California Tool & Welding Supply

Celebrating The Summer 2024 Olympics

Did You Know
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is commonly used as a shielding gas in welding, particularly in processes such as Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW or MIG welding). Here are some specific uses and benefits of CO₂ in welding:
1. Shielding Gas: CO₂ is used to protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination. It helps to prevent oxidation and other reactions that can weaken the weld.
2. Pe*******on: CO₂ provides deeper pe*******on compared to other shielding gases, which can be beneficial for welding thicker materials.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: CO₂ is relatively inexpensive compared to other shielding gases like argon or helium, making it a cost-effective option for many welding applications.
4. Stability: It helps stabilize the welding arc, which can improve the overall quality and consistency of the weld.
5. Versatility: CO₂ can be used for welding a variety of metals, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and some low-alloy steels.
While pure CO₂ can be used, it is also common to use mixtures of CO₂ and other gases (such as argon) to optimize the welding process for specific applications and materials.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced through various natural and human activities:
1. Natural Sources:
o Respiration: Animals and plants release CO2 as a byproduct of cellular respiration.
o Volcanic Activity: Volcanoes emit CO2 along with other gases during eruptions.
o Decomposition: When organic matter decomposes, it releases CO2.
o Ocean Release: The oceans release CO2 naturally due to various biological and physical processes.
2. Human Activities:
o Burning Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy and transportation is a significant source of CO2 emissions.
o Deforestation: Cutting down trees reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, leading to more CO2 remaining in the atmosphere.
o Industrial Processes: Certain industrial processes, such as cement production, also release CO2 as a byproduct.
o Agriculture: Activities like livestock farming and rice paddies produce methane (CH4), which can convert to CO2 in the atmosphere over time.

Miller Copilot Cobot
Reserve your time for a Demo today.
call and speak to Patrick
951 300-2545

Did You Know
Helium is used in welding primarily as a shielding gas. Its primary roles in welding include:
1. Shielding Gas in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG Welding): In this process, helium is used to protect the weld area from atmospheric contamination, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. This helps to produce a clean, high-quality weld.
2. Shielding Gas in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG Welding): Helium is sometimes mixed with other gases, such as argon or carbon dioxide, to improve arc stability, increase pe*******on, and enhance the overall quality of the weld.
Benefits of Using Helium in Welding
• Higher Heat Input: Helium provides a higher heat input compared to argon, which is beneficial when welding metals with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum and copper. This helps achieve better weld pe*******on and faster welding speeds.
• Better Performance on Thick Materials: Due to its higher heat conductivity, helium is particularly useful for welding thicker materials, ensuring deeper weld pe*******on.
• Improved Weld Quality: Helium helps in producing cleaner welds with less spatter and fewer impurities.
Helium is often used in combination with other gases:

• Radioactive Decay: The primary natural source of helium is the radioactive decay of heavy elements like uranium and thorium. These elements decay over geological timescales, emitting alpha particles (helium nuclei) as a byproduct. Over millions of years, this process generates significant amounts of helium, which migrates and accumulates in underground reservoirs.
• Extraction Process: When natural gas containing helium is extracted, it undergoes a purification process to separate the helium from other gases. This process typically involves cooling the gas to extremely low temperatures, which causes different components to condense at different points. Helium, with its low boiling point, is separated from the natural gas mixture and collected.

Did You Know
Argon gas is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth's atmosphere. It is produced through the radioactive decay of potassium-40 in rocks, which releases argon-40 into the air. Additionally, argon is a byproduct of the production of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere through the process of fractional distillation of liquid air.
Argon has a boiling point of approximately -185.7 degrees Celsius (-302.3 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmospheric pressure. This is the temperature at which argon transitions from its gaseous state to its liquid state.
Argon is typically separated from air through a process called fractional distillation, which takes advantage of the differences in boiling points between the components of air. Here’s a simplified outline of the process:
1. Compression: Air is first compressed to increase the pressure and reduce its volume.
2. Cooling: The compressed air is then cooled in a series of heat exchangers, which lowers its temperature.
3. Fractional Distillation: The cooled air enters a fractionating column, where it undergoes fractional distillation. In this column:
o The air is allowed to expand, causing it to cool further.
o Different components of air (like nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc.) have different boiling points. As the air mixture is gradually heated up, each component reaches its boiling point and turns into a gas.
o The gases are separated based on their boiling points, with the heavier gases like argon condensing into a liquid first.
4. Collection: Argon, now in its liquid state, is collected at the bottom of the column. It is then further purified if necessary to remove any remaining traces of other gases.
5. Storage: The purified liquid argon is stored in insulated containers or tanks to maintain its liquid state.
This process allows for the efficient separation and collection of argon from air, utilizing the physical property of different gases to condense at different temperatures.

