Welder Glossary

  • Arc Welding: A welding process that uses an electric arc to melt metals.
  • MIG Welding: Metal Inert Gas welding, also known as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).
  • TIG Welding: Tungsten Inert Gas welding, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW).
  • Stick Welding: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), using a flux-coated electrode.
  • Flux: Material used to protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
  • Weld Bead: A continuous deposit of weld metal produced by a single pass.
  • Welder’s Shield: Protective equipment worn to shield from arc rays.
  • Welding Helmet: Protective gear that covers the face and eyes during welding.
  • Welding Gloves: Heavy-duty gloves to protect hands from heat and sparks.
  • Welding Jacket: Flame-resistant clothing worn to protect the torso and arms.
  • Welding Cap: Headgear worn under the helmet for added protection.
  • Welding Hood: Another term for a welding helmet.
  • Welding Curtain: Protective barrier used to shield nearby workers from welding arc.
  • Welding Table: Work surface designed for welding operations.
  • Ground Clamp: Device used to connect the workpiece to the welding machine’s ground.
  • Electrode: Rod or wire used in welding to carry current and melt into the weld pool.
  • Welding Rod: Electrode used in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).
  • Welding Wire: Consumable wire used in MIG and TIG welding processes.
  • Welding Torch: Hand-held device used in gas welding and cutting processes.
  • Welding Gun: Term sometimes used interchangeably with welding torch.
  • Weld Pool: Molten metal formed during welding.
  • Slag: Residue formed during flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) or SMAW.
  • Welding Power Supply: Device providing electrical power for welding operations.
  • Welding Current: Electrical current used in welding.
  • Welding Voltage: Electrical potential difference used in welding.
  • Welding Gas: Shielding gas used in MIG and TIG welding.
  • Gas Cylinder: Pressurized container holding welding gases.
  • Welding Position: Orientation of the welding joint relative to gravity.
  • Fillet Weld: Triangular cross-section weld joining two surfaces at right angles.
  • Butt Weld: Weld used to join two pieces of metal end-to-end.
  • Groove Weld: Weld made in a groove between workpieces.
  • Overlap: Welding technique where beads overlap.
  • Weave Pattern: Technique of moving the welding torch in a pattern during welding.
  • Travel Speed: Rate at which the welding torch moves along the joint.
  • Preheat: Heating the base metal before welding to reduce stress and cracking.
  • Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT): Heat treatment applied after welding to improve properties.
  • Interpass Temperature: Temperature range between welding passes.
  • Porosity: Cavities or voids in the weld caused by gas entrapment.
  • Inclusions: Non-metallic material trapped in the weld metal.
  • Undercut: Groove melted into the base metal adjacent to the weld toe.
  • Welding Positioner: Device used to position workpieces for welding.
  • Back Purge: Technique to protect the back side of a weld joint from oxidation.
  • Welding Engineer: Professional specializing in welding processes and materials.
  • Welding Inspector: Individual responsible for inspecting weld quality and procedures.
  • Welding Procedure Specification (WPS): Document specifying welding parameters and techniques.
  • Welder Qualification Test (WQT): Test to certify a welder’s ability to produce acceptable welds.
  • Welding Code: Standards specifying acceptable welding practices.
  • Joint Design: Configuration of workpieces to be welded together.
  • Tack Weld: Small welds used to temporarily hold workpieces in place.
  • Arc Blow: Magnetic forces affecting the arc during welding.
  • Duty Cycle: Percentage of time a welding machine can operate within a given period.
  • Weld Symbol: Symbol on engineering drawings indicating the type of weld required.
  • Welding Fume: Particles and gases produced during welding.
  • Welding Respirator: Personal protective equipment (PPE) for protecting against welding fumes.
  • Welding Flux: Material used in submerged arc welding (SAW) to protect the weld pool.
  • Keyhole Welding: Technique in which a hole is penetrated by the arc during welding.
  • Weld Cracking: Cracks in the weld metal or heat-affected zone.
  • Welding Rod Oven: Storage unit for electrodes to prevent moisture absorption.
  • Root Pass: First weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Hot Pass: Intermediate weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Filler Pass: Weld pass following the root pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Cap Pass: Final weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Pulse Welding: Welding technique where current pulses between high and low levels.
  • Welding Flux: Material used in submerged arc welding (SAW) to protect the weld pool.
  • Keyhole Welding: Technique in which a hole is penetrated by the arc during welding.
  • Weld Cracking: Cracks in the weld metal or heat-affected zone.
  • Welding Rod Oven: Storage unit for electrodes to prevent moisture absorption.
  • Root Pass: First weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Hot Pass: Intermediate weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Filler Pass: Weld pass following the root pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Cap Pass: Final weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Pulse Welding: Welding technique where current pulses between high and low levels.
  • Weld Metal: Metal added during welding.
  • Heat Affected Zone (HAZ): Area of base metal whose properties have been altered by welding.
  • Welding Rod Oven: Storage unit for electrodes to prevent moisture absorption.
  • Root Pass: First weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Hot Pass: Intermediate weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Filler Pass: Weld pass following the root pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Cap Pass: Final weld pass in multi-pass welding.
  • Pulse Welding: Welding technique where current pulses between high and low levels.
  • Weld Metal: Metal added during welding.
  • Heat Affected Zone (HAZ): Area of base metal whose properties have been altered by welding.
  • Weld Face: Exposed surface of a weld.
  • Weld Pool: Molten metal during welding.
  • Weld Reinforcement: Excess weld metal above the base metal surface.
  • Weld Crater: Depression at the end of a weld bead.
  • Backing Strip: Material placed behind the joint to support the weld.
  • Welding Alloys: Metals added to the base metal during welding to improve properties.
  • Distortion: Deformation of the base metal due to welding.
  • Welding Rod: Electrode used in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW).
  • Welding Wire: Consumable wire used in MIG and TIG welding processes.
  • Welding Torch: Hand-held device used in gas welding and cutting processes.
  • Welding Gun: Term sometimes used interchangeably with welding torch.
  • Weld Pool: Molten metal formed during welding.
  • Slag: Residue formed during flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) or SMAW.
  • Welding Power Supply: Device providing electrical power for welding operations.
  • Welding Current: Electrical current used in welding.
  • Welding Voltage: Electrical potential difference used in welding.
  • Welding Gas: Shielding gas used in MIG and TIG welding.
  • Gas Cylinder: Pressurized container holding welding gases.