Welding Services
Products That We Weld
Welding services at Marco Specialty Steel complement our extensive in-stock products:
- Wire cloth
- Expanded metal
- Orsogril® fencing
- Bar grating
- Perforated metal
- Safety gratings and hex metal
Metals We Weld
We work with different material grades to meet our client’s technical specifications. Welding services are available for:
- Stainless steel: Available in a variety of grades. Stainless steel consists of at least 11 percent chromium in addition to other elements such as nickel, copper, and molybdenum. Stainless steel in its various grades enjoys good weldability, making it an excellent choice for custom fabrication projects.
- Nickel alloys: Welding nickel alloys require additional protection against oxygen and other contaminants, which lead to porousness, cracking, and stress corrosion.
- Aluminum: Available in 3003, 5052, and other alloys. All aluminum alloys we work with are easily weldable for custom fabrication purposes. Depending on the thickness of the section, our technicians will typically use GMAW or GTAW to form the bond.
- Carbon steel: MIG welding is mainly done with carbon steel. But Stick welding, TIG welding processes can be done as well.
Other materials we work with include galvanized steel. Read our blog for more information on How to Safely Weld Galvanized Steel.
Marco’s Metal Welding Services in Houston, Texas
Houston-based Marco Specialty Steel has been providing welding and other services since 1992. Our welding services complement our extensive wire cloth, expanded metal, bar grating, fiberglass grating, Orsogril® fencing, and perforated metal fabrication products and services. In addition to MIG, TIG, SMA, and spot welding, we can also provide plasma cutting, custom punching, bending and rolling, and other custom metal fabrication services.
Value-Added Services We Perform
We are a turnkey metal and FRP service center. A few of our other value-added services include screening, cutting, forming, print take-offs, and more.
Common Welding Techniques
Below is a brief overview of some of the most common materials and techniques used in custom welding fabrication.
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
Gas tungsten arc welding, or tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is a type of arc welding that uses a tungsten electrode to bond metals together. Done properly in a contamination-free environment, it produces an exceptionally strong and small weld. GTAW/TIG welding is typically used on thin strips of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and nonferrous metal alloys. TIG is the most commonly used stainless steel welding process.
The main drawback of TIG welding is its degree of difficulty — the process requires focus, time, and a skilled hand to perform correctly. Common applications for TIG welding include airplane and aerospace manufacturing, and any other industry in which strength and precision are required.
Stick Welding or Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
SMAW is a manual welding process commonly referred to as stick welding. It is one of the simplest and most straightforward types of welding, and is commonly used in construction, repair, and manufacturing applications. One advantage of stick welding is you can weld anywhere, indoors or outdoors.
The stick welding process is quite versatile and is used to join steel, stainless steel, iron, nickel, copper alloys, and more. But, stick welding is not suitable for reactive metals like zirconium, titanium, or columbium because the lack of shielding allows oxygen to contaminate the weld.
Stick welding is fast and cost-effective, though it does not produce as clean a weld as other processes. Problems commonly associated with SMAW include weld splatter and poor strength. However, when done by a skilled operator, SMAW is an economical choice for a number of custom welding fabrication projects.
Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Gas metal arc welding is more commonly referred to as MIG (metal inert gas) welding. Its most notable feature involves the use of a gas to shield the workpiece metal. This helps keep out contaminants and speeds up the welding process without compromising quality. MIG welding was originally developed for bonding aluminum alloys, but is currently used on steel, nickel alloys, and a range of other metals.
MIG welding is versatile and fast. Its main drawbacks include higher initial costs and low portability. MIG welding is almost always performed indoors, which limits its usefulness in remote repair and maintenance applications.
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Flux-cored arc welding is similar to GMAW but involves the use of a flux either in place of, or in addition to, a shielding gas. This flux is continuously fed through the electrode and acts as the main form of protection against atmospheric contamination. Flux-cored arc welding is fast and versatile and, unlike MIG welding, it can be safely performed outdoors.
Materials commonly associated with flux-cored arc welding include stainless steel, low alloy steels, high nickel alloys, and other metals. Though FCAW is a relatively straightforward process, inexperienced welders may experience issues such as incomplete fusion, weld cracks or damage to the contact tip.
Working With Marco Specialty Steel
Our clients come to us from many industries, including oil and gas, mining and minerals, transportation, and more.
Contact us or give us a call at 713-649-5310. Our team will answer any questions you might have.