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= WELDING GLOSSARY =


 * Fabric Softener - Fabric softeners have been shown to make clothing more likely to catch on fire. For this reason welders should avoid the use of fabric softener in work clothes. **


 * Face Reinforcement ** - Reinforcement of weld at the side of the joint from which welding was done. See also root reinforcement.


 * Face Shield (eye protection ** ) - A device positioned in front of the eyes and a portion of, or all of, the face, whose predominant function is protection of the eyes and face. See also hand shield and helmet. (2) ** Face Shield (Helmet) ** - A safety device worn over the face to protect the eyes and face from the arc, sparks and molten metal. Arc welding without proper eye protection can lead (quickly) to permanent damage to the eyes.


 * Face of Weld ** - The exposed surface of a weld on the side from which welding was done.


 * Faying Surface ** - That mating surface of a member, which is in contact or in close proximity with another member to which it is to be joined.


 * Feed Rate ** - The rate at, which material passes through a gun in a unit of times. (See preferred term wire feed speed).


 * Ferrite Number ** - An arbitrary, standardized value designating the ferrite content of an austenitic stainless steel weld metal. It should be used in place of percent ferrite or volume percent ferrite on a direct one to one replacement basis. See the latest edition of AWS A4.2 Standard Procedures for Calibrating Magnetic Instruments to Measure the Delta Ferrite Content of Austenitic Stainless Steel Weld Metal.


 * Ferrous ** - ferrous is an adjective used to indicate the presence of iron, containing or relating to iron.


 * Filler Metal (Material ** ) - The metal (material) to be added in making a welded, brazed, or soldered joint. See electrode, welding rod. (2) Filler metal - Is a metal added in the making of a joint through welding, brazing or soldering. Various types of filler metals exist.

Fire Prevention Standards for Welding Shops

Fire Extinguishers


 * Fillet Weld ** - A weld of approximately triangular cross section joining two surfaces approximately at right angles to each other in a lap joint, T-joint or corner joint. (2) **Fillet Weld** - A weld joining two pieces of metal that are more or less perpendicular to each other.


 * Filter Lens (eye protection) - ** A round filter plate (eye protection). An optical material, which protects the eyes against excessive ultraviolet, infrared, and visible radiation, fines.


 * Fissure ** - A small crack-like discontinuity with only slight separation (opening displacement) of the fracture surfaces. The prefixes macro or micro indicate relative size. fixture. A device designed to hold parts to be joined in proper relation to each other.


 * Fixed Automation ** - Automated, electronically controlled welding system for simple, straight or circular welds.


 * Fixture ** - A tool or device used to hold pieces in place for welding.


 * Flange weld ** - A weld made on the edges of two or more members to be joined, at least one of, which is flanged.

Flashback Arrestors


 * Flat position ** - The welding position used to weld from the upper side of the joint: the face of the weld is approximately horizontal.


 * Flat Weld ** - A weld where the pieces being joined come together horizontally in front of and below the welder.


 * Flaw ** - A near synonym for discontinuity but with an undesirable connotation. See defect and discontinuity.


 * Flexible Automation - ** Automated, robotically controlled welding system for complex shapes and applications where welding paths require torch-angle manipulation.


 * Flowability ** - The ability of molten filler metal to flow or spread over a metal surface.


 * FLUORIDES - ** Fluoride compounds are found in the coatings of several types of fluxes used in welding. Exposure to these fluxes may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Repeated exposure to high concentrations of fluorides in air over a long period may cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and bone damage. Exposure to fluoride dusts and fumes has also produced skin rashes.
 * Flux ** - Material used to prevent, dissolve, or facilitate removal of oxides and other undesirable surface substances**. (2)** ** Flux ** - A substance that facilitates soldering, brazing and welding by chemically cleaning the metals to be joined.


 * Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) ** - An arc welding process which produces coalescence of metals by heating them with an arc between a continuous filler metal (consumable) electrode and the work. Shielding is provided by a flux contained within the tubular electrode. Additional shielding may or may not be obtained from an externally supplied gas or gas mixture. (2) **Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)** - An arc welding process which melts and joins metals by heating them with an arc between a continuous, consumable electrode wire and the work. Shielding is obtained from a flux contained within the electrode core. Added shielding may or may not be provided from externally supplied gas or gas mixture.


 * Flux Cored Arc Welding - Electrogas (FCAWEG) ** - A variation of the flux cored arc-welding process in which molding shoes are used to confine the molten weld metal for vertical position welding. Additional shielding may or may not be obtained from an externally supplied gas or gas mixture.


 * Foot Protection for Welders - ISO 20349**


 * Forehand Welding ** - A welding technique in, which the welding torch or gun is directed toward the progress of welding. See also travel angle, work angle, and push angle.
 * Forge ** - A device used to heat metal for forming and bending. (Blacksmithing)


 * Full Fillet Weld ** - A filler weld whose size is equal to the thickness of the thinner member joined.


 * Fume Plume ** - The fume plume is the clearly visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting. Welders and cutters should take precautions to avoid breathing this area directly. Ventilation can direct the plume away from the face. (Fume removal is most effective when the air flow is directed across the face of the welder, rather than from behind.

**Fumes and Gases**


 * Fusion ** - The melting together of filler metal and base metal (substrate), or of base metal only, which results in coalescence. See depth of fusion.


 * Fusion Face ** - A surface of the base metal, which will be melted during welding.


 * Fusion Welding ** - Any welding process or method, which uses fusion to complete the weld.


 * Fusion Zone ** - The area of base metal melted as determined on the cross section of a weld.

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