What is Tack Welding? Types, Uses, Gear

Tack welding is a type of spot welding used to hold two pieces of metal together during the manufacturing process. It is also used to secure metal pieces to a fixture or jig before performing another type of welding.

When you want to hold two pieces of metal together until the final weld can be made, you need to tack welding. It is a very simple process and can be done with a few basic tools.

About Tack Welding

Learning how to tack weld is the first step in becoming a welder. Tack welding is a type of welding that uses a very short arc and low heat. This makes it ideal for welding thin pieces of metal together. It is also used to attach metal parts temporarily until they can be permanently welded.

The tack weld is not the final weld. It is just a way to hold the metal together until you can do the final weld. It should be a small, neat weld that is easy to make. You don’t want to use too much heat because it will weaken the metal.

These short welds can be done in several different ways and with different types of metal but the simplest one involves using small spots (tack welds) to hold two pieces in place. This allows the joint to be moved around or repositioned for more accurate final welding or if the joint needs to be reheated for better alignment.

I have written a guide on spot welding that you may find interesting.

Where are Tack Welds Used?

Tack welding is used in manufacturing many products such as metal boots, shoes, and even some pipes. This process is mainly helpful because it allows welding to be done with ease so that the parts don’t move.

It also speeds up production time as well as allows more control over the final product since a tack weld can be undone before a final welding process. This helps companies make high-quality products without wasting money on materials or time exploring design flaws in their final product.

Tack welding is important because it guarantees that the material is properly aligned and securely attached to another object, which allows for better control over the welding process resulting in an accurate and high-quality final product.

Different Types of Tack Welds

There are different types of tack welds, each with its own purpose. This article will discuss the four most common types of tack welds.

Standard Tack

Standard tack welds are done to help support a strong final weld. For example, if you were using MIG welding and wanted to tack your pieces together so that they wouldn’t move during the process, you would use a standard tack method. This weld is short and uses a higher heat so that it will form a solid bond with the other metal.

Bridge Tack

Bridge tack welding is when a standard tack weld is created at the end of a seam or joint to seal off the open ends.

For example, if you have a piece that isn’t long enough to reach from one side to another where it needs to be attached, but has an open end that you need to be sealed off for it to appear as a full, one long piece, you would use a bridge tack to help give the appearance.

This is done by laying down a few standard tacks on either side of the opening, then using either an Oxy or Acetylene torch to burn off the remaining slag from the previous welding process and flushing out any molten metal from the tack welds.

Then a final standard tack is done on either side to hold it in place and seal off the opening.

Thermit Tack

Thermit Tack Welding is an advanced welding method using a mixture of iron oxide powder, aluminum powder, and pure magnesium metal.

The reaction between the powdered mixture produces intense heat above 4000°F which allows for distribution at much higher temperatures than traditional welding methods. Thermit Welds are very strong joints that can be completed fairly quickly.

Hot Tack

A hot tack weld is a degenerative process that forces molten filler metal into the joint through an opening; we call this opening a window.

This welding sequence is typically used to hold parts in place while permanent welds are being made, and can be completed in seconds. After your final welds have been completed and your part cooled down, you can break away the hot tack welds by simply breaking them apart.

Ultrasonic Tack

An ultrasonic tack weld can be done by using either an electric or gas metal arc welding machine to create the tack weld. They are typically reserved for applications where there is no access to electricity, such as on-site repairs.

Ultrasonic tacks are made by creating a series of short pules or pushes that travel through the part being welded at an intense speed.

The tacks are created by pushing the welding wire into the base metal to form a small dimple, then pushing it down hard enough to create molten material that will fuse with both pieces of metal.

Induction Tack

An induction tack weld is an advanced welding process that uses friction to create the tack weld. A high-frequency current passes through a metal tip, creating heat and friction, forcing molten material into the base metal.

This is done by using either MIG or TIG welding to create a series of intermittent tacks at desired intervals.

Different Forms of Tack Welds

Several different forms of tack welds are important because they can be used to hold pieces together before being fully welded or to help attach two pieces.

Square

A square tack weld is a type of tack weld that is used to join two metal pieces at right angles. It is created by making a series of tack welds in a square pattern. It is very strong and will hold the two pieces together very securely.

Vertical

This type of tack weld is when a tack weld is laid between two pieces so that it runs vertically to the bottom piece being joined.

For instance, if you have a square piece and need to tack it next to another square piece so they are vertically aligned, you would lay your tracks on the top piece.

Right Angle

This type of tack weld is when two pieces are dimensionally perpendicular (90˚) to each other.

For example, if you have a square piece and needed to tack it next to another square piece so that they were right angles to each other, you would lay your tracks on the side of the bottom piece.

Right Angle Corner (T-Joint)

This type of tack weld is when two pieces are dimensionally perpendicular (90˚) to one another and will form a “T” shape when attached.

For example, if you had two 90° squares, by joining them at their 90° point you would have a right-angle corner, which is what the “T” stands for.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tack Weld?

The advantages of tack welds are that they can be used to secure parts together while permanent welds are being made, especially when they use of gas or electricity is not available. On the contrary, there are also some disadvantages of tack welding such as plenty of time and skill for high-quality results.

