Using Stud Welding for Practical Design Aesthetics

Stud welding is a manufacturing operation used in many industries, from food-grade welding to large-scale construction. With such a high prevalence of usage for so many very different industries, it’s important for fabricators using stud welding to have access to varying types of tools, studs, and accessories compatible with each kind of operation. At Northland Fastening Systems, we provide comprehensive supplies for commonly used stud welding operations including drawn arc, capacitor discharge (CD), and short cycle welding. This includes tools for rent or purchase, studs in varying dimensions with custom options available, stud welding accessories, and the expertise of our own technicians. While stud welding is most often considered to be a manufacturing operation for functional construction, it’s also used frequently as a way to build aesthetics into practical design.

In many ways, stud welding is all around us. It’s a prolific tool for quick and effective building. From the appliances in our home to the cars we drive, stud welding is used to make a broad range of metal components. Some of practical design industries we interact with the most include:

  • Furniture: Many types of furniture made out of metal are built using stud welding. This includes office desks with metal paneling and drawers, standing cabinets, filing units, shelving, and more. Food-grade stainless-steel shelves and storage systems are built with CD stud welding for complete wash-down and sanitation capabilities. Handles and other parts incorporated into furniture made from wood or other materials can also be built in with studs. Additionally, electrical enclosures are almost always made with stud welding operations because of their clean results that don’t mark through.

 

  • Signs: Business signs on buildings or freestanding can also be built with stud welding operations. These signs are often hollow box-like shapes mounted onto a stand or other support system with studs. Street signs, traffic lights, and other municipal signage are also constructed with pin or stud welding.

 

  • Automotive and Transportation: Stud welding is a key operation in the automotive industry. It’s used in manufacturing many components in everyday cars, trains, planes, freight carriers, and sport and recreational vehicles. Studs are used to produce parts like heat shields, power steering components, exhaust systems, airbags, insulation, and much more. Stud welding is also used in fabricating the cosmetic features of a car, including the practical design of a steel frame.

 

  • Architecture: In many cases, stud welding is used in the construction of buildings with multiple stories. This includes skyscrapers, office buildings, warehouses, factories, and even homes. Stud welding is key in the construction of a building’s skeletal frame and also the installation of interior and exterior components. Some specialized buildings with metal architectural design aspects, like the Sydney Opera House and Guggenheim Museum Bilboa, use stud welding extensively in their construction.

To learn more about the ways stud welding is used in creating practical design aesthetics and more, or to get started with us today, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

What to Consider before Buying Stud-Welding Equipment

With any kind of manufacturing tools, you need to do your research to determine what specifications, sizing, materials, and other details you’ll need depending on the job. Even with a simple tool type like a screwdriver, there is a large range of variations. When it comes to more complex manufacturing tools or whole systems like with stud-welding equipment, there are even more technical aspects to consider before purchasing even the studs you will use. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) provides a complete range of stud-welding supplies from tools for rent or purchase to studs of any dimension, including customs options. In addition to a comprehensive supply of stud-welding equipment, our staff of knowledgeable technicians will guide you in selecting exactly the right tools, studs, and accessories you need.

While we at NFS make all our welding supplies as affordable as possible, we don’t want you to waste your time and/or money purchasing a tool or stud that won’t work for your job. To save yourself the headache of returns or wasted money, consider the following issues before buying stud-welding equipment:

Materials: Different stud-welding processes work best with different materials. If you’re working with thin stud-welding pins for stainless steel, food-grade welding, the best tools to choose will be for CD stud-welding operations. On the other hand, composite construction with bar anchors requires more heavy-duty tools for drawn arc welding. The surface material and the stud materials are both significant factors that will guide your stud-welding equipment choices.

Dimensions: Like the materials, the dimensions of the studs you’ll be working with will guide your selection of all stud-welding equipment.  CD stud-welding operations are suited to smaller studs like pins, insulator fasteners, and sheet metal connectors. Additionally, CD studs are best for thin surface materials because they don’t leave through-marking discoloration or warping. Drawn arc stud welding tools can handle larger stud dimensions and thicker base materials. Because they can handle much heavier duty dimensions, drawn arc welding studs are also used in building construction, structural steel applications, and composite construction for large-scale structures like bridges.

Automation: Another important aspect to consider before purchasing stud-welding equipment is whether you need options for automation or you’ll only be performing welds with hand tools. Automated tools can require different power calibrations, facility setups, and maintenance treatment. While handheld tools still perform rapid welds and are often useful as portable tools in the field, fully automated systems are key for many large-scale production operations. Determining whether you need automated tools for faster production will be a large factor in choosing the right stud-welding equipment.

To learn more about what you should consider before purchasing stud-welding equipment or to get started with us today, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

 

 

 

Riveting vs. Welding: Why Stud Welding Is Still Used in Shipbuilding

Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) has provided comprehensive stud welding supplies for over 30 years to customers working with capacitor discharge, drawn arc, and short cycle welding. From large-scale construction to fine food-grade stud welding, we offer the right tools for rent or purchase, studs in various dimensions, custom stud options, welding accessories, and the expertise of our own stud welding technicians. Since our start in 1987, NFS has seen the many changes in welding operations, developments in technology, and advancements of technique. Today, stud welding is a highly precise process that can be fully automated for rapid, exact production applications. Even from the 1980s, significant and positive changes have come into the industry around safety, quality, and capabilities. However, some things in the welding industry haven’t changed much since the beginnings of stud welding. These applications were used in shipbuilding during World War I and the early 20th century.

In the shipbuilding industry, in particular, both stud welding and riveting operations have a notable place in the manufacturing repertoire. Stud welding is a newer manufacturing tool that developed as a technique for the type of shipbuilding that arose from the turn of the century, the Industrial Revolution, and the requirements of the U.S. Navy during both world wars.

Stud welding was key to the shipbuilding process because it could create a strong connection that was watertight, resistant to corrosion, cosmetically clean, and flexible. In addition to stud welding developments during the early 20th century, metal riveting continued to be used heavily in the manufacturing of many types of ships.

Riveting is a fabrication technique that dates back as far as the Bronze Age. Modern riveting is a very versatile operation in many industries, and it’s used in shipbuilding for several reasons. Not only is riveting fast and cost-effective, but it can also form connection points between many different types of materials, including most metals, plastics, and even wood.

Although riveting is used extensively in many kinds of shipbuilding, stud welding is still an important operation that offers results that can’t be achieved through any other types of rivet fastening systems. In particular, stud welding provides a much stronger connection point than riveting. A properly performed stud weld will have a connection point to the surface material that is stronger than the stud itself. This alone differentiates stud welding as a key operation for structural integrity in ships of all sizes.

In addition to forming a powerful, long-lasting connection, stud welding provides a very specific, clean aesthetic in an industrial setting. Stud welding generates the strength needed in a mark-free result that doesn’t require further finishing work. While riveting may be faster than stud welding overall, the majority of stud work done in shipbuilding is still considered a rapid operation.

Thanks to its speed, strength, and aesthetics, stud welding is still used in shipbuilding and other industries. To learn more about the stud welding services we provide, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.