by just burning a mixture of gases. Oxygen and acetylene are the main combination of gas and it is the most efficient way of generating heat in gas welding.

Main Parts Used in Gas Welding:

Here are some of the main parts used in gas welding process are as follows,

Fuel Cylinder: A fuel cylinder is one of the most important part of a gas welding process. The fuel gas is complete sealed and made-up of heavy gauge steel to prevent the compressed fuel from weakening the cylinder and leakage.

Oxygen Cylinder: An oxygen cylinder is also a one of the important parts in gas welding process. It is used to store oxygen to provide constant supply of pure oxygen. The cylinder holds the compressed oxygen required for weld. The fuel and oxygen cylinders are made to provide pressure from the respective gases.

Pressure Regulator:  The fuel and oxygen are both stored in high pressure in cylinders, it is requiring to regulate the pressure of fuel and oxygen for safe use during the welding process. A pressure regulator is used to regulate pressure and control the supply as per requirement.

Control Valves: The fuel and oxygen cylinders have separate control valves A control valve is used to control the flow of mount of gas need to released from the cylinder. It is used t control the fuel and oxygen ratio.

Mixer Chamber: A mixer chamber is used to mix the fuel and oxygen. The control valves are used to regulate the flow of gases from cylinder to mixer chamber.

Welding Torch: The welding torch is one of the most important part of gas welding process. It is used for welding as the mixer of fuel and oxygen is burnt together at the one end of welding torch and used for its applications.

Advantages of Gas Welding:

Here are some of the advantages of gas welding are as follows,

1. The gas welding is suitable for various ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
2. It is one of the efficient and simple welding techniques.
3. The equipment’s use in gas welding is cheap, portable and easily available as compared to other welding processes.
4. Gas welding doesn’t need electricity.
5. It can be easily maintained and repaired.
6. The process is less expensive and affordable as compared to other welding processes.

Disadvantages of Gas Welding:

Here are some of the disadvantages of gas welding are as follows,

1. Gas welding has slower rate of heating and cooling as compared to other welding processes.
2. The process requires post welding finishing for welding to look aesthetic.
3. The power density of gas welding is low.
4. It requires a skilled operator to operate gas welding and perform a good welding process.
5. It is not preferable for metals like titanium and zirconium.
6. Gas welding has less penetration and heat as compared to arc welding.
7. Gas welding gears are very portable and cheap equipment costs.

Applications of Gas Welding:

Here are some of the applications of gas welding are as follows,

1. Gas welding is mainly used in the fabrication of sheet metals.
2. It is used in aircraft manufacturing industries.
3. It is used in fabrication industries.
4. Gas welding is used for joining ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
5. It is used for joining thin to medium sheet metals.
6. Gas welding is very effective in melting high carbon steel.