Plasma cutting through a metal
By Dan Markham General Information • • 0 Comments

How To Determine Which Metalworking Process To Use


When it comes to getting your metal ready for use within an industry, there are plenty of different paths to take to achieve the desired outcome. However, this doesn’t mean that every fabrication process is going to be best for your specific application. In order for you to get the most out of your metalworking, you should have an idea of what fabrication process would be best before you ever start. Choosing the most optimal metal fabrication process requires knowing exactly what you want. So, what should you be looking for when deciding which process to use? We give you a guide below!

Consider Your Budget

The first – and arguably most important – thing to consider before selecting a metal fabrication process has nothing to do with your metal. Instead, it has to do with how much you’re willing to spend on it! Having a budgetary range in mind before you ever call a metal fabrication company will help you to narrow down your options quickly. Some of these processes require more advanced machinery and time commitment than others, which raises the price of the service. If you can afford it and it achieves the desired result, it’s a good sign that you’ve found the right selection!

Consider Your Metal

After you’ve determined the budget you’ll be working with, the next step is to examine the materials you want to use. What type of metal do you need worked on for your industry’s needs? Believe it or not, the metal you use will affect which processes will be available to you. Every metal has a unique set of properties that make some metalworking techniques more beneficial than others. For example, flame cutting as a process is limited to alloy steels due to the fact that it only generates so much energy to cut through metal. Knowing the limitations of your metal will make it easier to find the right process.

Consider What You’ll Use It For

Metalworking is made up of a variety of different processes of varying levels of complexity. This means that the results you’ll get from each job vary in complexity as well! In order to further narrow down your metalworking selections, you should consider what you’ll be using the final product for. Are you creating a part with a complicated and specific design, or are you just looking to get it to a generic shape? What application will it eventually go to? Generally, the more intricate of a design that you’re looking for, the more intricate your metalworking process should be.

Metalworking at Markham Metals

If you have a metal that you need fitted for use in your industry, Markham Metals offers a variety of different processes to help you get there! No matter how complex or simple your job is, we’ll help you determine the best fit for your needs and deliver a result that is perfect for your application. To get these results for yourself, click here to contact us directly!

Workers wearing industrial uniforms and Welded Iron Mask at Steel welding plants, industrial safety first concept.
By Dan Markham General Information • • 0 Comments

The Differences Between Metal Welding and Metal Fabrication

Metal is one of the most important parts of our everyday lives. If you need proof, just take a look at the objects around you in your current room. Many of them use metals that were specifically manipulated to serve a purpose! Even the computer or tablet you’re reading utilizes Earth’s most precious metals to function properly. Several processes can help a new metal become usable in the field, and two of the most popular ones are metal welding and metal fabrication. You may confuse them for being the same process, but they couldn’t be more different from each other. We explain exactly why that is below!

Metal Welding

Metal welding is known as the process by which two pieces of metal are joined together. Usually, this involves two pieces of the same material, but other metals can be used in this process if they have enough similarities. This process isn’t done by hand; rather, it uses various specialized tools and procedures to achieve the desired result. At the end of the process, the goal is to have two pieces of metal become permanently fused together. Most of the time, the main fuel source for metal welding is extreme levels of heat. However, electricity is also a usable fuel source for this process.

Metal Fabrication

As you can see from our definition of metal welding, it’s a very specific process. Metal fabrication doesn’t fall into this category. In fact, metal welding is considered to be a part of the metal fabrication process! However, it’s not the whole story. Metal fabrication itself involves a variety of steps to achieve the desired result:

  • Bidding: Before metal fabrication can officially begin, the price point for the work completed has to be determined. The bidding process encompasses this and gives a client an idea of how much they’ll be paying.
  • Planning: You can’t go into a metalworking job without preparing first! The planning portion can make or break the metal fabrication process. In this stage, the groundwork for how the metal gets shaped, cut, or warped is assembled and all members of the production team sync up on expectations and specifications about the project.
  • The Production: This is the step where the aforementioned plans get put into action. Using a variety of advanced tools, processes and techniques, metal is shaped into its desired application and becomes ready for use in the field.

