All posts by : Marie Poppins

Welder generators provider in the UK 2024: One of the biggest differences between the three methods of joining materials is the overall purpose for using each action. Welding is generally used for fabrication and structural applications. Joining two materials with a seamless and strong bond is important for a wide range of purposes, including architecture, automotive construction, and many more. Brazing is primarily, but not entirely, used in plumbing and similar applications. Any time two materials need to fit together without being melted themselves as they would in a welding situation, brazing is a good option. Brazing is also used for dissimilar metals, which can be difficult or impossible to connect with welding. However, care must be taken to ensure that those metals are not reactive to one another. Find even more info on plasma cutter.

At the very high end, you can find welding helmets that take measurements of your head and are custom-made just for you. Truthfully, these are more expensive gimmicks than they are useful; you don’t need that added expense when an adjustable helmet is just fine. How much does it weigh? The heavier a helmet is, the harder it is to wear for longer periods without causing yourself problems, including neck strain, headaches, muscle tension, and more. A lighter helmet is better, but lighter helmets tend to have fewer features and less protection. The ones with the most features that are still lightweight tend to be more expensive. Generally, go for the lightest weight that still has the features you want at a price point you can afford.

Welding is a vital process in many industries, but it involves significant hazards that can pose risks to health and safety. Understanding and implementing rigorous safety protocols is not only a responsibility, it’s an essential part of every welder’s daily routine. These measures help prevent accidents, reduce injury risks, and ensure a safer workplace for everyone involved. Welders face various dangers including burns from hot metal and sparks, eye damage from ultraviolet and infrared rays emitted during welding, respiratory issues from inhaling fumes and gases, and risks of electric shock. Each hazard requires specific precautions to protect the health and safety of welders.

Power tool pioneers Bosch have been in the game since 1886. They certainly know a thing or two about making one of the best corded angle grinders on the market. I was amazed at the power output and precision you can achieve with the GWS 7-115 angle grinder. Starting off with the look and feel of this grinder, it’s surprisingly slimline and lightweight. It’s certainly easy to hold on to and weighs less than 2 kg. Bosch have made use of a clever 20° angle side handle as well for ultimate precision grinding. Making use of one of Bosch’s brilliant 720 Watt Champion motors, you know this is a tool that’s built to last. Everything is chunky and built for hard work. They’ve included a two-stage safety switch to avoid accidental starts, which is essential for any tool like this. The motor spins a 115 mm cutting disc up to an impressive 11,000 rpm. There’s a relatively low amount of vibration when in use as well. Just 6.5 m/s², which isn’t bad at all for corded grinders. I like the fact that Bosch have flattened the gear head. This reduces the overall size and makes it easy to get into tight spots. If you’re looking for one of the best angle grinders from one of the top names in the business, this is a great choice.

United Kingdom market look: Hobart is an American welding company that has produced quality machines since its inception in 1917. Often toted as the best MIG welder for beginners, the Handler 140 is an affordable and easy to use machine right off the bat. Though its duty cycle is on the low end when compared to the other welders on this list, the Handler is a crowd favorite. It is also fairly easy to carry. Welders will love the portability and ease of use. A home hobbyist will get years of use and enjoyment from this powerful machine. All in all, it’s a very sturdy machine and is manufactured in the USA.

It’s also worth looking into how your welder will handle things like short-circuiting. If a short circuit issue occurs while you’re welding, you don’t want a surge of power to ruin your work. Fortunately, there are many welding companies that implement strategies in their devices to eliminate the risks of short circuits. To choose the correct portability, size and weight for your welder, you’ll need to think about what you’ll need the machine for. If you’re going to be carrying it around a lot, then you need something that’s going to be highly portable and lightweight. Just make sure that a reduction in weight doesn’t mean that you end up compromising on power or performance. Find extra info at https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/.

Oxy acetylene welding machine uses fuel gas along with oxygen as the heating medium. In this type of welding machine, the flame is considered to be the main element that is produced at the end of the torch. This flame melts the base metal and potential filler to form a continuous weld. This machine is best for thin materials and does not work well on thick materials. An operator can effectively control temperature and weld beads using this machine. These welding machines are mainly used all over the world as it is relatively low cost and the machines are portable. In the end, I conclude that welding is a process of joining two metals. To do this, the welder must use a welding machine appropriately to achieve welding requirements. So, if you are a welder, you must know these welding machines to weld correctly.

