Category: Stud Welding

Even before humankind started building large structures to house and transport people, fastening systems were being used. In fact, the practice of soldering and connecting fine metals can be traced back to the Bronze Age. In the 1800s, gas welding became more popularized and refined, and finally by the 1900s, the American Welding Society (AWS) was founded. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) was founded 87 years after the AWS came to be, and has been providing stud-welding equipment and fastening solutions to prospective and professional welders ever since.

Early Fastening Systems in the 1930s

In the 1930s, an early iteration of stud welding was being used to construct ships, and “the rest,” as they say, “is history.” Large constructions were needed for military operations, transport, and rising industries. For each emerging challenge, stud welding proved to be a sturdy and effective solution. As far back as these historical landmarks occurred, they still hold a relevance to stud welding today: specifically, that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Refinement of Systems

The intricacies of modern stud welding have become more refined, and our technology has continued to advance rapidly in the 21st century, but the staying power of stud welding persists. This is, in part, due to the fact that, at its core, stud welding is a relatively simple fastening system. Bolting, drilling, tapping, and other potential fastening systems had their heyday, but the simple and powerful bonds created by stud welding are difficult to surpass. With centuries of evidence boasting its effectiveness, stud welding is consistently the solution to whatever type of construction called for.

NFS is proud to provide tools, gear, equipment, and logistical support for a fastening system that has shaped our world. Professional welders looking to take their welding into the future can reach out to us at (651) 730-7770 or visit our website for more information on our stud welding services.

Once you’ve been welding for a while, it’s easy to get into a familiar rhythm. Maybe you’ve been a welder for ten-plus years, and the process feels as natural as lacing up your boots. Maybe you’ve been welding for ten months and finally feel like you can take a breath now that you’re no longer a newbie. No matter how long you’ve been stud welding nor what kind of projects you work on, there are still some issues that can trip up the best of the best in the field. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) always recommends being present and intentional in your welds, and if your equipment is the factor holding you back, we can help.

Skipping Safety Procedures When Stud Welding

Safety is a big issue, especially on large jobs that have tight deadlines. Once you’re confident in your stud welding, it can be all too easy to skimp a little on the safety checks to save time. But slacking off on eye and ear protection or not checking your surroundings effectively can be the difference between a simple, streamlined job and life-changing injuries. Most of the biggest welding mistakes are errors you can only make once.

Stud Welding with Faulty Equipment 

While it might seem like a big money-saver to work with your “old-reliable” tools, there is a point where all stud welding equipment has passed its peak point of effectiveness. This could be the welders themselves or the power supplies, wire feeders, and beyond. A welding mistake that is all too easy to make is to stick with older equipment just because it’s what you’re familiar with. Welding technology is always improving. When it’s time to upgrade, NFS has you covered.

Not Properly Storing Stud Welding Equipment

Finally, between job sites or projects it’s vital to store your equipment, materials, and filler metals in a way that prevents corrosion and contamination. If you don’t want to end up with porous, faulty welds, you have to make sure every single component is in the best condition possible. Keeping all of your stud welding goods in dry, clean, temperature-controlled locations is the best way to make sure they’ll stand up to the initial welding process as well as the test of time that follows.

Summary

 Stud welders of all experience levels can make welding mistakes because, at the end of the day, it’s humans doing precise work with a lot of variables. The important fact to remember is that prevention is always easier than making on-the-spot fixes or needing first aid. For welders in need of up-to-date, high-quality materials and stud welding equipment, the welding professionals at NFS can provide their expertise and rentals to welders in need.

Stud welding professionals interested in new equipment or welding mistake prevention can reach out to NFS at (651) 730-7770 or visit our website to find out more.

Brand-new equipment, a clean environment, space to work, and a highly experienced welder all working in conjunction may seem as though will result in a perfect weld every time. But regardless whether all of the conditions are ideal for a clean, strong bond, weld tests are still a vital part of the stud-welding process. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) encourages all welders, professionals and freelancers alike, to never underestimate the power of a comprehensive weld test.

Visual Stud Welding Test

Completing a visual weld test might seem straightforward enough—you’re looking for anything that seems strange. This could come in the form of spatter, stringers, undercutting, or anything that disrupts the clean line of a good stud weld. But a visual test can be twofold.

