Phillips Safety aims to provide you with insights into the world of welding, encompassing its historical background and emphasizing the importance of eye safety during welding operations. Let us commence by examining the dictionary definition of the term “weld”.

According to the dictionary, “weld” is defined as a verb, denoting the act of uniting or fusing pieces of metal together through techniques such as hammering, compressing, or similar methods. This process often involves rendering the metal soft or pasty by applying heat and occasionally incorporating fusible materials to facilitate the joining process. The origin of the term can be traced back to the years 1590-1600, originating from the variant of the archaic word “well”, which connotes “to boil” or “weld”. Therefore, welding refers to the process of joining two or more objects. Although plastic welding and glass welding exist, our focus will primarily be on the welding of metals in this discussion.

The origins of welding can be traced back approximately 5000 years to the Bronze Age, around 3000 BC. Historical evidence points to the Sumerians in what is now Iraq, who crafted swords using welding techniques. Furthermore, archaeologists have unearthed a double-walled gold goblet and a gold bowl, both created using a brazing technique. Another significant discovery relates to the Egyptians, who heated iron ore in a fire to soften it and subsequently hammered the pieces together. This early practice demonstrated the first recorded use of pressure, known as solid state welding.

In modern times, numerous welding processes have emerged, which can be broadly categorized into two major groups: Fusion Welding and Solid State Welding.