Advantages of Tack Welding

• Tack welds are quick and easy to do.
• Tack welds hold things into place until stronger welds can be made, allowing for precision alignment.
• Non-consumable welding wire is often used during the tack process, so no expensive filler metal needs to be purchased or wasted.
• A “tacked” part can be moved without having to redo any welds.
• Tack welds are great for testing out your final design before committing it to a long-lasting connection point

Disadvantages of Tack Welding

• Tack welding is not very strong.
• Tack welding can be hard to do on parts that are large or near the edge of the piece, as it becomes difficult to get the required heat into both pieces.
• Remembering your order of tack welds is key when using this method because you could accidentally join two pieces that shouldn’t be joined together.
• Using filler wire can become expensive if you don’t have access to scrap wire.

Tips for Performing High-Quality Tack Welds

If you’re a beginner in the tack welding world, following the below tips can help you avoid a lot of hassle and ease your work for a better quality final product.

1. Understand The Technique

Make sure you understand what you’re trying to tack together before attempting this technique because it’s very easy to mess up if you’re not 100% positive about how everything should fit.

2. Test Metal Piece

Use a “scrap piece” of metal when testing out your tack welds process, so you know how much filler wire to use and what order you need to lay them in to match up with your final design idea.

3. Clean Metal Beforehand

Make sure that both pieces of metal are clean and free of oil or other contaminants so that they can be joined properly.

4. Use Tape To Hold Things

This could prevent them from sliding around during welding and causing issues later on when aligning the two pieces again after they have cooled down and returned to their original form. Additionally, less mess will occur by laying tape across all areas that you don’t want moving instead of trying to pin each piece into place individually before starting your tack welds process.

Moreover, always make sure your tack welds are perpendicular to one another. If they are not, your final product could be crooked or off-balanced, leading to long-term issues.

5. Use Strong Filler Wire

Make sure your filler wire is strong enough to support the type of welding you will be doing with it. For example, if you’re using a Mig welder and need the proper shielding gas while welding, ensure your filler wire is compatible with how you plan on completing your weld.

6. Balanced Heat

Always provide equal heat on both sides of the tack weld for at least one second each. This will ensure that the metal is heated enough to form together but doesn’t get so hot that it warps or melts your base pieces of metal even more than they already have been.

How To Tack Weld?

Tack welding is a great beginner welding project for you to learn. Follow these easy steps:

1. Clean your parts – Before you begin tacking your project, be sure that both parts are clean and free from any dirt or grime (oil is okay since it’ll help the weld stick). If possible, use an emery cloth to remove any rust, oil, or other contaminants from the metal.
2. Get Familiar with the Area – Take a moment to study where you’ll be tack welding. Remember, tack welds are not meant to hold the entire piece together, so you don’t need to weld the entire part at once. Try to find a place where 2-3 tack welds will be enough to hold the piece together.
3. Start welding – Tack welding is done by laying a bead of weld in a zigzag pattern. You’ll want to start by welding the 2 pieces together at one end, and then work your way down the length of the piece. Be sure to weld on both the top and bottom of the metal.
4. Maintain heat – As you’re tack welding, be sure to maintain heat on both sides of the weld. If the heat isn’t balanced, you run the risk of warping or melting your metal.
5. Wait for it to cool – Once you’ve completed your tack welds, allow the metal to cool down before moving on. If you try to move it before it’s cooled, you could cause the welds to break.

Best Equipment for Tack Welding

Tack welding is a great way to hold metal pieces together while you get ready for your final welds, but it can also be very frustrating without the proper equipment. Below is a brief description of each machine regarding tack welding.

MIG Welder

A MIG welder is a great resource for anyone who wants an easy-to-use method of tack welding things together. MIG welders are perfect for beginners because they’re very forgiving if you make a mistake, and they produce a lot of heat which is great for melting metal.

TIG Welder

Although a MIG gear is usually just fine if you’re only going to tack a few times, TIG welding offers far more control and precision when tack welding larger projects.

A TIG welder lets you precisely control how much heat you are applying to the metal at any given time so that you do not warp or deform any of your base pieces before completing your full weld. However TIG welding is a lot harder to learn so if you are new to welding, I would recommend starting with a MIG or Stick.

Stick Welder

Another type of welder that is great for tack welding is the Stick welder. It’s perfect for beginners because it’s very forgiving and easy to learn, and it’s great for welding thicker pieces of metal.

Just like a TIG, the Stick welder lets you apply more or less heat to the weld as needed, which is a must for tack welding. It’s also great because it doesn’t require any shielding gas, so it’s perfect for welding in tight spaces.

Also, If you need a lot of strong joints between two pieces of metal quickly, then a STICK welder might be just what you’re looking for.

TIP: I think you are gonna love my post: Best welder for beginners

Related Questions

Read Next

• MIG Welding Advantages And Disadvantages
• Difference between Spot and MIG Welding
• Tips for MIG Welding Beginners
• MIG vs TIG Welding
• What is Heliarc Welding?
• How do I choose TIG welding cup size?
• Are auto-darkening welding helmets safe?
• 7 Vertical Stick Welding Tips to Increase Weld Quality
• What is an undercut in welding?