Category: Stud Welding

As far back as WWI, stud welding has been a much-relied-upon staple of manufacturing and construction industries. Especially today, stud welding makes large-scale construction and innovative building designs possible. Without the capabilities of stud welding, we wouldn’t have the unique sculptural steel landmarks we have across the globe.

If you’re working with stud welding, you know just how useful of a tool it is for a wide variety of construction applications. When you work with Northland Fastening Systems, you get access to everything you need to get the job done for structural steel welding and much more.

Some of the most well-known steel landmarks in the world were built relying heavily on stud welding and composite steel construction. For example:

• Golden Gate Bridge: Finished in 1937, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed and well-known suspension bridges in the world. Its iconic red paint stands boldly against the blue waters of the cold San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. The bridge spans just over a mile, connecting the city of San Francisco to the San Francisco Peninsula. Stud welding was key in the construction of this modern wonder of the world, as it was used in the composite construction of the pavement and steel beams in addition to riveting and fastening the whole of the bridge components.

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• World Trade Center: Construction of the new One World Trade Center began in 2006 on the site of the complex where the original seven world trade buildings were destroyed in the 9/11 attack. This stunning replacement is still under minor construction, but currently stands 1,792 feet to its tip with 94 above-ground floors. This Freedom Tower is made possible with composite steel construction using stud welding as a primary reinforcing agent.

• Space Needle: This Seattle landmark was opened in 1962 for the World Fair. The observation deck of the tower has six floors that reach up to 518 feet, with a total tower height of 604 feet. Views from the needle show majestic scenes of Mt. Rainier, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Baker, Elliot Bay, and Puget Sound. Thanks to the strength and flexibility created using stud welding in its construction, the Space Needle withstands wind speeds up to 200 mph and earthquakes up to 9.0 magnitude.

• Sydney Opera House: Construction on the unparalleled design of the Sydney Opera House began in 1959 but wasn’t completed until 1973. The arcing shell structure of the opera house is a Gothic-esque design and a reminder of its location against the waters of the Sydney Harbour. This unique design relies heavily on exact engineering and the support of thousands of pins welded throughout the shells. Using stud welding extensively in the construction of these shells allowed the architecture team that built the opera house to form a strong, stable structure.

If you’re using stud welding and structural steel welding to build your own landmarks, NFS can provide the tools and supplies you need. Contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to learn more.

Drawn arc welding uses an arcing electrical current to develop enough heat at the weld point to render the two materials being connected molten, allowing them to meld together into one metal result. Unlike adhesive fastening systems, welding creates a bond that combines the two connecting materials at the weld point, making a joint that is stronger than either of the materials by themselves.

With the help of Northland Fastening Systems, you can find all the drawn arc supplies you need for your stud welding projects, including tools for rent or purchase, welding studs, welding accessories, and the expert services of our own technicians.

When it comes to drawn arc welding studs, there are several varieties within the category. Depending on the job you need to accomplish, you may choose one type of stud over another in the dimensions you need. NFS offers all types of drawn arc welding studs in many dimensions and specialty sizing on request.

Drawn Arc Stud Types

• Threaded: Drawn arc welding studs can be fully or partially threaded with varying thread counts. These threaded studs are used to connect other components to the surface you weld the stud to, like a nut and bolt system. They allow the fastening of another component without having to weld it onto the stud or drilling into the surface component.
• Non-Threaded: Many drawn arc studs are left unthreaded for specific applications. These are used to create handles, pegs, stops, locators, and other protruding components.
• Shear Connectors: These heavy-duty welding studs are used in composite construction. They are key in attaching two different materials, such as metal and concrete. Shear connectors and headed bar anchors are critical for bridge building, construction of buildings, and other large-scale fabrication.
• Bar Anchors: These larger welding studs are also used in composite construction. They are typically used to support bearing plates in concrete-to-steel connections. Additionally, bar anchors are used in beam construction and can have a steel-plated tip.

Drawn arc welding studs are made from stainless steel and low carbon or mild steel. Our threaded studs are available in many imperial and metric thread pitches and range in lengths from 1/2” to 36”. Our shear connectors are offered in diameters from ¾”, ⅞”, and 1”. They can be provided in lengths from 2” to 18”.  Our headed anchor studs are available in ¼”, 3/8”, ½” and ⅝” with lengths from 1” to 18”.  Deformed Bar anchors are offered in 3/8”, ½”, ⅝”, ¾”, and 7/8” diameters with lengths from 8” to 60”, depending on the chosen dimensions.

