How welding equipment in Kenya work

The welding process has been in existence for centuries and with time there has been a lot of improvement the Jua kali sector with the introduction of welding equipment in Kenya. Gone are the days when the only form of welding was forge welding whereby the blacksmiths would join iron and steel by heating and hammering.

Welding Equipment in Kenya

Those were tough days, the welding process has greatly evolved and things are now easier due to different welding processes and welding equipment.

To add welding process improved immensely with the introduction of various energy sources such as electricity whereby you can use the electric arc, laser or even the electron beam, there is also the use of a gas flame, friction as well as ultrasound.

The fact that welding can be done in different environments including under water and outer space is a clear indication of how this industry has really grown unlike in the past where by welding was only done on land.

How welding equipment in Kenya work

Different types of welding require different types of welding equipment so as to perform the tasks of welding well.

These include;

·         Stick welding also known as shielded metal arc welding

This type of welding is done manually and uses an electrode with a flux. The melting electrode is held by the electrode holder as it melts away.

It is the most popular welding process due to the simplicity of operation and equipment. It is mostly used in industrial fabrication and construction of steel structures.

·         Gas tungsten arc welding

Also known as tungsten inert gas welding, it is a process that uses tungsten electrode to weld .the weld area is protected by an inert gas, argon. Sometimes a filter metal is used.

This type of welding is used to weld stainless steel and other metals such as aluminium, copper and magnesium alloys. Compared to shielded and gas metal arc welding, this type of welding gives the welder control over the welding process allowing stronger welds.

·         Submerged arc welding

This type of welding utilizes a flat strip electrode. The molten weld is protected a flux consisting of lime, silica, manganese oxide, calcium fluoride and other compounds.

The process of welding is limited to flat welding positions and constant voltage welding supplies are utilized.

·         Oxy-fuel welding

This is the most common and oldest type of gas welding although it has become quite unpopular in recent years.

Equipment used in  this type of welding are inexpensive and simple .It is slower compared to the arc welding due to the less concentrated flame used. Its main disadvantage is the fact that it can lead to greater residue stress and distortion.

·         Spot welding

It is a popular form of resistance welding used to join overlapping metal sheets. It uses two electrodes that clamp the metal sheets together and pass a current.

It s efficient energy use is one of its advantages together with the high production rates. However, it has low weld strength.

Features of welding equipment

1.      Welder TIG DC Inverter Handy 180

Features of Welder TIG DC Inverter Handy 180 are GBT inverter DC arc weld device thawing power, acid washing and bowdlerizing plastic sprayed surface, overheat and over current protecting functions and a device that prevents electric shock.

2.      Ac Arc Welder- portable 140 A

 It is manufactured by a company called Hugong. Some of its main features include overheating and overload protection, single phase AC stick welder, light, fan cooled, dual voltage, step less current regulation, usable electrode among other features.

As I have discussed above those are the ways in which welding equipment in Kenya work as well as the types of welding equipment found in Kenya.