Though safety and strength are the obvious concerns, you should also be checking for visual weld consistency and aesthetics. This is especially true for stud-elding builds in which the joints may be visible to the clients. If your weld tests look sloppy and this carries on to the final product, it will reflect upon the entire quality of the build. Lay people might see sloppy work and think they’re dealing with a structure that didn’t receive adequate care or attention during the building process.

Structural Weld Tests

 Structural weld tests are the hands-on accompaniment of your visual checks. Your weld should be able to withstand a 30-degree bend test without cracking or becoming deformed. Additional tests that verify tensile strength and torque resistance become even more necessary if the materials in question are unique or nonapproved.

Regardless of the type of weld test you’re engaging with, the goal is always to replicate the conditions you’ll be working with during the live build as accurately as possible to eliminate the risk of unexpected stud-weld failures.

If you’re finding that your stud-welding equipment or strategies aren’t passing the pre-project weld tests, it might be time to update your gear. Independent and team welders in need of new equipment can reach out to NFS at (651) 730-7770 or by visiting our website. Don’t accept subpar welds, and never skimp on the weld tests before hitting the “big leagues.”

 

 

When it comes to construction projects, the quality and precision of your joinings are vital in keeping new structures safe and secure. Welding, of course, plays a foundational role in joining materials. Solid welding can ensure structural integrity, and often achieve the desired performance of the final product. But a high-quality stud weld can change the game entirely. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) offers true welding precision with our specialized stud welding process.

Stud Welding

The stud-welding process is designed with precision at its core. It involves the use of specially designed fasteners that are welded onto a work piece. This process offers several advantages, including rapid welding, minimal heat distortion, and the ability to produce robust and aesthetically pleasing welds. Stud welding is a great solution for pipe work, infrastructural supports, and all manner of necessary connections.

Stud Welding Process for a Different Materials

From steel and aluminum to other alloys, the process is incredibly adaptable, making it a versatile choice for any number of building applications. Stud welding is suitable for a wide range of materials, including metals and composite materials. Our stud welding process ensures that welds are not only precise but also tailored to the specific material being used.

Fine-Tuning Welding

Precision in stud welding is centered on the ability to finely tune welding parameters, such as time, heat, and pressure. These parameters can be customized to match the material and thickness of every component, resulting in high-quality welds. The welding precision of studs is particularly valuable in applications where structural stability and durability are essential—such as commercial buildings and road constructions.

Nice Looking Welds

Moreover, the stud-welding process excels in producing welds that are aesthetically pleasing. The minimal heat-affected zone and the absence of unsightly spatter contribute to clean and visually appealing welds. This is particularly important in industries where the appearance of welds plays a role in the final product’s marketability.

Summary

The specialized stud-welding process stands as a testament to welding precision in construction and manufacturing. NFS can help you elevate your construction projects with high-quality, precise welds every time.

Project managers and industry leaders can reach out to NFS at (651) 730-7770 or by visiting our website today. Call now to request welding solutions for all of your new builds.

 

Stud welding is an undeniably indispensable tool in modern welding. Whether in heavy construction or intricate manufacturing, the versatility and efficiency of stud welding is a staple for good reason. But quality stud welding equipment can take that staple and really maximize its effectiveness in any project. Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) enhances even the most basic welding methods with our top-of-the line equipment—and with the right tools, you can take your welds a step further.

Stud Welding Equipment for High-Quality Builds

Stud welding offers several advantages over traditional welding methods. One of the key benefits is speed. Stud welding is significantly faster than conventional welding, allowing for increased productivity without compromising quality. This means that the equipment needs to be able to keep up with high-quality builds without losing any of that alacrity.

Secure Connections

The efficiency of our stud welding equipment lies in its ability to create strong, reliable connections quickly. This is priceless in any industry as time is, universally, money. In everything from shipbuilding to building manufacturing if you can do it faster you have to also do it better. Using our equipment, secure connections can be established in a fraction of the time.