If you’re using drawn arc stud welding as your fastening system, NFS can provide the welding studs you need to get the job done. To learn more about the supplies and services we offer, contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770, or request a quote online to get started.

From ship building to composite thru-deck welding, stud welding is a simple operation used in many complex construction projects. The process of stud welding is a relatively new one, with a history dating only back to the turn of the 19th century. The newness of stud welding fastening systems is largely due to its use of electricity as a sole power source and arc generator. Because of this, the polarity and current supplied to a stud welding unit must be perfectly calibrated for the tool, stud, surface material, and weld circumstances.

If you are using stud welding to complete a project, you can rely on Northland Fastening Systems for all your studs, tools, accessories, and service needs. We provide a comprehensive selection of everything needed for stud weld fastening systems and expert technical support to customers worldwide.

If you are working with a stud welding unit and calibrating that tool for the weld you need, it’s important to understand the role of polarity and current for drawn arc and capacitor discharge (CD) welds.

Polarities

Every electrical current has a polarity that is either positive or negative. There are types of stud welding tools that use either polarity, but choosing which tool and polarity depends on the stud, the welding operation, and the surface material of what you will connect the stud to. Negative-electrode polarities are also referred to as “straight,” and positive-electrode polarities are also called “reverse” polarities. Positive polarities offer a weld with deeper penetration into the surface material. A reverse polarity weld is suitable for heavy-duty welding with larger studs. Negative polarities, on the other hand, offer a quick-melt weld with faster deposition rate, making it ideal for stud pins and rapid construction.

Currents

The pattern of electrical currents will also affect the weld results. Currents will move in negative or positive polarities directly or in alternating patterns between the two. Direct current (DC) welding paired with the correct shielding gas offers a smoother, cleaner weld thanks to a stable arc. DC welds also limit splatter in the weld. Because of this, most professionals use DC welding currents with either positive or negative polarities.

In some cases, however, alternating currents are more suitable. Beginners may choose AC welding tools that tend to be less expensive and easier to use. Alternating currents change polarities around 120 times per second with 60 hertz currents. AC welds are also used heavily in shipbuilding because the movement of the ship in construction may cause an arc to blow side-to-side.

Find the Right Fastening System Today

If you are using stud welding as one of your fastening systems in any given project, choosing the right polarity and current type is critical to performing an accurate, clean, and strong weld. To learn more about stud welding specifications or to find everything you need for studs, tools, and accessories, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770, or request a quote online to get started with us today.

Stud welding is a manufacturing application that is made possible by electricity. Before the development of electrical currents into various systems usable by individual consumers and businesses alike, the only format of welding possible was the ancient technique of forge welding. With the use of electrically generated currents, stud welders can create a bond between the stud and surface material that is stronger than either metals put together. If you are using stud welding on site, Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) can provide anything you might need, including welding studs, welding units for rent or purchase, and welding accessories for both drawn arc and CD stud welding.

When it comes to stud welding, there are two electrical current polarities that can be used depending on the welding situation and tools used: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). For the most part, DC polarities are used in almost every stud welding application. However, there are some instances when AC polarities are necessary and advantageous.

DC Polarities in Stud Welding

DC polarities move in what is essentially a straight line. The electrical current, whether positive or negative, flows directly from the power source through the tool and is applied at the weld site in either a capacitor discharge weld or a drawn arc current. DC welding is typically used because it provides a more controlled weld with a smoother arc that is stable and predictable. Positive DC welding performs a higher penetration into surface material for heavy-duty welding studs, while negative DC welding has a lighter penetration but greater deposition for effective welds on thin sheet metal.

AC Polarities in Stud Welding

AC polarities have a balanced transition between positive and negative direct currents throughout the application. Because of this, AC welding is beneficial over DC if you need lower penetration and an overall different type of weld. AC welding is a secondary option if the location of the worksite only offers that type of current, but it is also used in specialized welding processes such as welding magnetized materials. In addition, AC welding is used heavily in ship building, repairs, and other projects that need rapid, easily portable welding tools. However, AC welding often has a great splatter and is a messier weld than DC stud welding.

Learn More from Northland Fastening Systems

If you are using stud welding of any kind on your worksite, Northland Fastening Systems can help you determine whether AC or DC welding is a better option. For more information about polarities  or to find a comprehensive selection of equipment, contact us at (651) 730-7770. You can also request a quote online to get started with our team of expert technicians today.