welding arc

Bright fusion point

A welding arc is the intensely hot electrical discharge between an electrode and the metal being welded.

The arc generates temperatures high enough to melt steel, fusing pieces together.

Looking directly at a welding arc without protection causes painful eye damage called arc eye or welder's flash: Never look at the welding arc without a proper helmet.

sparkTiny fiery particle
flameBurning gas made visible
electrodeConductive interface point
torchHandheld burning light source
metalHard conductive solid

fusing · heat · bright · blue light · mask · helmet · protective gear · splatter · molten · steel · bead · joint · flux · rod · current · voltage · plasma · glow

Categories

heat sourcesheater, radiator, furnace, stove, oven
hot thingsfire, flames, lava, magma, molten lava
electric arcsflashover, spark gap
plasmaplasma, ions, electrons, protons, charged particles
radiation sourcessun, uranium, plutonium, radium, radon
weldinghelmet, rods, MIG, electrode, TIG

Opposites

heat source type

welding arctorch flame

gas flame · propane torch · cutting torch · soldering iron · induction heating

joining vs. separating

welding arccutting torch

Flame tool that severs metal

plasma cutter · grinding wheel · angle grinder

thermal vs. non-thermal joining

welding arccold weld

Metals fusing without heat

riveting · bolting · crimping · soldering · press fit

Family

weld, welded, welder, welders, welding, welds, arc, arcs, arced

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G