The use of metal goes back to the Bronze Age. However, while flattening metal to make a sword is relatively straight forward; if you wanted something much larger, a way of joining pieces together was needed.
Binding was OK to fix a metal spearhead to a wooden shaft but not for joining pieces of armor. Bolt clamping works but adds bulk to the join and can work loose. Something more permanent was still needed.
Melting is used in metal extraction, forging and casting so, why not melt the ends of metal pieces you wish to join and then push them together so they meld into each other and solidify as one piece? Apply heat to the areas to be joined and use some additional molten metal in the form of a small rod to help fill spaces between the two pieces and, on cooling, you have a join as strong as the original metal.
As metal technology advanced, limitations on the use of pure metal became apparent and other elements were added during initial production to produce alloys. Iron gave way to steel for many applications and steels were improved to give extra corrosion and heat resistance. However, high temperature resistance meant that some of these steels had melting temperatures higher than available from many welding methods.
The technology of welding itself has also developed over the years and several quite distinct methods are now available. MIG welding is perhaps today’s most popular method. Originally developed for welding aluminum, the metal inert gas (MIG) method of welding proved extremely useful with steels and the question of How To MIG Weld Steel was resolved.
To know How To MIG Weld Steel requires knowledge of both the alloy to be welded and the basic functions of MIG welding equipment. As its name implies, inert gas is a crucial part of MIG welding; the gas protects the weld area from the surrounding atmosphere. The common gases used are argon, helium or carbon dioxide; each has its own benefits and drawbacks so it is often necessary to use a gas mixture.
In earlier methods, the gas was fixed into a solid flux which gassed off when heated but, this left slag deposits which then required chipping off. For steel welding, an argon/carbon dioxide mix is usually preferred and this may often have oxygen added to the mix. The precise mixing ratio can vary from steel grade to grade. The welder must make the correct selection before he can put his trained skills to full use.
