HISTORY OF WELDING

The History of Welding

The Bible mentions Tubal Cain, " forged all types of tools from bronze and iron." He may have been one of the first to join metals with the forging process. His flame was an open hearth into which he placed the metals to be heated to the forging temperature.

In 1892 Morehead and Wilson accidentally discovered how to make acetylene. It was found that combining acetylene with oxygen produced the hottest flame temperature--5720 degrees F. Since this is well above the melting point of most metals the oxyacetylene welding process soon developed.

Welding can trace its historic development back to ancient times. The earliest examples come from the Bronze Age. Small gold circular boxes were made by pressure welding lap joints together. It is estimated that these boxes were made more than 2000 years ago. During the Iron Age the Egyptians and people in the eastern Mediterranean area learned to weld pieces of iron together. Many tools were found which were made approximately 1000 B.C.

PACAMALAN, LIZA FE A.