Never drag, roll, or drop cylinders during the use. Always take care to maintain the valve caps during the transport. Avoid lifting the cylinder using a valve cap. Never store the cylinders for a long time period. Gas cylinders should only be purchased in small quantities. Never store them for long time periods. It is important to follow extreme precautions and safety measures while working with industrial gas cylinders due to several hazards and risks posed by them. Sourcing these cylinders from a reliable manufacturer is the most important safety measure for any facility owner using these cylinders.

Do you feel frustrated because the disc grinder work is not progressing well, or you are running out of time? If that is your problem, then this Metal Cutting Disc will help you. It is a high-quality product that has been designed to provide ultimate performance. The wheels are made of steel and have a tooth count of 25. They are great for concrete, metal, or other materials where you want to cut through tough materials quickly. These discs are made from high-quality cutting wheels with a flat shape. They have a 3? diameter and a 1/16? thickness. With ultra-thin metal and stainless steel, they can quickly and easily cut through burrs and other unwanted materials. With these discs, you can grind metal and stainless steel fast and smooth while minimizing noise. As a versatile option for workshops, the discs can be used with sheet metal, die grinders, air cut off tools, and electric cut off tools.

The Hobart Handler 140 is a bit of a hybrid between pro-level performance and homeowner convenience. The 140-amp rating is enough to weld up to 1/4-inch steel. This machine works both as a flux core welder and as a MIG. The duty cycle is 20 percent at 90 amps. That’s enough power to do most jobs you’ll ever tackle in a home shop setting, but for professionals working on heavy stuff like trailer frames or pipe fencing, it’s just not going to be enough. For other professional work like auto body or welding brackets, mountings and the like, this machine can run off a 4000-watt generator. It’s small enough to carry into a home for HVAC repair and the 110/115/120 input means you could use a small generator or the household receptacle to do the work. The solid aluminum wire drive accommodates either 4 or 8-inch spools and it’s selectable between multiple gauges of wire. The Hobart Handler 140 is backed by a 3-year warranty and its professional features and true MIG capability make it the our Pro Value Pick in this review roundup.

In many shops, the operator has to go to a tool room or supply area for a new contact tip, coil of wire or other welding accessory. This takes valuable time away from the welding cell and slows down overall productivity. To improve the operating efficiency and minimize wasted time, companies should stock at least a limited supply of all necessary items near the welding station – this includes shielding gas, flux and wire. Another helpful productivity enhancing tip is to switch to larger spools of wire such as from 25 lb. spools to 44 or 60 lb. spools to even larger packages of 1,000 lb. reels or 1,000 lb. drums. A simple switch like this means less changeover time, which adds up over the weeks, months and years. Shops should also be on the lookout for shielding gas waste. A simple device called a surge turbine can be placed at the end of the gun to provide a digital readout of the gas surge and flow rate. If the surge rate is high, investing in a surge guard can reduce the pressure, eliminating gas surges and waste. Leaks in the gas delivery system can also create a potential loss of money. By looking at the amount of consumables purchased each year and then examining the total gas purchased, a company can determine if there is a significant loss. Welding manufacturers and distributors should be able to provide average utilization figures so that loss can be detected. If there is a loss suspected, one of the easiest ways to check for leaks is to shut off the gas delivery system over the weekend. Check the level on Friday evening and then again on Monday morning to determine if gas was used while the system was in shut down mode.

How to pick a welder tips: Stepped voltage or synergic: Synergic MIG’s have the edge when you’re welding stainless & aluminium as they are pre-programmed, easy to set up & portable. They also provide a better weld characteristic and so give cleaner weld bead with less/no spatter. Inverters: Considerably smaller and lighter and so ideal for site work. All inverters are stepless and so have infinite control. Also cheaper to run power wise. Budget: How much welding are you going to undertake? Gear your purchasing decision around the jobs you will be working on the most. Polarity changeover; A lot of welders at the light industrial end will to be able weld with gasless flux cored MIG wire. Is the switchover easy on the machine you’re considering. Availability of spares & after sales service: Ask where the machine is actually made. Even the more recognised brands largely outsource their production, which can lead to quality and after sales issues with lack of continuity of supply for spares.