Happy Parent Appreciation Day!
Today, we celebrate the incredible love, dedication, and sacrifices you make every single day. Your unwavering support and endless care shape the future and build the foundation of our lives. Thank you for being the guiding light, the source of strength, and the heart of our families. Enjoy this special day—you deserve all the recognition and appreciation in the world!

Did You Know
Nitrogen primarily comes from the atmosphere, where it makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. It's a crucial element for life and is also found in various compounds in soil, water, and living organisms. Nitrogen fixation, the process where certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants, is essential for the nitrogen cycle, which maintains the balance of nitrogen in ecosystems.
Nitrogen liquefies at a temperature of approximately −195.79-195.79−195.79 degrees Celsius (−320.42(-320.42(−320.42 degrees Fahrenheit). This low boiling point makes liquid nitrogen useful in various industrial applications, such as cryogenics, where extremely low temperatures are required for preserving biological samples, conducting experiments, or cooling superconducting materials.
1. Cryogenics: Liquid nitrogen is commonly used in cryogenic applications to preserve biological samples, tissues, and cells. Its low temperature prevents biological activity and degradation, allowing long-term storage.
2. Food Freezing and Storage: In the food industry, liquid nitrogen is used for quick freezing of food products. Rapid freezing helps maintain the quality, texture, and nutritional value of food items.
3. Medical Applications: Liquid nitrogen is used in dermatology for cryotherapy, where it is applied to freeze and destroy abnormal skin tissues like warts and precancerous lesions.
4. Industrial Processes: It is used in various industrial processes, such as in cooling metals during machining, shrink fitting components, and preserving sensitive materials.
5. Research and Laboratories: Liquid nitrogen is essential in laboratories for experiments that require very low temperatures, such as in physics, chemistry, and materials science.
6. Superconductivity: Liquid nitrogen is sometimes used to cool superconducting materials, such as certain magnets and wires, to achieve and maintain their superconducting state.
7. Transportation: Liquid nitrogen is also used for transporting perishable items that require deep freezing during transport, such as biological samples and certain foods

Congrats on your Anniversary

Did You Know
1. Pressure: Acetylene gas becomes unstable and can decompose explosively at pressures above 15 psi (approximately 103 kPa). For this reason, acetylene is not stored or used at pressures higher than this limit in its pure form. In commercial applications, acetylene is often dissolved in acetone or dimethylformamide (DMF) and stored in specially designed cylinders to prevent instability.
2. Temperature: Acetylene can become unstable at elevated temperatures. The decomposition of acetylene is an exothermic reaction that can be initiated by heat, which then propagates, potentially leading to an explosion. High temperatures can accelerate this decomposition process.
3. Catalysts and Contaminants: Certain metals, such as copper, silver, and mercury, can catalyze the decomposition of acetylene. Therefore, acetylene should not come into contact with these metals or their alloys. Even small amounts of contaminants can initiate decomposition.
4. Shock and Impact: Acetylene can be sensitive to shock and impact. Physical disturbances can trigger its decomposition, especially if the gas is under pressure or the temperature is elevated.
5. Chemical Stability: When dissolved in a solvent like acetone or DMF within a porous material (such as in a storage cylinder), acetylene is much more stable and can be safely stored and transported. The solvent helps to stabilize the gas and prevent explosive decomposition.

Did You Know
1. UN Number: UN 1072
2. Proper Shipping Name: Oxygen
3. Class: Class 2 (Gases)
4. Hazards: Oxygen itself is not flammable, but it supports combustion. This means it can intensify fires if it comes into contact with combustible materials.
5. Packaging: Oxygen is typically transported in specialized cylinders or tanks designed to withstand the pressure of the gas.

1. Flammable Materials: Oxygen supports combustion, so keep flammable materials such as oil, grease, gasoline, and other fuels away from oxygen cylinders and the surrounding storage area.
2. Open Flames and Heat Sources: Avoid exposing oxygen cylinders to open flames, sparks, heat sources (including heaters, welding equipment, and hot surfaces), and smoking materials. Oxygen can ignite easily in the presence of these ignition sources.
3. Oxidizing Agents: Keep oxidizing agents and substances away from oxygen cylinders. Oxidizers can react violently with oxygen and cause fires or explosions. Examples include chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric acid.
4. Organic Materials: Organic materials such as paper, wood, cloth, and certain plastics can ignite more readily in the presence of concentrated oxygen. Keep these materials away from oxygen cylinders to reduce fire risk.
5. Oil and Grease: Oil and grease can react with oxygen under certain conditions, leading to fire hazards or contamination of the cylinder and its fittings. Ensure that hands and tools used with oxygen cylinders are clean and free from oils.

