Gas Welding Vs Arc Welding: A Complete Comparison, Difference

Welding is a process of fusion of two or more metal parts through fabrication. This process undergoes by means of pressure, application of intense heat, or joining of the different parts by cooling down.

There are 7 basic types of welding. And most of them fall under two basic categories: Gas welding and Arc welding.

gas welding vs arc welding — Difference Between Arc Welding and Gas Welding

Gas-type welding has its different branches. Similarly, arc-type welding also has various branches.

In this article, we will be discussing gas and arc welding, their pros and cons, and take a deep dive into the topic.

Let’s Go!!

Table of Contents

Arc welding vs Gas welding

All of these fusion welding procedures, known as arc welding, comprise of usage of an electric arc to provide the heat required to liquefy the main constituents’ desired surfaces in preparation for coalescence production.

On the other side of the coin, the gas welding procedure comprises a flame produced by the burning of oxygen gas which is used as a fuel to deliver essential heat.

As a result, the primary distinction between the two types of welding: Gas and arc, is the heat source; yet, their levels of capacity and intrinsic quality differ significantly.

What is gas welding

To lay it in a simple way, gas welding is the process of attaching or detaching different joints of two or more metal parts using different types of gas such as acetylene, and oxy-acetylene.

It is one of the ancient forms of heat-based welding and still now many industries prefer this ancient technique for its easy and errorless approach.

In this process, the metals are fused through the process of welding at a high temperature. The oxygen mixed with the fuel gas is burned to produce this high temperature.

The filler material along with the main components are placed in direct contact with the flame to strike it directly and weld the area of joints of metals.

The melted portion of the given material is called the weld pool. The liquefied metals combine with each other and after they are cooled, they form a formidable and strong joint. This is the most common type of welding of metals.

In the final steps of this process, the flame is required to be removed slowly. It is done to give the metal its time to harden itself without oxidation.

Pros and Cons of gas welding

Pros

1. Can be easily used for the fusion of different types of metal to form a joint. Both ferrous and non-ferrous metals are suitable for gas welding.
2. No consumption of electricity. When other types of welding are taken into consideration, gas welding gives the advantage of not requiring electric power for the completion of welding. So it can be used in places that lack the supply of electricity.
3. The types of equipment that are required for gas welding are low and cheaper in cost in comparison with the tools required for other types of welding.
4. Doesn’t require highly skilled labor work. For this, it is very easy to find laborers that can perform gas welding. And due to greater availability, they also cost less.
5. The gas welding setup is very much portable and can be carried to any place.

Cons

1. Gas welding is not suitable for metal parts that are comparatively thick.
2. Gas welding doesn’t give good texture after welding. So, after welding is needed if beautification is needed.
3. It is not good for steels with high strength. The heated zones are capable of affecting the core material of the metal.
4. Though it can reach a high temperature, when compared to other welding techniques, its production of heat is less.
5. No dedicated system for flux shielding. It can cause much worse results and defects in metal.

What is arc welding

The process of joining two or more metal parts using the heat from an arc which is generated by electrical power is called arc welding. The source of this power supply can be both AC and DC.

The popular types of welding such as MIG, TIG, or flux-core welding use the basic procedures of arc welding. The electric power is supplied for sustaining the arc.

This arc can produce 6500 degrees Fahrenheit. At this heat, the metals melt very easily to fuse with each other. As the molten metals react with the oxygen and nitrogen present in the air, a protective gas shielding is used to prevent the metals from corroding.

Pros and Cons of arc welding

Pros

1. It has very good strength on impact.
2. The production rate of arc welding is very high.
3. No air gaps can be found in arc welding.
4. Provides strong weld and assures high quality.

Cons

1. Needs ventilation and respirators for the toxic fumes.
2. It produces an excessive amount of waste.
3. Highly skilled labor is needed.
4. Due to the high amount of heat, it can burn through thin sheets of metals.

Arc welding and gas welding difference

The main difference between them is their source of heat. Arc welding has electric power as the heat source and gas welding has gas as a source of heat production.

Arc welding can be conducted on metals that can conduct electricity. Gas welding can be done on almost any type of metal. Shielding is necessary for arc welding whereas no such shielding is required for gas welding.

The temperatures of arc welding are double the temperature of gas welding uses.

5 similarities between gas and electric arc welding

They follow the basic principles that are used in fusion welding.
In both styles of welding, heat is supplied externally.
The filler material is used in both cases and they are also supplied externally.
Both are preferred for homogenous and heterogenous types of joints
The heat-affected zones are inherent in both arc and gas welding.

Gas welding vs arc welding: which one to choose:

To put it simply, gas welding is easier to control and a universal welding procedure. On the other hand, arc welding is confined to certain types of material with greater precision and durability than gas welding.

The type of welding to be chosen depends on the types of materials used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gas welding easier than arc welding?

Ans: yes, it is much easier than arc welding.

Is gas welding easier to control than arc welding?

Ans: Arc welding required higher temperatures than gas welding. So, it becomes easy to control gas welding than arc welding.

Is arc welding faster than gas welding?

Ans: Arc welding uses an intense amount of heat, almost double the temperature of gas welding. So, arc welding is faster.

Verdict

This is all about Arc welding vs Gas welding. Hopefully, our comparison will help you to choose the best suitable one for you. Arc welding or Gas welding, which one is best depends on personal preferences. Think about your requirements and choose accordingly.