There are numerous different industrial and commercial jobs out there that involve exciting, interesting work that pays well above the national average. A perfect example is welding, and more people than ever are electing to enter the welding field. Steel frame construction has always been a huge industry and it's only growing and now finding its way into residential as well as commercial and industrial applications. If you're thinking of becoming a professional welder, you may want to understand the various types of welding equipment you'll be using.

Essentially, welding is simply a process of joining two materials together, normally metal. The metals don't have to be the same kind in most cases, although the melting points of some metals may have an impact on how welding works in each specific instance. Normally the two metals are connected by adding a filler material between them. At its most basic level welding causes the two metals to heat up and causes the filler material to melt. This forms what is known as a 'welding pool' of liquid metal. When the metal is cooled and hardens it becomes one solid piece. That filler material is one of the most basic types of welding equipment, and one that you'll become very familiar with.

The first welders were blacksmiths, who learned how welding works centuries ago. They used a process known as forge welding to join iron and steel together. This process used a combination of heat and hammering to create the weld, using a forge, anvil, and hammer. While still done in a craftsman setting, today's welders use much more advanced techniques and welding equipment than these. The energy supply box is one of the most important pieces of equipment since in both gas and arc welding you will have to have a quality source of energy. Shielded metal arc welding is one of the most popular types, although many welders still employ their gas welders on a regular basis.

Only ferrous metals can be welded together using the arc welding method, but this includes most of the most common types of metal so the process is very popular. An electrode rod that is coated with steel is used as the catalyst and the filler, creating an electrical current that melts down the electrode and creates the weld joint. The process is slower than some other forms of welding but is usually a more affordable and more common option in most cases, and is what most welders utilize. When most welders order their welding equipment they order huge numbers of these rods since they're used constantly.

Gas welding is mainly relied on for tubes and pipes and although it was widely used for a variety of tasks, it is quickly fading away in popularity. Welding equipment in these areas includes the power supply as well as numerous gas tanks to deliver the gas to the process. More advanced welding will involve more advanced equipment including lasers or friction plates, but in all cases the most important equipment will be your protective gear, including gloves, aprons, and masks.