World Listening Day is celebrated annually on July 18th to recognize the importance of listening to the world around us, including people, nature, and our inner voices. The day was first celebrated in 2010 and is organized by the World Listening Project. The date was chosen because it's the birthday of R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and founder of the Acoustic Ecology movement, which aims to improve the relationship between humans and the environment through sound.

The date originally referred to the day Apple premiered its iCal calendar application in 2002. The day, July 17, was displayed on the Apple Color Emoji version of the calendar emoji (📅) as an Easter egg. World Emoji Day was created on 17 July 2014 by Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia.

Did You Know
1. Critical Point: The critical temperature of propane is around -42°C (-44°F), and the critical pressure is about 42 atmospheres. Above this temperature and pressure, propane cannot exist in a liquid state, regardless of pressure.
2. Normal Conditions: At standard temperature and pressure (STP), propane is a gas. STP is typically defined as 0°C (32°F) and 1 atmosphere of pressure.
3. Liquefaction: Propane can be liquefied under moderate pressure. For instance, at 25°C (77°F), propane requires a pressure of about 8.5 atmospheres (atm) to remain in the liquid phase.
1. Propane Heat Content: Propane has a high heat content, typically around 91,500 BTUs per gallon when burned.
2. Propane Appliances: The efficiency of propane appliances varies, but a standard propane furnace or boiler might have an efficiency rating between 80% to 95%. This means that a significant portion of the heat content of propane is converted into usable heat.
3. Burners and Stoves: Propane burners used for cooking can vary widely in output depending on their size and design. For example, a typical propane stove burner might output around 10,000 to 15,000 BTUs per hour per burner.
4. Space Heaters: Propane space heaters can range in output depending on their size and intended use. Small portable heaters might output around 10,000 to 30,000 BTUs per hour, while larger models can reach up to 100,000 BTUs per hour or more.

Did You Know
1. Properties: Liquid oxygen is a pale blue liquid with a density of about 1.14 g/cm³. It is extremely cold, with a boiling point of -183°C (-297°F).
2. Production: Liquid oxygen is typically produced through the fractional distillation of liquefied air in industrial plants. Air is cooled and compressed to liquify it, and then separated into its components through distillation.
3. Uses:
o Rocket propellant: Liquid oxygen is commonly used as an oxidizer in rocket propulsion systems. When combined with a fuel (such as hydrogen or kerosene), it provides the necessary oxygen for combustion.
o Medical: In medical applications, liquid oxygen is used for respiratory therapy and medical breathing apparatus.
o Industrial: It is also used in various industrial applications where a high concentration of oxygen is required, such as in metal cutting and welding.
4. Safety: Liquid oxygen is a cryogenic liquid and must be handled with care due to its extremely low temperature. It can cause severe frostbite if it comes into direct contact with skin.
5. Storage: It is stored and transported in special insulated containers to prevent it from evaporating too quickly and to maintain its extremely low temperature.
Liquid oxygen plays a crucial role in various scientific, medical, and industrial applications due to its high concentration of oxygen in liquid form, which makes it highly efficient as an oxidizer.

Game On
New Viking Welding Helmet From Lincoln
Available Today

Did You Know
A weld burn-through is a hole or cavity in a weld that occurs when the base metal melts completely. It's also known as expulsion, which is when molten metal is forcefully ejected from the weld.

Congrats to Mark Guevara
on his 7th year Anniversary
with us at CTWS

Did You Know
Weld underfill is a welding defect that occurs when a joint is not completely filled with weld metal, leaving some of the parent material unfused. This can result in a groove weld condition where the weld face or root surface is below the adjacent surface of the base metal.

Did You Know
A weld undercut is a flaw that appears as a groove or cut in the metal where the weld meets the base metal. It happens when the base metal melts but the filler metal doesn't fill it in enough. This reduces the thickness of the metal at the edges, making the weld weaker and more likely to crack, corrode, or fail.

Did You Know
The melted chocolate is foamed up with nitrogen and when it cools, the bubbles appear. Gases like carbon dioxide and argon can be used instead, but nitrogen makes smaller bubbles and provides a creamier taste.

Independence Day Schedule
Closed July 4th through the 7th returning July 8th

Holiday Schedule

Did You Know
Weld lack of fusion is a serious welding defect that occurs when weld metal doesn't properly fuse with the base metal or side wall of a joint. It can also happen when two weld beads don't fully join together. This defect can create gaps in the weld joint and weaken the weld, which can lead to structural failure.