Several tips on welding equipment, MIG and TIG welders, plasma cutters. ARC Welding : ARC welding is one of the oldest welding processes around. It uses either an AC or DC power supply to create an electric arc between the welding rod and the workpiece metal to melt the metals and join them together. This style of welding is relatively inexpensive and very portable but it does require some practice to get good consistent welds and the welds will probably require some arc weldercleaning up afterwards. ARC welding is less suited to welding thinner materials but there is a large range of specialist electrodes (welding rods) available for ARC welders depending on what materials you are welding. ARC welding is versatile but more suited to heavier applications.

PACE Fume Extraction Systems provide effective odor reduction from the limited use of adhesives, solvents, and other compounds during handheld drilling, milling, or grinding operations. The filter cartridges are disposable, which makes them easier to use for fume extraction. Sturdy Steel Case and Lightweight Build Quality The Arm-Evac 150 comes with a steel case, which I found to be quite sturdy. It also has a dependable brushless motor that doesn’t need expensive routine maintenance. The overall unit is built with 20-gauge steel, which is ESD-safe. This tiny, low-profile machine will fit anywhere you need, and it comes with lockable casters for convenient mobility and transportation. The compact unit weighs only 20 pounds which makes it extremely lightweight.

Nova Voyager DVR magnetic drill is one of the very first smart and most featured drill press. This also plugs and play type drill press with advanced direct-drive motor technology and safety sensors. This drill press recognized as the best versatile and well-featured drill press available in the market. It can handle glass, plastics, metal, and wood for any innovative projects. With no load, it can run 50 rpm to 5500 rpm variable forward speed as well as reverse speed.

The story of ESAB is the story of welding. When our founder Oscar Kjellberg developed the world’s first coated welding electrode in 1904, he launched a company whose innovation and uncompromising standards have helped create the history of welding itself. For more than 100 years, ESAB has been powered by the will to continuously seek new and improved ways of serving our customers. This has made ESAB a world leader in welding products and advanced cutting systems. In 2012, ESAB was acquired by Colfax Corporation, one of the world’s leading diversified industrial manufacturing companies. Colfax, like ESAB, is a solidly customer-focused company that places strong emphasis on constant innovation and improvement. From the firsts by our founder to our global growth, we take pride in what we’ve accomplished in more than a century. But we do so with a keen eye on the future. What can we do better? It’s only when we seek to build upon all we’ve learned, to perfect the innovations our customers count on to work confidently, and push ourselves and our company further that we can boldly face the future. This is how we continue to write the history of welding and cutting. At the end of the day, it’s not where you’ve been that matters most – it’s where you’re going. And for us, that’s forward.

Our welding tables are to be self-assembled. This is an easy process; full instructions are provided. A wide range of tools are available for use with these tables and they are available as added optional extras in the custom options above. If you require guidance on which tool set would be the most suitable for you please feel free to call our helpful staff. *Please note that current lead times on these welding tables are 3-4 weeks, however if you require the table quicker please alert us and we will do our best to assist with your enquiry*

Forney have built a simple, mid range MIG welder that’s solid and reliable. It has some good power for the price but doesn’t have as good a duty cycle as the Hobart 190 or Lincoln 180. Forney aren’t one of the big three brands but this machine is still solidly built and I’d feel comfortable buying this. If you want a basic 220v welder without any special features, this is a good choice. Read the full review here.

The people behind Display4top market this particular model as a professional MIG welder and we can’t say that they make a poor case in that regard. For one, its duty cycle is definitely up there. With its 48A rated output, the model is able to work for 6 minutes straight before overheating. It comes equipped with a variable wire speed control trigger, so you’ll be able to efficiently work with different metals. There are two power settings and an Ampere knob, further making the versatility case. More importantly, the model is as durable as they come. The forced air cooling system keeps the temperature at a nice, practical level. On top of that, the welder incorporates a thermal overload protection system that will be able to pick up the former’s slack in case it fails to do its job.

Welding masks provider UK in 2024: Welding can easily ignite flammable materials due to sparks and hot equipment. It is essential to keep the welding area clear of all flammable materials, including oils, solvents, and combustible debris. Purpose: implementing strict fire safety protocols helps prevent fires, protecting both personnel and facilities. Fire fighting equipment like extinguishers should be readily available, and all staff must know how to use them effectively. Welding equipment should be properly grounded, and all electrical connections must be secure to prevent shocks. Regular inspections of equipment for damaged cords and improper connections are mandatory. Read additional information on laser welders online store UK.

