Using Fasteners over Welds

Welds or Fasteners?

Welding is a common practice that creates a physical and (what is considered to be) permanent connection. Fasteners (for our discussion bolts) create a joint which is considered to be a temporary connection.

But, which is better? Is there a definitive answer to this question? The answer is: It depends. There are always situations in which one of them (welds or Fasteners) works better. The harder part is trying to decide which of them needs to be used when. Today we are going to study when to use fasteners over welds.

Why Welds Are Great (And Why They Are Not)

Welding is an excellent way to make a permanent joint between two materials. It is one of those set it and forgets it types of connections, but what happens over time as that weld is put under stress? How to check if the joint is still as strong as on day one?

The answer is welding are often harder to check and maintain than fasteners. Some special equipment is required for weld testing which costs excessive amounts of money. Welds require some intensive tests such as x-rays to check integrity throughout the weld. It is harder to remove welds than to replace Fasteners. They can also be inconsistent in strength along a joint.

What May Make Fasteners a Better Decision?

Fasteners are used for creating temporary joints. Fasteners, installed at equal distances, will provide the same strength at each joint without significant change. This makes them a better choice for weight distribution. They are also simple to check for corrosion or other weakening factors.

By far the best part about using a fastener over a weld is that if a fastener is bad, it is simple to remove it and replace it with a new one. They can also be adjusted over time to compensate for changes in the materials such as swelling or shrinking with minimal effort.

Welds and Fasteners

To truly determine if a weld or fastener is right It really depends on the application. Ultimately, we think in the majority of situations that can use both fasteners should be used because it just makes maintenance easier.