Gas Welding Carbon SteelGas welding is still a widely used process for the welding of carbon steels. It is used mainly as a manual process with oxygen and the fuel gas supplied from compressed gas cylinders. The fuel gas used for welding carbon steels is always acetylene, and a neutral flame is used. Consumables are cut lengths of solid wire to appropriate compositions and normally copper coated. No flux is required as a general rule. It is important to ensure the surfaces in the joint area are clean and free from oil, grease, and rust. Its main application today is for welding sheet steel and small pipework in automotive plants, shipyards, heating and ventilation, in repair and maintenance shops, jobbing shops, and for site work, where a power supply is not available. The main safety issues are naked flames, compressed gas cylinders, and hot metal. Flashback arrestors must be fitted to ensure safe operation of the process.
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