Temperature control is important in welding. Too hot, and the metals can change properties, melt through and burn away, or end up significantly weaker than the surrounding material. Too low, and the metals won’t melt enough to mix and join. Since molten metal is susceptible to chemical changes much more easily than solid metal, arc welding generally uses some form of shielding gas to protect the weld pool from oxygen and other inclusions. This may be generated through the use of flux that produces the gasses when it melts, or can be pumped in from a gas supply. What is Brazing? Brazing is similar to welding in two ways: it uses higher temperatures (though not as high as welding), and it joins two pieces of metal together with a filler material, filling the gap and providing a strong joint. The biggest difference is how it works. With brazing, the base materials are not melted at all. Instead, the two materials fit together with a minuscule gap between them. This gap is enough space so that capillary action can draw a liquid into that spacing. In this case, the liquid is a molten filler metal.

Some welding helmets have a lot more in common with PAPR medical masks or SCUBA gear than they do with a traditional welding mask. They have various powered features, including the ability to pump in their own air supply. These are not necessary for everyday shop welding, especially if you have fume extraction set up in your shop. They’re more for cases where you need to weld in an otherwise enclosed space with no fume ventilation, like the inside of a ship or even underwater. They do a great job of protecting you from welding fumes and particles, but they’re overkill for most basic welding uses. There are two aspects of a welding mask that are related to the viewport, which is the actual part of the helmet you look through. The first is the size, shape, and position of this viewport. Some welding masks have relatively small viewing ports, while others are much larger, like what you would see on a motorcycle or snowmobile helmet.

The Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i is a great MIG welder for home use. The “FC-i” in the name means “Flux Core inverter.” Inverter technology is lighter than traditional transformers used in most welders, meaning this welder delivers 140 amps even though it only weighs 19 pounds. The one thing this welder doesn’t offer is true MIG capability. Flux core wire doesn’t deliver the same clean, indestructible level of welding as a gas-shielded arc. It provides shielding by evaporating flux. For the average home welder, the difference is minor. However, if you need to weld aluminum or stainless steel, flux core wire isn’t up to it and you’ll need to find a MIG-capable machine. The 140-amp rating is about as hot as you can get without stepping up to 220 volts. That’s enough to weld 1/4-inch steel. The duty rating on this machine is 30 percent at 90 amps, pretty astounding on a machine in this price range. There’s probably not a MIG welder in this class that has more satisfied customers, a big reason it’s the Weld Guru Weekend Warrior selection for Best MIG. If you don’t have a lot to spend, then I would recommend taking a look at our cheap MIG welders for under $500 guide.

The S SATC PCS Metal Cutting Disc for Angle Grinder is made with a proprietary aluminum oxide grain combination that creates an aggressive cutting action. This allows the user to cut through materials more easily. In addition, the wheel also has a balanced Cut Life, Cut Rate, Cut Precision, Power Demands & Heat Buildup. This means that you can cut through materials for longer periods of time without having to worry about the accuracy of the cut or the heat that is being generated. The SATC PCS Metal Cutting Discs will cut through most surfaces with ease and do not slow down as they work like other standard discs. These new discs also last much longer than other brands which allows you to make even more cuts before needing a replacement disc.

Look for ways to create more efficiencies in the welding process. This includes examining such things as wire diameter, wire feed speed, voltage, travel speed, gas type, transfer mode, etc. For instance, if the shop is currently welding with a short arc process and a 75/25 blend of shielding gas, it may be more effective to switch to a different gas and a spray mode of transfer. Or, a change in process may be warranted based on the condition of the part. If there is oxide on the part, it may be easier to change to a process that will overcome contamination problems rather than try to clean each part before welding. Your welding supplier should be up to date on the latest technology and be able to advise you on new processes, machinery and consumables that can optimize welding at the shop. In some cases, it may be better to double bevel a joint to prepare it for welding rather than single bevel it. It is recommended to double bevel any material that is more than 3/4″ in thickness. Just this simple change in procedure can save quite a bit in weld metal. On a 3/4″ thick piece, a double bevel will use 1.45 lbs. per foot of weld metal while a single bevel will use 1.95 lbs. per foot.

