Gas welding and its application in practice.

One of the methods of joining parts from metal to each other is gas welding, in which the welding process is carried out by heating and melting the edges of the joined metals. It is produced with the help of a welding flame, formed as a result of the combustion of acetylene in a directed jet of oxygen. Also for these purposes, hydrogen, kerosene, gasoline and other combustible gases are used. The temperature of the flame as a result of the combustion of these gases reaches a temperature of 3050-3150 ° C. In gas welding, filling the gap between the edges of the parts to be joined is by means of a filler wire, which fills this gap when melting in a flame.

Gas welding is carried out using special equipment consisting of gas storage cylinders , a reducer with two pressure gauges (low and high pressure), designed to regulate the supply of gases in the welding process, as well as burners and hoses for supplying gases to the burner from the regulating reducer.

Gas welding is used in the industry for joining (welding) structures from steel and some non-ferrous metals, including brass and cast iron, having a thickness of not more than five millimeters. Also, gas welding is applicable for surfacing, soldering and other repairs. Welding of metals of greater thickness is carried out by means of electric arc welding. It should be noted that gas welding of metals is ineffective in comparison with electric arc welding.

Cutting of metals is carried out by an oxygen jet with the help of torches or special burners. The main difference between them and gas welding torches is that they have two oxygen jets - one for heating the metal, the other for blowing the molten metal in the cutting places. Cutters differ in the design of the nozzle (mouthpiece), which are separated with respect to the arrangement of the heating flame and the cutting jet by the stepped arrangement of the nozzles, as well as the subsequent and concentric. They are also divided according to the type of fuel used. There are torches for hydrogen, acetylene, light gas, hydrogen, etc.

The process of cutting metal is as follows: at the start of the cutting, the metal is heated by the heating jet to a white color, which corresponds to approximately 1000 ° C, after which the metal is partially burned or blown at the cutting site. It is very important to "hold" the melting temperature of the metal when cutting, for which the optimal variant of the cutting jet is selected. It is used for cutting iron, low-carbon and low-alloy steels.

Due to the fact that gas welding and cutting of metals - production processes that require certain skills of working on gas welding equipment and knowledge of safety measures when performing fire works, it is necessary to attract qualified workers who have passed special training for this type of work. Inaccurate handling of equipment, as well as neglect of safety measures can lead to serious consequences.