Metal Fabrication with Markham Metals

If you’re looking to shape your metal for practical use, Markham Metals can employ many different techniques to help it get there! We specialize in metal welding, plasma cutting and a variety of other metalworking techniques that are cost-effective, safe, and efficient. If you’re looking to use your metal for a specific purpose, only the best metalworkers can suffice. Markham Metals will provide you with just that – contact us today to get your metal ready!

A man in a blue flannel and protective mask uses a tool to weld a piece of metal. Blue sparks fly from the metal's surface.
By Dan Markham General Information • • • 0 Comments

Which Metalworking Process Is Most Effective?

Metals are some of the most important materials to use across a variety of industries. They can be bent, shaped, and cut into numerous shapes that make them useful for the items and buildings we use in everyday life. There are plenty of metalworking processes that allow metals to take these shapes. However, that doesn’t mean that each one is equally effective! There are some processes that are far more beneficial than others depending on what you want to accomplish. But, how can you tell the difference? We discuss which metalworking process is most effective below!

Bending and Forming

Let’s say you need to assemble some copper pipes. You won’t be able to do that if your copper is in a sheet! Forming and bending metal is a common process that’s used to warp metal into shapes and sizes that other processes can’t do. However, just because it’s a unique process does not mean it’s an easy one! Because of how difficult it is to make metal bend and fold to your will, the process can only be done at facilities with advanced technological equipment. Even then, it’s almost easier to join two metal parts together to get the shape you want.

Cutting

Perhaps the most versatile metal fabrication process is metal cutting. We aren’t even talking about how efficient it is, either; there are plenty of different tools and methods that you can use to cut it! Some of the most common types of metal cutting include water jet cutting, plasma cutting, and saw cutting. It’s incredibly efficient at getting metals to be the size and shape you want, and depending on which method you use, it’s also fairly cheap! The one main draw for metal cutting is that it will likely be the first – and only – way you can form your metal sheet. If you can find the right application, it will pay off!

Welding

Metal welding is a unique metalworking process that carries a sizable amount of benefits. However, the benefits don’t come without their drawbacks! The main flaw of metal welding is the fact that it needs to be done by hand, not using a machine. While it certainly makes the process cheaper, it’s not as quick or efficient as some of the other processes are.

Metalworking at Markham Metals

While the metalworking processes differ in level of efficiency, all of them are vital for the applications we use today. They’re also the services that Markham Metals can offer you! For expert metalworking that can yield you the best results for your application, click here to contact us directly.

A metal welder in a protective mask and equipment uses a tool to weld a piece of metal.
By Dan Markham Design • • • 0 Comments

Benefits of Metal Welding

There are plenty of different ways to shape and form metal to make it usable for a variety of applications. Some methods are more popular than others due to their effectiveness at getting the job done, and other methods are only applicable to certain types of metal. One of the most popular ways of forming metal is metal welding – and it can offer a ton of benefits if done properly! We’ve assembled the best benefits that this practice has to offer below.

There Are Multiple Ways To Weld

A lot of other metalworking techniques have a strict set of guidelines to follow in order to achieve a desired result. When you weld metal, there are actually a few different processes associated with it! Some of the most popular metal welding methods are laser welding, arc welding and gas welding. All of these use different tools to weld their metal into the desired shape. There are a lot more processes to metal welding than you would think!

It’s Relatively Cheap

Depending on the tools you need for your preferred welding method, metal welding can be a pretty cheap process! Many of the tools associated with it are inexpensive and relatively easy to find. It helps explain why metal welding is so popular; because it’s a relatively cheap process, it can be used over and over again to achieve your desired results. It should also go without saying that more expensive processes can’t be performed as often, making this a desirable alternative.

It Can Be Used For A Variety of Applications

Because there are so many different processes that are associated with metal welding, it should go without saying that metal welding has a wide variety of different uses. For example, Tungsten Inert Gas welding, or TIG for short, can be used to make things like bike frames and door handles. On the other hand, a process like gas welding can be used to form different car parts. Resistance welding is another welding technique that’s used for a lot of household appliances.

Metalworking Services at Markham Metals

Need some metal welding work done? Bring it to Markham Metals for the best results! If you can name a type of metalworking, there’s a good chance that it’s a service we offer. We can help you shape and form metal for a wide variety of practical applications. We also carry certain sheets of steel and line item stock products for your needs. If there’s a metalworking service you need, fill out a contact form for a free quote!