TWI Frequently asked questions
by John Weston
The term 'welding accessories' can mean different things to different people. There are possibly two categories of welding accessory: (a) consumable items, (b) items of equipment required to perform a particular welding task.
Here are some examples of what might be included in the consumable items category:
- Welding gloves, aprons and helmets, dust masks and other safety equipment items
- Chipping hammers and wire brushes
- Gas nozzles and contact tips for MIG/MAG welding
- Tungsten rods for TIG/GTAW welding
- Abrasive discs for angle grinders
- Electrodes for resistance spot welding
Items of equipment required to perform a particular task might include:
- Angle grinders
- Electrode drying ovens
- Back-purging equipment
- Preheating equipment and heat protection mats
- Ceramic backing materials
- Work tables, jigs and fixtures
- Resistance welding electrode dressing tools
- Tools for changing resistance welding electrodes
- Load cells for setting / controlling resistance welding equipment
Each joining process will have accessories specific to that technology. Welding and specialist equipment suppliers usually have accessories catalogues which are useful sources of information and ideas.
