Heat welder operation
Audio for slide 1 (mp3 |6|KB)
This stops dirt, moisture and other substances from getting into the joins.
Before the seam can be welded, the join must be grooved with a hand or power groover.
Then the welding gun is used to heat the flooring material and welding cable so that they melt and fuse together.
Audio for slide 2 (mp3 |6|KB)
Note that welding is a skill that takes some time to master, and there are many issues you need to consider and allow for in order to produce a professional result.
For a more comprehensive discussion on the techniques involved in grooving and welding, go to the following lessons from the Commercial vinyl unit:
The link below will take you to a basic SOP for a heat welder.
Learning activity
Audio 3 (mp3 |6|KB)Heat welders use different sized tips for different floor coverings. The floor covering manufacturer generally specifies what tip size is appropriate for the welded seams on particular products.
Can you name a specific sheet vinyl or linoleum product that you work with and state the recommended tip size for the welded seams?
If you haven't done this sort of work before, or can't remember what tip size you used on previous jobs, do some research and find out what tip size is recommended for a specific product.
Go to Heat iron operation