One of the repair services we offer as a full-service rail service in New England and beyond is known as “field welding.” While welding has always been an important part of civil engineering, field welding in particular is extremely useful to the maintenance and repair of railroads across the globe.
When you think of welding, you often picture a person with one of those heavy-duty welding masks and an electrified MIG welder (MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas.) However, field welding is done a bit differently. It’s also an extremely old process first used in Germany in the 1890s. Welding with thermite is a tried-and-true practice that, although it has been improved upon over the decades, is still in practice today. Here’s why.
It’s Simple to Train
Field welding with an exothermic material like thermite takes some skill—we certainly wouldn’t ask an untrained worker to try it. However, it’s a simple process to train because it’s extremely straightforward. Thermite is typically packed into a mold that encases the two components meant to be welded. From there, a source of flame like a match is used to start the exothermic process.
Exothermic Field Welding is Portable
A supply of thermite, a mold, and a flame source is all that is required for field welding. This simple means of welding means that it is extremely portable and can be taken essentially anywhere in the field. The ability to weld at a moment’s notice from anywhere is important in railroad maintenance.
Field Welding Doesn’t Require Complicated Equipment
As we said previously, there is no complicated equipment needed for field welding with thermite. A MIG gun, electric power source, or any other obstacle typically associated with welding is simply nonexistent. Field welding is an age-old, streamlined process with zero bells and whistles.
Thermite Needs No External Power Source
Keep that generator at home. Thermite welding needs to power source beyond a simple match. Thermite is an extremely volatile substance, which means even the smallest flame will ignite it and cause an exothermic (extremely hot) reaction to occur. Thermite is so efficient at reacting to a flame that, no matter the amount of thermite used, it typically finishes its reaction in a minute or less. Imagine that!
Field Welding Can be Done in Remote Areas
Portability means that you can weld in the middle of nowhere, which is important when it comes to railroads. Unfortunately, very few of our railroads are simple to get to. Our tracks span the country and pass through extremely remote regions. Not every maintenance situation occurs at a stop or even near a city. Portability means you can repair railroad anywhere.
Are you in need of a railroad service? We are full-service and offer maintenance, repair, consultation, and more. Reach out to us today.