Welding Vs Soldering Vs Brazing: Which To Use?

Welding, soldering, and brazing are in use since the 19th century. They are essential parts of auto, aerospace, shipbuilding, and other industries. Welding, soldering, and brazing are often confusing terms. Many people often interchange them. Although their primary job is the same, their principle is different. People use this method to join pieces of metal or other materials. Now let us compare Welding vs Soldering vs Brazing.

Welding Vs Soldering Vs Brazing: Comparison

Welding

Professionals use welding to join two similar metals. For example, we cannot weld iron with copper. Welding needs high temperatures to melt and join two metals. We can also add filler metal. When done with proper care, the finished weld is as strong as a metal. But overheating can be harmful. This will make the weld weak and change the properties of the metal.

There are different types of welding. They are

• Metal inert gas welding
• Arc welding
• Electron beam welding
• Laser welding
• Stir friction welding

Another use of welding is to slice apart large metal structures.

Advantages Of Welding:

1. Welding helps to make strong and tight joints and seams.
2. It is a cost-effective method of joining two components.
3. There is no need for residue removal in some applications.
4. Welding can join large sections of metal.

Disadvantages Of Welding:

1. Welding can be an expensive method.
2. This process can have harmful effects. These effects can be radiation, high temperatures, and toxic fumes.
3. This method is not suitable for thin metals.
4. A change in the characteristics of base metal structures may lead to internal stress. This can also lead to distortion in the weld area.
5. This method is only applicable to similar metals.

Brazing

Brazing joins two metals by melting filler that bonds to both the pieces. The melting temperature of filler must be lower than that of metal pieces. For brazing, the metals need not be similar. For example, we can join aluminum with copper. The use of flux is common during brazing. Professionals use a liquid to promote wetting. This helps the filler to flow over the metal parts. Another use of the liquid is to clean the parts of oxides.

This helps the filler to make a tight bond with metal parts. The use of fluxes is common to clean the metal surfaces. Brazed joints appropriately done can be more durable than metal pieces themselves. But they are weaker than the welded joints. Brazing has little effect on the two metal parts.

Advantages Of Brazing:

1. In this method, there is no need to melt the base metal.
2. This metal produces a clean joint, so there is no need for secondary processing.
3. Brazing can join dissimilar metals and non-metals.
4. It is a cost-effective method for complex assemblies.

Disadvantages Of Brazing:

1. Brazing cannot join larger sections of material.
2. The strength of the joint is weaker than a welded joint.
3. High temperatures may damage brazed joints.
4. The color of the joint is different than the color of base metal.
5. Filler materials and fluxes may contain toxic components.

Soldering

Soldering is like brazing but at low temperature. It includes filler or solders that melt below 450 degrees Celsius. Professionals solder metal like gold, silver, copper, brass, and iron. First, the melting of the filler takes place. After it solidifies, it binds two metal pieces. The bond is weaker than the brazed or welded one.

Professionals use flux in soldering to clean the metal surfaces. This makes it easy for the filler to flow over metal pieces. Another use of soldering is to join electrical components. The joint is not strong or structural. But this connects the parts with conductive solder.

Advantages Of Soldering:

1. Soldering does not need melting the base metal.
2. Soldering involves a low process temperature.
3. Dissimilar materials and thin-walled parts can join by soldering.

Disadvantages Of Soldering:

1. Soldering is not in use to join large sections of metal.
2. The limit of soldering is till low-temperature applications. It is not used for higher temperature applications.
3. Soldered joints are weaker than welded and brazed joints.
4. Soldering’s fluxes contain toxic substances.

Welding vs Soldering vs Brazing: Safety Tips

While welding, soldering, and brazing, there is always a threat to safety. One of the major concerns is fire. So, here are some safety tips for you. These are some basic ones.