From steel to aluminum, and from thin sheets to heavy plates, stud welding offers a flexible solution for joining various metals. This adaptability is crucial for industries that work with diverse materials and require precise and durable connections. All of our equipment ensures consistent quality. The controlled process minimizes the risk of defects or errors, resulting in strong, uniform connections every time. This level of reliability is particularly crucial in safety-critical industries, where the integrity of welded connections can have significant consequences.

Summary

As technology continues to evolve, so does our stud welding equipment at NFS. If you’re using stud welding in your manufacturing project and are looking for the best equipment for the job, look no farther. Contact us today at 651-730-7770, or visit our website for more information.

 

 

On every work site, there are multiple factors laborers and managers need to actively address to ensure everyone’s safety. Industrial work creates hazardous situations involving powerful tools, extreme temperatures, tall heights, toxic materials, and more. All these issues have safety precautions and operational guidelines put in place to prevent worker fatigue, injury, or fatality. Compared to some other manufacturing operations, stud welding can be a very safe production process. However, without the appropriate accident prevention measures or an understanding of the equipment, it can become dangerous, and in some cases, even deadly. Working with high-quality equipment on construction welding projects paired with adhering to safety systems will help you and your team avoid welding-related harm. At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we provide a comprehensive range of quality supplies, including tools for rent and purchase, drawn arc, capacitor discharge (CD), and short cycle welding studs, welding accessories, tool repair services, and the expertise of our own technicians.

Construction Welding

Like any type of fabrication process, construction welding has a basic checklist for maintaining safe working conditions. These standards include the use of certain precautions and attention to areas of concern including:

Grounding for Construction Welding

Welding machines of all types, not just construction stud welding, require proper grounding for electrical current to be safe. Stud welders must be in contact with the earth through a unit grounder or by the use of a grounding clamp when performing thru-deck welding.

Live wires

Welding technicians and nearby workers should never interact with live wires without proper protective gear. Welding should also never be performed with pooling water in the area. Live electrical parts and live wires that need attention should be handled with the correct safety gear.

Cables Used in Construction Welding

Especially on work sites where technicians are moving welding units over long distances, cable management is a major safety concern. Cables should not be used if damaged or stretched, placed in areas where they will be exposed to trucks and other heavy traffic, or hung to hold their full weight at a single point.

Spatter in Construction Welding

While stud welding has minimal spatter when done correctly, some occasions might result in wider spatter if a tool has an inaccurate calibration. Technicians should be aware of increases in spatter and adjust to prevent them from affecting safety.

Flammables 

Gas cylinders pose explosion and fire risks, and the heat and sparks that occur during a weld could pose additional fire hazards to other nearby flammable materials. Solvents, fiberglass, paper, and other highly flammable materials should be removed from the welding work area.

Ventilation 

Workers’ safety is compromised by fumes generated in the welding process if workers do not have proper ventilation. Welding outdoors offers enough ventilation in most cases, but indoor work must have supplemental ventilation, especially when welding through paint and other surface coatings.

Summary

If these basic safety guidelines are followed at every construction welding site, workers are protected and quality results can continue on your job site. For more information about supplies and services, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online today.

Different insulations have countless uses throughout buildings, vehicles, machinery, and more. Insulation is a critical component in residences, commercial operations, municipal properties, infrastructure, and of course, industrial facilities. Modern insulation technologies are advanced solutions for a broad range of heat, fire, and cold exposures. The insulation systems used in every application are also improving quickly to meet growing demand for passive buildings and net-zero energy operations throughout industries. While insulation can be installed in many ways, from spraying insulation foam to adhering sheeting, a large number of residential, commercial, and industrial insulations are installed with stud welding. CD weld studs and CD welding pins, in particular, are highly useful for fast, clean, and strong installation of various types of insulative materials. If you’re installing insulation with welding pins, you can find all the supplies you need with Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), including tools for rent and purchase, CD studs and pins, and welding accessories. We also offer repairs for most welding models and the advice of our own expert technicians.

CD Weld Studs

Insulation serves multiple purposes, all generally around the control of heat and cold conduction from one area to another. In buildings, insulation is the main component in atmosphere control, preventing indoor temperatures from becoming difficult to regulate. In more complex applications, however, insulation can act as an extreme heat shield for temperatures up to 1,220ºF.

