Rolled Alloys Welding Guide

GMAW [Gas Metal Arc Welding]
Metal Inert Gas [MIG] now known as GMAW [Gas Metal Arc Welding] is an arc welding process in which the weld is shielded by an external gas.
This process is always done using a spooled weld wire usually 0.035” or 0.045” in diameter.
GTAW [Gas Tungsten Arc Weld]
Tungsten Inert Gas [TIG] now known as GTAW [Gas Tungsten Arc Welding]. GTAW is usually done with 36” straight lengths of wire.
SMAW [Shielded Metal Arc Weld]
Shielded Metal Arc Welding [SMAW] is commonly called “stick welding”, Manual Arc Welding, or welding with covered electrodes.
SAW [Submerged Arc Weld]
SAW is an automatic process using spooled wire like GMAW/MIG, except the wire is larger diameter. 3 / 32” diameter is common for nickel alloys, but 1 / 16” and
1/ 8” diameter wires are also used. Instead of shielding the welding arc with the inert gas argon, in SAW a hopper drops granulated flux [like coarse sand] down,
to melt in the arc and protect the weld puddle from oxidation. For every pound of weld wire used, SAW consumes roughly a pound of flux as well.
FCAW [Flux Cored Arc Welding]
FCAW is also spooled wire and looks the same as MIG/GMAW wire. Flux cored wire is a hollow metal tube, with powdered flux and alloying elements in the
tube. FCAW is a flexible welding method that gives high deposition rates. It can be in all welding positions and is extremely welder-friendly. The flux filled wire
is automatically fed through the center of the gun using the same equipment as GMAW. The shielding gas is supplied through the gun and protects the weld pool
from oxidation during welding. The flux inside the wire will protect the weld from the atmosphere since it forms a slag which covers the weld. It is available in
stainless and in nickel grade alloys.