1. You should never perform these operations near combustible materials.
2. Ensure that you have an appropriate fire extinguisher in good operating condition.
3. It is advisable not to use defective or leaky equipment.
4. Always perform heating operations in a ventilated area. You should avoid breathing fumes from these operations.
5.  Ensure that all the connections are leak-tight.
6. Follow the manufacturer’s manual for using the equipment.
7. You should never use acetylene above 15 psi pressure.
8. The welder must wear goggles to protect his/her eyes.
9. Wear clean and oil-free clothes during these operations. Wear welding gloves to avoid burns from radiation and hot molten slag.
10. Make sure that welding material is secure. This is to ensure that it will not move or fall on anyone.
11. Never use a match or lighter to light a cutting torch.
12. Keep all burning or flammable substances away from oxygen or fuel gas storage area.
13. You should post ‘no smoking’ signs around your workplace.
14. Keep the cylinders upright while transporting them in vehicles.
15. Avoid hammering on any cylinder.
16. Avoid tampering with safety devices on cylinders, fuse plugs, and safety disks.
17. In case of a fire, clear the area for a radius of 35 feet. Use fire shields in case of fire.

Few Of The Best Welding Machines Available In The Market

1. BMB Inverter Arc Welding Machine

This BMB product is a single-phase portable arc welding machine. The company incorporates this machine with top-notch technology and quality raw materials. This welding machine needs low maintenance and saves energy. It is one of the most productive machines in the market. It has advanced IGBT technology. It gives the welder the right welding voltage, which increases the output. It has an internal cooling system to prevent overheating.

It has a dust and moisture-proof body. This helps it to work in all weather conditions. Other safety equipments are safety goggles, welder holder, earthing clamp, and user manual. The weight of this welding machine is 4.5 kg.

2. iBELL Inverter Arc Welding Machine

This brand is one of the most trusted brands in the metal fabrication field. This iBELL product is compact and quite portable. It is right in efficiency and performance. It uses the latest technology to improve performance. It is low in maintenance, reliable, and durable. It gives a 2-year warranty. This is one of the highest warranty periods in the market. It also equips a secure IGBT technology. It also has an overheat protection.

3. Shakti Inverter Arc Welding Machine

It is one of the low-cost machines. It is also one of the powerful welding machines available in the market. It is compatible with a household power supply of 240V. It has an insulated gate bipolar transistor technology and Arc force mechanism. This helps it to convert to DC power as an output. This increases the productivity of the machine. Its accessories include inverter tube, hand gloves, welding goggles, and welding holder. It also provides an earth clamp and its cables.

It is quite compact, light, and transportable. It also equips reliable IGBT technology. It is a long-lasting welding machine with strong build quality. But, one of the significant drawbacks of this machine is the overheating of cables.

4. GK36 Inverter Arc Welding Machine

It is a very efficient machine with a built-in inverter. This machine maintains a constant voltage for your usage. This welder is a consistent, concentrated, stable, and efficient performance. This welder is portable due to its compact build and design. It is a low maintenance machine with a 12-month warranty.

Few Of The Best Soldering Machines Available In The Market

1. AmiciKart’s 60W Soldering Iron Kit

It is a powerful soldering iron kit. It has an adjustable temperature control feature. This kit by AmiciKart is small, compact, lightweight, and suitable for day-to-day operations. The handle has a good grip and helps to complete work faster. You can adjust the temperature between 200-450 degrees. The length of the power cable is quite long. This is one of its distinct features.

2. Thermisto Electric Soldering Kit

This kit by Thermisto ensures superfast operations. It is an ideal kit for low to medium level soldering. The strength of this kit is powerful. The product has a 30-day warranty. It is a high-quality soldering kit with excellent efficiency.

3. Soldron 25-Watt Soldering Kit

It is an iron kit for light to moderate soldering jobs. It is a small compact and easy to operate an iron kit. This kit provides a power voltage of 25-Watts. It comes with all the necessary tools to simplify soldering for you. The kit also offers replaceable tips. This kit backs a solid flux, desoldering wick, and soldering wire.

Final Thoughts

This article gives you an insight into Welding vs Soldering vs Brazing. This is essential knowledge for amateur professionals and curious readers. So, follow the safety rules and, meanwhile, Happy Welding!