A soldering hammer is used in arc welding to remove slag and clean the weld. In arc welding, a flux-covered welding rod is used to create a weld. The remaining slag must be removed with a welding hammer. Welding hammers come in different styles and sizes, and are important for welding professionals. While not necessary with modern wire welders, many still carry a chipping hammer.
A soldering hammer is used to dress welds once they have cooled. Used in arc welding, this hammer features a pointed, chisel-like edge used to remove slag left behind by the weld wire. It also comes with a wire brush on one side which is used to remove any residual slag residue from the weld and to clean or brighten the weld. The solder hammer is not used with wire welders, which use gas and wire instead of a flux-coated rod to protect the weld from contaminants.
In an arc welding operation, a flux covered welding rod is used to complete a weld. The rod is placed in the rod holder and a ground clamp is attached by the welding machine to the steel workpiece. When the electrode or rod is struck against the steel, an arc is created, fusing the welding rod in the vacuum into the steel and creating a weld. When the weld rod is melted, the outer coating of the flux composed of various chemicals melts and creates a shielding gas to protect the weld bead as it cools. The remaining slag must be removed with a welding hammer.
After the weld has cooled, the operator uses a weld hammer to remove the slag by striking the substance with the chiseled side of the hammer. Once all the slag has been removed, the wire brush side of the weld hammer is used to dress the weld. It consists of rubbing the weld with the wire brush, polishing the weld and removing any small residual traces of slag. This is a lengthy but necessary process to ensure that a proper weld bead has been produced.
A welding hammer, also called a chipping hammer, is a very important tool for a welding professional. Hammers come in a variety of styles and sizes, and most welders have a favorite style. Since the operator is typically wearing heavy leather welding gloves, the grip of the hammer is of particular importance. While some prefer a wooden handle, the most commonly used welding hammers have coiled steel wire handles. Not only does this create a hammer that is easy to hold, but it creates a handle that cools easily when charring hot welds.
While the weld hammer isn’t necessary with most modern wire welders, many old-school welding professionals still carry a chipping hammer. This allows them to wire brush the weld once it is complete.
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