The World of Welding Symbols

As a welder, it’s important to understand the world of welding symbols for more independent work. Where do welding symbols show up and how do you read them? When you’re working on a project from a blueprint, welding symbols indicate what types of welds are required for the varying components involved in the job. They can also encompass the size of the weld, what preparation is necessary for the materials, and the desired depth, among other things. It’s important to study up and learn these symbols so you’re prepared to complete different types of work to ensure that your welds are sturdy and reliable.

WHERE TO BEGIN

First and foremost, we recommend that you find either a good welding symbol chart, a comprehensive welding symbol manual, or ideally, both. These references are immeasurable valuable to the working welder, who can flip to a helpful page when prepping for work or scan a chart briefly at the work site to make sure their materials have been correctly prepared.

BASICS OF THE WELDING LANGUAGE

Welding symbols are a language in and of themselves. As a result, there are some specific rules to follow. Welding symbols are always read from left to right, so keep this in mind in order to manage the steps of each weld properly. A horizontal line, known as the reference line, and a directional line, known as the arrow line, show up in welding symbols to indicate the placement of the weld and the necessary information for the type of weld required. An exhaustive library of symbols communicate the variety of welds (from grooves to fillet, plug, slot, and more).

Are you interested in learning more about how to read welding symbols? We can help! The staff at Sydney Lee Welding Supply is a great resource to aspiring welders and we’d love to help you learn more about this important communication tool!