Welding and Agriculture: How the Two Complement One Another

Most modern day farmers will to tell you that welding and agriculture go hand-in-hand and that in the main they use two processes: arc welding and plasma cutting.

 

There are indeed many different welding applications a farmer will utilise to help deliver their crop during peak seasons. For example, welding will be essential for altering animal pens, chutes, steel gates and fixing urgent machinery breakdowns. One broken plough, for instance, could knock a farmer off his schedule; however, exacting a running welding repair could save vital time. Essential funds are also recouped by keeping essential farm machinery on the move.

 

Why Hard-Facing?

 

The use of Hardfacing welding electrodes is also common in agriculture. Hardfacing deposits a wear resistant surface onto metal components, which can extend a machine component's life. Various items of agricultural of machinery can be found on the farm which require a hardfacing layer. This process can be placed into one of three categories: impact, abrasion and metal-to-metal. Many farmers will, therefore, utilise hard-facing for use on tractor buckets, blades, feed mixers and grain handling machinery. It’s also great on digger bucket teeth.

 

Metallurgy

 

It is important to identify the parent metal before you can even think about welding or hard-facing. Ask any farmer about metallurgy, and he or she will probably tell you that nothing on the farm is every made from mild steel. Most metals are also made from high strength steels, such as high or low alloy; however, there are some made from a higher carbon steel.

 

Fortunately, there are ways to differentiate between high strength steels and carbon steels. All you need to do is place a magnet on the steel. If it sticks, then it’s most likely an iron-based steel. If it doesn’t stick, you can be confident it is either a stainless or manganese metal.

 

The Perks of Plasma Cutting

 

Plasma cutting is the process of cutting through electrically conductive materials such as steel, aluminium, brass and copper. The plasma cutter works by sending an electric arc through compressed air. Farmers prefer plasma cutting to fuel cutting because it is a cheaper, faster and more portable process. With some plasma cutters carrying on board compressors & having the capability of running on 110 volts, it means the farmer can be quite literally cutting metal in the field.

 

Strength or Prevention

 

Welding and hard-facing can allow a farmer to either repair or prevent wear on an item – and it is the welder’s duty to identify what is the best option for the life of their equipment. So, if a farmer hopes to place a bar onto a tractor, they will need to weld it to improve its strength. However, if they are using earth moving tools, they might be best to opt for hard-facing, to extend product life. It is, therefore, beneficial for farmers to seek technical advice from experienced welding supply professionals such as Foster Industrial. Purchasing quality welding products for a recommended process that they can utilise through the seasons is essential.

 

Welding is an essential aspect of farming, whether you realise it or not. If you dream of embarking on a career in agriculture, it is beneficial to receive welder training from organisations such as The CEATA Training Academy, who can provide the bespoke courses. An good education in welding, will add to the necessary tools required to become an adaptable farmer.