How to pick a welder tips: Digital meters factory fitted: Great to have when you purchase and may be required for calibration requirements. To fit them down the line could be expensive. Drive rollers: Metal rollers are the best. Nylon & plastic ones will always wear away quicker. Drive block system: Four roll would always be first choice, but some of the lower amperage machines won’t have them & two roll therefore would be acceptable. Bottle trolley: If you want a stepped voltage machine to be portable, you’ll need one. If you have a full size industrial cylinder check that the running gear & cylinder rack are man enough.

Angle grinders are formidable tools and need plenty of power to spin cutting or grinding discs at high velocity. Look for corded angle grinders that spin between 11,000-12,000 rpm or cordless angle grinders that spin between 7,500-9,000 rpm. The best angle grinder should be powered by a 700W motor at minimum if corded or, if cordless, an 18V battery that has a capacity of at least 4Ah. The grinding wheel diameter on most angle grinders is usually 115-125 mm, although heavy-duty angle grinders can accommodate grinding tools over twice that size. Noise and vibration levels are important aspects to consider with this type of power tool. Often the best angle grinders are the least noisy with lower vibration levels. This is especially so with cordless versions with brushless motors but they are more expensive, particularly if you include the cost of a battery and charger.

A few advices on welding equipment, MIG and TIG welders, plasma cutters. When appearance counts, TIG welding creates a high quality, clean weld that is far less likely to distort the metal by using a nonconsumable tungsten electrode. There is no need to worry about splatter because it only uses the necessary amount of filler metal needed in the welding puddle, making for the highest quality weld in every respect. However, TIG is fairly specialized and requires a good deal of training in order to master it—so make sure any TIG welder purchase is paired with a plan to take welding classes. Instead of the point and shoot simplicity of MIG welding, TIG requires the use of a foot pedal to regulate the welding process. A filler rod that is separate from the torch that must be fed in gradually. Many professional welders prefer TIG because it can weld a wide variety of metals and because of the versatility of argon gas used during TIG welding. There is no slag to block the view of the weld puddle. Argon gas can weld any metal at any thickness with TIG welding, and therefore there is no need to change the gas depending on the project.

Successfully Prevents Toxic Gas and Can Replace Any Ventilation Fan. Maxx Air HVHF is more about preventing toxins from traveling around your home or workplace than it is about regulating temperature. This is the perfect fume extractor if you don’t want ventilation fans installed around your property. You can use it basically for any sort of welding and soldering job. As it produces massive 2000 CFM airflow, you don’t have to worry about its performance! KNOKOO is famous for producing lightweight fume extractors within an affordable price range. The FES 150 is a worthy inclusion in their list of products. This portable weld fume extractor absorbs smoke and purifies the air as well with its 3-layered filter.

Evolution Power tools magnetic drill press is one of the top-rated magnetic drill machines. It is most famous for its lightweight and compactness, excellent and well-constructed magnetic drill machine at a reasonable price. This is ideal for bridges, I-beams, and framework. This can provide 1300 Kgf. Or 2860 lbs f magnetic adhesion. Its maximum core diameter is about 28 mm or 1-1/8 inch. It can give a depth cut maximum of 50 mm or 2 inches. Evolution Power tools magnetic drill press also provide Weldon shank cutter fitting type -19 mm. It also offers a wide variety of tools to be used with Evolution Power tools magnetic drill press. This package includes a wide range of annular cutter, step drills and mini cutters, evolution cutting fluid.

Our vision and our distinct set of values drive the success and spirit of our organization. At ESAB, under Colfax leadership, we live our values. As a premiere U.S. welding equipment manufacturer, our vision and values help us to make strategic decisions, allocate resources, and focus our choices every day, domestically and internationally. ESAB offers a world of products and solutions for virtually every welding and cutting process and application. We serve industries that serve the world. The Best Team Wins – Team-oriented, involved associates are our most valuable resource, and we are passionate about attracting, developing, and retaining the best talent. Living this value is done in three primary ways: 1. Building the right team – having the right people to do the job; 2. Creating the right environment – making sure that leaders create an environment where all associates can contribute, and 3. Getting the win – when you have the right people and right environment – it makes getting the win a lot easier!