Insulation Function Overview:

1. Fire proofing: Not only is insulation capable of fire proofing in working environments where sparks, flammable liquids, gasses, dust that could combust, and other high risks of fire are present, it’s also important for home and businesses in general.
2. Fire stopping: Insulative materials that can withstand temperatures between 300ºF and 1,200ºF are critical fire-stopping solutions. These insulations are made from noncombustible materials and are typically applied between rooms and around building skeletal structures to keep fire from spreading through a building.
3. Heat containment: For building insulation and general heat containment in large spaces, insulation installed with CD weld studs can cover the environmental control for an entire building.
4. Heat shield: Smaller insulative heat shields are installed in cars, trucks, planes, trains, and other vehicles operating with combustion engines. These heat shields are also used in most industrial settings where machinery operates at high temperatures.
5. Cool containment: Like heat containment insulation for a whole building, insulative materials also contain cool air generated by air conditioning. This is especially important for buildings in continually hot climates.
6. Cool shield: Industrial facilities also often use extremely cold systems like liquid nitrogen. These low-temperature materials can be dangerous to workers and equipment exposed. The use of cool shield panels to insulate against these systems is important.

Summary

In many cases, these insulation systems are installed with stud welding. To learn more about insulation fasteners and other CD weld studs, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

 

 

Skyscrapers and other multistory buildings are known for their use of powerful steel beams, like the one showcased in the famous Lunch Atop a Skyscraper photograph. While these large buildings rely on structural steel for their construction, those materials are also used in many different industries. From general manufacturing to the aerospace industry, structural steel is often included in the products themselves or in the machinery that gets the job done. For several applications that use steel beams, stud welding is a critical fastening system that provides strong, clean connection points quickly and efficiently. Shear connectors, bar anchors, and several other stud types are significant supplies for composite building with steel beams, but there are other types of structural steel welding that utilize stud welding equipment. If you’re stud welding structural steel, you can find everything you need with Northland Fastening Systems (NFS). NFS has a comprehensive supply of welding tools for rent and purchase, studs, accessories, and more.

Structural Steel Welding

Welding with studs like shear connectors and bar anchors is an often-overlooked part of what makes constructing and manufacturing with beams and other structural steel possible. While the primary use of steel is in the construction industry, the material and stud welding systems are also used in the shipbuilding, automotive, mining, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing industries.

Structural Steel Welding is a Large Part of Global Infrastructure.

Because structural steel is used so heavily throughout industries, it’s a large part of global infrastructure. Aside from buildings, studs make up a large part of composite construction, allowing for the building of bridges, roads, pipelines, and mines.

Stud welding is the best fastening system in existence for steel and composite construction. Not only is it cost-effective and fast, but it also creates a bond stronger than the stud itself. Stud welding has a better appearance than most other attachment techniques, leaving the reserve weld surface mark-free.

Major benefits

Other major benefits of stud welding with steel include the fact that workers only need access to one side of the work surface and that a stud-welded connection is leak-proof and resistant to corrosion. Alternative fastening systems like rivets require access to two sides of a surface, and rivets have a tendency to fail or loosen over time. Studs will not require replacement when the weld is performed correctly and is operating within expected parameters.

Stud welding units like the Tru-Weld TW 6902 and many others on the market are perfect for job sites where structural steel construction takes place. They are portable and robust for easy transportation, and they are also extremely easy for operators to learn and operate.

Overall, when building with structural steel and composite construction, stud welding should be your choice for fastening systems. For more information about supplies for structural steel welding, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

 

 

 

 

Part 1 of this two-part blog series covers the development of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), also known as automotive steel, and the first-generation AHSS categories, which includes a brief description of first-generation ferrite and martensite-based steels such as DP, MS, CP, and TRIP steels. In Part 2, we  cover second-generation steels and the use of AHSS in the automotive industry. Since the beginning of AHSS development in the 1990s, these materials have slowly begun to replace various steel and aluminum components in multiple vehicles. In many instances, AHSS offers a higher crash resistance than aluminum and is lighter than other steels, making vehicles both safer and more efficient. As with aluminum and any other steel parts, many AHSS components of modern vehicles are constructed with stud weld fastening systems. Stud welding is a mainstay in automotive manufacturing. Not only does it provide a powerful, clean connection point that can be quickly installed, it’s also cost-effective, leak-proof, and only requires access to one side of a work surface. At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we work with multiple customers in the automotive industry to supply welding studs, accessories, and other equipment.

