Welding Slang 101

Every industry has their own shop talk, and welding is no different. There is an entire culture of lingo that to the outside listener might as well be a foreign language. For the die-hard welder, this jargon is part of your everyday vocabulary. Here's a test for you; below is a list of everyday welding slang. How well do you know the language of your trade?

Welding Slang 101:

Stringer bead - A narrow, straight weld bead that is created by moving the SMAW electrode straight along the weld joint.

Wetting-out - The ability of a weld puddle to flow evenly, allowing both sides of the weld to merge smoothly with the base material

Root pass - The first weld bead placed in the weld joint in a multipass weld.

Stiff -   An arc that provides a lot of drive (dig) into the weld joint.

Soft -    An arc that has less drive (dig) and potentially less penetration into the weld joint.

Dig - Also called arc force or arc control. It is the ability to adjust the drive of the SMAW electrode to achieve more or less penetration into the weld joint.

Cold lap - A defect that occurs when there is lack of penetration on one leg of the weld.

Undercut - A weld defect in which the base material overhangs the weld bead

Wagon tracks - Also called worm tracking, this weld defect is caused by hydrogen that has been trapped by the freezing slag.

Tinger - Another name for the SMAW electrode holder

Whip - The cable—typically 10 to 15 ft. long—that is connected to the SMAW electrode holder, or stinger.

Fingernail - The shape of the SMAW electrode as the flux burns off the end.

So how did you do? Are you a welding  expert that blew through those terms with ease? That's just the tip of the world of welding lingo. We know there's plenty of shop-talk out there. What are some of your favorite or most used phrases?

Top Resources for the Welding Professional

If you’re a welder by trade or simply enjoy it as a hobby, there are a variety of trade magazines and publications that contain helpful tips, techniques, codes and reports for staying up to date and improving your craft. Here’s a list of the top five publications every welder should be reading:

Practical Welding Today - Features the top-quality how-to information, including hands-on information, real-world applications, and down-to-earth advice for welders. Topics discussed in the magazine include systems & equipment safety, consumables, cutting & welding preparation and welding inspection.
http://www.fma-communications.com/pwt/

Welding Journal - Stay informed on the latest products, trends, technology and events with in-depth articles, full-color photos and illustrations, and timely, cost-saving advice. Also featured are articles and supplements on related activities, such as testing and inspection, maintenance and repair, design, training, personal safety and brazing and soldering.
http://www.aws.org/wj/

Welding In The World - A bi-monthly publication of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and a source for information on pioneering advances in materials joining.
http://www.iiwelding.org/Publications/WeldingInTheWorld/Pages/Default.aspx

Inspection Trends - A premier publication for Certified Welding Inspectors and others heavily involved in testing and purchasing of testing equipment. The magazine focuses on metal examination and testing, and related issues, assists and informs inspection professionals through reports on new technology, tips on inspection technique and interpretation, descriptions of new equipment, and practical methodology.
http://www.aws.org/itrends/

American Welding Society - This online bookstore offers licensing services, providing online access to all of its technical publications, including all AWS codes and standards from A.1 to Z49.1.
http://pubs.aws.org/

If you’re a welder, you’ll want a subscription to one or more of these magazines to stay informed on all things in your industry. What publications, online or print, do you read to learn more about all things welding?

The Art of Welding

When you think of welding the first thing that comes to mind is probably welding metals when fabricating new things, or to piece something broken back together. Car pieces are welded to create the finished products. Construction workers weld steel beams and angles when constructing new buildings. But did you also consider that artists utilize the technique of welding to create works of art, such as sculptures? Sculptural welding is an entirely different form of welding, as it requires extensive knowledge and skill to fuse an artist’s preferred materials into different shapes and colors.

Here's a look at some of the world’s most famous artists who worked in welded sculptures:

Alexander Calder – An American sculptor best known as the originator of the mobile, a type of kinetic sculpture made with delicately balanced or suspended components that move in response to motor power or air currents. In 1998, the US Postal Service issued a 32 cent stamp honoring Calder.

Sir Anthony Alfred Caro - He was lauded as the greatest British sculptor of his generation, he was an English abstract sculptor whose work is characterized by assemblages of metal using 'found' industrial objects.

Vera Mukhina - Was a prominent Soviet sculptor. Her most celebrated work by far is the giant monument Worker and Kolkhoz Woman which was the centerpiece of the Soviet pavilion at the 1937 International Exhibition in Paris. It was the world's first welded sculpture.

David Smith - Was an American Abstract Expressionist sculptor and painter, best known for creating large steel abstract geometric sculptures. Collections of Smith's work can be found around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

These are only a few of the influential welding sculpture artists in history. Tell us, who are some of your favorites and what welded works of art do you admire?