Our welding tables are to be self-assembled. This is an easy process; full instructions are provided. A wide range of tools are available for use with these tables and they are available as added optional extras in the custom options above. If you require guidance on which tool set would be the most suitable for you please feel free to call our helpful staff. *Please note that current lead times on these welding tables are 3-4 weeks, however if you require the table quicker please alert us and we will do our best to assist with your enquiry*

The Lincoln PowerMIG 210 is the ultimate MIG welder for versatility. It comes with the capability to perform MIG, Stick, TIG and Flux Core welding at both 120v and 240v. This is perfect if you’re looking to buy a MIG welder and are considering buying a TIG or Stick welder as well. Buying a multi-process welder like the PowerMIG 210 can save you a lot of money rather than buying separate machines. Lincoln are the market leaders when it comes to manufacturing quality and the PowerMIG 210 is top of the range to build quality and weld quality. The digital display on the front of the machine lets you easily key in your variables to get you get set up in no time at all with an easy to use user interface. See the full review here.

The Autojack MIG100 has its flaws but none of them make a convincing enough case to prevent the model’s appearance on our list. It’s a good product for a lot of different reasons. First, it incorporates 4 stage power settings. Add to that the variable wire speed control and you have yourself a truly versatile tool. The internal turbo fan cooling system here is represented by an oversized blower that circulates air at a higher speed. The air vents on the sides of the model are also larger than average, a design solution that improves heat dissipation. Having said that, what we like most about this MIG welder is probably just how suitable it is for people with different levels of expertise, from beginners and hobbyists to experienced welders and professionals.

UK market choice: LONGEVITY Inc is a company that has been around since only 2001. Like LOTOS Technology, it still produces a fine enough quality welder that it has earned its spot on this list. Besides the gas cylinder, this welder comes with everything you need to get started and is simple to set up. With all this, along with its solid performance, this machine is marked at a fair price of under $400. Though it is manufactured in China, the LONGEVITY Migweld is still a quality welder. It is most well-adapted to light use. Compared to Miller and Hobart’s machines, the price is somewhat better without sacrificing much quality. It welds from 24 gauge to ¼ inches of steel. Flux core is available for this welder. The LONGEVITY can run at ten different voltage settings. As an added bonus, it has thermal overload protection like the LOTOS welder.

Industrial gas cylinders have been around for a long time. They are widely used for welding, medical applications, fermenting liquids, and several other applications across various industries. In addition to these, new applications for these cylinders are emerging, as new industries and technologies are evolving. These cylinders are filled with low molecular weight chemicals in a gaseous form. Acetylene, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, argon, and helium are some gases, which are used regularly. These chemical gases have distinct properties, which are exploited in various industrial applications. If not handled properly, these industrial gas cylinders may be hazardous in various industrial conditions. This post shares some important safety tips for handling industrial gas cylinders in an industrial facility.

For some people, the best MIG welder is one that they can take with them wherever their jobs might take them. Welding is one of the most in-demand talents in the UK at the moment, with plenty of manufacturers and mechanics on the hunt for flexible experts who can deliver state-of-the-art welds in a hurry. This MIG Welder portable inverter system comes with everything you need to take your talent with you on-the-go. The system is neatly contained within a compact and light-weight blue package, where you’ll find everything you need for a car welder or home welder, including an optional spool gun for aluminium welding, a 3M MIG torch, earth clamp and lead, and gas hose & regulator. There’s also an easy-to-follow manual included, and a 3-year warranty if you’re concerned about getting the most out of your investment. Overall, this welding machine, created by R-Tech is perfect for people who want to get the most out of a smooth and efficient MIG welding experience. It offers an all-in-one kit for professionals and beginners alike, although it seems to be designed more for the everyday welder than the hobbyist. Find extra info on https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/.

The gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process creates accurate and high-quality welds with great penetration making it suitable for several applications, such as aerospace and automotive industries. While TIG welding has a steeper learning curve than MIG welding, the many adjustable features and functions of a TIG welder make it a very versatile process. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) also known as manual metal arc welding (MMAW/MMA) or just stick welding, uses a consumable flux-coated metal electrode to join metals. As we strike the electrode with the base metal, it creates an arc that melts down the materials in the weld pool. The flux releases a shielding gas to protect the weld metal from contamination. Slag deposits are removed after the cooling process using common shop tools such as a wire brush.