Welding Tools and Supplies Study Guide

GMAW Machine

Gas Metal Arc Welding machine that uses constant voltage power supply to feed continuous wire electrode and shielding gas, producing efficient semi-automatic welds.

Plasma Cutter

Handheld cutting tool that uses an electric arc and compressed gas to create a high-temperature plasma stream for cutting and gouging metal materials.

Welding Power Supply

Electrical device that converts AC power into controlled welding current, supplying constant current for SMAW/GTAW or constant voltage for GMAW welding
processes.

Electrode Holder

Insulated clamp device connected to a welding cable that securely holds a consumable electrode for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).

GMAW Welding Gun

Handheld welding gun used in GMAW processes that feeds continuous wire electrode and shielding gas through the nozzle to create controlled electric arc welds.

Ground Clamp

Conductive clamp that attaches a welding cable to the workpiece or table, completing the electrical circuit.

GTAW Torch

Handheld welding torch that holds a non-consumable tungsten electrode and delivers shielding gas to protect the weld area during precise GTAW welding.

Chipping Hammer

Welding cleanup tool with a pointed and chisel-shaped head used to remove slag and scale from welds; also known as a slag hammer.

Contact Tips

Replaceable copper components in GMAW guns that transfer electrical current to the welding wire while guiding it through the nozzle.

GTAW Foot Pedal

Foot-operated control device used in GTAW welding to regulate amperage output in real time, allowing precise heat adjustment while welding without using hands.

Leather Gloves

Heat-resistant leather gauntlet-style gloves used in welding to protect hands and forearms from sparks, heat, and molten metal.

Switchable Magnet

Magnetic positioning device with an on/off switch used to temporarily hold and align metal pieces at set angles during welding or fabrication work.

Welding Pliers

Multi-purpose welding tool with insulated handles and forged steel jaws used to cut wire, remove spatter, clean fnozzles, and grip hot materials safely.

Welding Magnet

Magnetic holding tool used to temporarily position and align metal pieces at fixed angles during welding, helping maintain accuracy before permanent joining.

Welding Helmet

Protective helmet with tinted lens that shields eyes and face from welding arc radiation; auto-darkening models automatically adjust lens shade when the arc is struck.

Hardfacing Electrode

Specialized SMAW electrode made with alloyed metal and wear-resistant flux coating, used to deposit hardened, abrasion-resistant layers; not standardized by number and varies by manufacturer design.

SMAW Electrode

Consumable shielded metal arc welding rod coated with flux, classified by codes like E6010, where “E” means electrode, “60” equals 60,000 psi strength, “1” all-position use, and “0” cellulose sodium coating for DCEP.

Solid Welding Wire Electrode

Solid GMAW filler wire classified as ER-70S-4, where “ER” indicates electrode/rod, “70” equals 70,000 psi strength, and “S” denotes solid wire with shielding gas compatibility.

Tubular Wire Electrode

Flux-cored tubular welding wire electrode (e.g., E70T-L) containing internal flux for shielding, used without external gas, with classification indicating strength and welding position capability.

Tungsten Electrode

Non-consumable electrode made of tungsten used in GTAW (TIG) welding to create and maintain the arc without melting during the welding process.

Acetylene Regulator

Pressure regulator to control acetylene flow from cylinder to torch, featuring left-hand threaded hose connections.

Oxygen Regulator

Two-stage pressure regulator to control oxygen flow from cylinder to torch, featuring right-hand threaded hose connections.

Cutting Tip

Replaceable oxy-fuel torch tip with central oxygen orifice and surrounding preheat holes, used to direct cutting oxygen stream that oxidizes and cuts metal.

Cutting Torch

Handheld oxy-fuel cutting torch with valves to mix oxygen and acetylene and a lever to release high-pressure oxygen stream for cutting metal.

Heating Tip

Multi-orifice oxy-fuel heating tip, also called a rosebud, used to distribute a broad flame for heating and bending metal evenly.

Torch Handle

Central handle body of an oxy-fuel torch, often called the torch butt, used to control gas flow and attach cutting or welding tips.

Welding Tip

Replaceable oxy-fuel welding tip with small orifice for controlled flame, available in various sizes to match material thickness and welding heat requirements.

Flint Spark Lighter

Handheld flint ignition tool used to safely light oxy-fuel torches, producing sparks when squeezed to ignite gas without using matches or lighters.

Tip Cleaner

Set of small, needle-like round files in various sizes used to clean and maintain torch tip orifices.

Welding Goggles

Protective eyewear with shaded lenses used in oxy- fuel welding to shield eyes from harmful radiation, bright flame glare, and flying sparks or spatter.

Brazing Rod

Filler metal rod used in brazing, typically 1/16–3/16 inch diameter and about 36 inches long, melted to join metals without melting the base material.

Copper Coated Mild Steel

Mild steel filler rod, typically 1/16–3/16 inch diameter and 36 inches long, used for welding or brazing applications requiring improved conductivity and corrosion resistance.

Flux-Coated Brazing Rod

Brazing rod, typically 1/8 inch diameter, used to join metals by brazing while the flux coating cleans and protects the joint during heating.

Spot Welder

Stationary or pedestal-mounted resistance welding machine with two copper electrode tips that clamp overlapping sheet metal and apply pressure and electrical current to form localized weld spots.