Welding Studs

Fastening welding studs to AHSS surfaces requires an understanding of the correct stud materials and dimensions, as well as tool and power calibration, but it can easily be done. Many manufacturers working with AHSS have quickly transitioned their stud welding technicians to these newer materials.

AHSS Material

The second generation of AHSS materials are based on austenitic microstructures. Current second-generation high-strength steels include:

• TWIP steel: Twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel has excellent mechanical properties at room temperatures. It is highly resistant to corrosion with outstanding strength and energy absorption greater than twice the ability of previously used steels.
• L-IP steel: Lightweight with induced plasticity (L-IP) steel is a lighter version of other TWIP steels. They are high-manganese alloys that have high-impact resistance and stretch, forming properties ideal for automotive parts.
• SIP steel: Shear band formation-induced plasticity (SIP) steel is another material based on TWIP alloys. When shear band force is applied to SIP steel, structures are actually strengthened in the austenitic matrix.

AHSS in Welding Studs

Both first- and second- generation AHSS types are utilized in the manufacturing of vehicles ranging from daily drivers to public transportation. Not only are these steels stronger than conventional steels and aluminum, they are also lighter, more sustainable, and even more affordable than previously used materials. These steels are utilized in modern vehicle parts that will absorb shear force, high-energy resonance, shock, load bearing, and many other critical components.

If you’re working with AHSS in the automotive industry, or any other application such as aircraft, shipbuilding, or general manufacturing, stud welding is likely one of your primary fastening systems. For more information about our supply of welding studs and other equipment, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

The earliest forms of welding, dating as far back as 1,800 BCE, forged basic bronze and irons into various weapons and tools. Over the centuries, more sophisticated uses of metal developed, such as the pattern welding used to make Damascus steel and Japanese swords. When electricity was harnessed in the 1800s, resistance-welding technology was quick to advance. Today, we have many resistance-welding techniques and other arc-welding operations that utilize electricity to heat metals. Stud welding is one of many modern operations that use specifically calibrated electrical currents to fuse metals. While it’s implemented extensively throughout multiple industries, stud welding is also a frequently used fastening technique in the automotive industry. In the past 10 years, car companies have replaced a large number of other steel and aluminum stud welded parts with advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) due to its weight and crash resistance. If you’re working with AHSS and welding studs, you can find all the supplies and technical support you need with Northland Fastening Systems (NFS).

Welding Studs

NFS offers a complete supply of drawn arc and CD studs, welding tools for rent and purchase, accessories, and the advice of our own welding technicians. We also provide repair services for the majority of stud welding models.

Because one of the most prevalent uses of AHSS is for automotive parts, the different types of those materials are often discussed and classified as automotive steels with a minimum tensile strength of 440 MPa.

Welding Studs with AHSS Materials

There are two generations of AHSS materials. The first generation of AHSS includes ferrite and martensite-based steels, while the second-generation group are steels based on austenitic microstructures. Attaching welding studs of any dimensions to an AHSS work surface requires an understanding of the steel itself.

• DP Steel: Dual-phase (DP) steel is a first-generation ferrite-based steel category. DP’s high-strength steel grades have low-yield strength to tensile strength ratios, high-fatigue resistance, and uniform elongation properties.
• MS Steel: Martensitic (MS) steel is a first-generation stainless steel alloy. It can be tempered and hardened with heat treatments to become highly durable, wear-resistant, and strong in mechanical applications.
• CP Steel: Complex-phase (CP) steels are extremely fine-grained with micro ferrite structures. They have high work-hardening properties, high-fatigue strengths, wear-resistance, and can absorb high energy resonance.
• TRIP steel: Similar to CP steel, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel has a high-yield strength for first-generation steels. Their microstructures of austenite can be transformed to martensite structures when bearing load or being deformed.

Summary

In the second part of this two-part blog, we discuss second-generation AHSS steels and all AHSS applications in the automotive industry. If you’re working with welding studs on an AHSS work surface or any other materials, you can find the supplies you need with NFS. Contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.