Finding the Right Welding Cable

Welding Cable

By Anne Ahira

Welding is a process that involves the joining of two materials often through the application of an external heat source.

Believe it or not, archaeologists have found evidence of welding that dates all the way back to the Bronze Age.

Most notably, the process was used in the construction of a giant iron pillar in India in 310 AD.

As you might expect, welding has come a long way since then. Today’s modern welder uses a number of different energy sources including, electric arc, laser, ultrasound, electron beam and gas flames. Although they have been around for quite some time, electric arc is one of the most popular energy sources because it is cheap, widely available and easy to use.

In this article we are going to discuss the equipment you need to successfully complete a welding job. Specifically, we will be taking a look at the welding cable. Although it seems like a fairly simple piece of equipment, there is actually a lot of variation when it comes to the quality of a welding cable.

But we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. First things first, what is it used for? Welding cable is needed to power electric arc generators, which of course produce the charge that is needed to weld.

Welding cable is made of heavy, yet flexible copper wire that is encased in plastic or rubber. This covering should actually be one of your first considerations. Depending on the kind of welding you will be doing, you may need a covering that is water, flame and heat resistant. Not all welding cable is water resistant.

How does it work?

The welder will need to attach two cable to his arc welding tool, one goes to the instrument itself and the other is attached to the electrode on the generator.

Most generators that are used in arc welding also have a secondary power source that you can attach a cable to as well. The cable itself does not actually power or even allow the generator to function; it simply allows the electrode to operate.

Materials

We went into this a bit before, but let us dig a little deeper. As we mentioned, the wire itself is made of high-quality copper that is well stranded for increased flexibility.

A welding cable is available in a variety of different sizes and grades that all depend on length, strength and durability. The material that covers the copper wire is generally made of either EPDM rubber or the more popular Neoprene.

Which is better? It’s difficult to say. Both are incredibly durable and allow for maximum flexibility of the welding cable. However, some maintain that Neoprene may be safer if you are working in a damp or even wet environment.

Buying Cable

Welding cable is widely available at most hardware stores and it is sold based on the diameter and the length of the cable. They commonly range from a 5-foot cable all the way up to the 100-foot. It is often possible to choose the diameter of the cable of any length between this range.

Warning

Since welding cable is extremely durable and inexpensive, it is often used by professionals in the lighting industry. But welding cable was designed specifically for welding and should not be used for any other application.

In fact, there have been several incidents of malfunctions and even electric fires when welding cable is used for anything other than its intended purpose.

Here's Welding Cable Selections:

US Forge Welding Cable Lugs #1 Size 3/8-Inch...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
Hobart 770112 Welding Cable Welding 4 25-Feet Bulk...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info	$99.99
Gino 100 Pcs 12 Pins 2.54mm Pitch Pressure Welding...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info
US Forge Welding Cable Lugs #2/0 Size 3/8-Inch...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info	$10.33
Hobart 770151 Shears, Welding Cable...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info