Welding & Soldering

Welding & Soldering

Complete metal fabrication tasks quickly and efficiently with welders, soldering irons and related supplies from Tractor Supply. Whether you’re working on-site in construction or just fixing copper pipes in your home’s plumbing, we stock a range of the equipment you’ll need to successfully finish your project.

Tools of the Metalwork Trade

Welding and soldering are two different yet related methods for fusing metals. Welding melts them together at high temperatures, usually 5,000°F or more, using a filler metal to bond them. The technique is common in industries such as automotive and shipbuilding. Soldering, in contrast, does so using only a filler metal at a lower melting point, typically below 840°F. It’s common in electronics, jewelry-making and other professions that call for precision.

Both require specialized equipment, depending on what you’re welding or soldering, including:

Welders

Use our welders to join cast iron, stainless steel, steel, aluminum and other metals using pressure, heat or both. Stick welders use an electric arc to do it, but if you want to slice through instead of fusing them, you should opt for a plasma cutter. If you’re a beginner looking to be able to weld quickly and precisely, consider a metal inert gas (MIG) welder. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welders are for more experienced fabricators, working on thinner metals especially, while engine-driven welders can run on gas or diesel and be moved between job sites easily. Otherwise, if you need an all-in-one combination of stick, MIG and TIG welding capabilities, consider a multi-process welder.

Torches

Key tools in the welding process, torches are what heat, braze, melt, join and even cut both base and filler metals. Opt for one of two kinds, depending on the kind of weld you want to do: either gas or arc. Gas torches, common in oxy-fuel welding, burn oxygen and a fuel gas, such as acetylene or hydrogen, creating a high-temperature flame. Arc torches, on the other hand, are central to MIG and TIG welding and use sparking electricity.

Welding Supplies

These accessories can help make a fabrication process go much more smoothly, from start to finish. Wire, tips, spool guns and pliers are must-haves for MIG and MAG or flux-cored arc welds, while rods, electrode holders and chipping hammers are used in stick welding. To complete a workspace, you’ll need a welding cart or table for tools and equipment, the right connectors, adapters and leads to help everything work together. Don’t forget clamps and magnets, so you can position and hold metals while you weld. To keep surfaces cleaner and ready for your next job, pick up a wire brush.

Gas Cylinders & Accessories

Using pressurized gases safely is critical to a successful weld. You wouldn’t be able to do that without the cylinders to store them under proper pressure and the regulators, flowmeters and hoses to make them usable. Consider several accessories to make sure they’re delivered safely and efficiently, including wrenches to open and close valves, plus caps and flashback arrestors to help prevent accidents. To transport cylinders and store them out of harm’s way between tasks, use a cart or stand.

Welding Protective Gear

Personal protection is paramount when working with high heat and bright light, not to mention the possibility of flying debris, both of which are common during any project. Wearing the right clothing and equipment, such as fire-resistant gloves, jackets and aprons and helmets or goggles with auto-darkening lenses, can help keep sparks, radiation, slag and other hazards from injuring you during a weld.

Soldering

This process joins metal components using a specialized soldering iron, a tin-lead or lead-free metal alloy (solder) and an oxidation-prevention agent (flux). The iron heats and melts the solder, enabling bonding. Most are pencil-style, although some come as complete soldering stations that make controlling temperature easier. Others are designed for specific tasks, such as working with stained glass.

Flux is used to clean metal surfaces after a solder, making sure the connection between parts is as durable and reliable as possible. Rosin, derived from pine resin, is a common type, although some are organic and water-soluble and others are acid-based and more corrosive.

Shop Welding & Soldering Tools and Accessories at Tractor Supply

Get all of the welding and soldering essentials before your next big undertaking starts. Browse in-store at your local Tractor Supply today or order online.