Conversational Tradespeak 101

Hello. Have you ever wanted to speak like a highly skilled tradesperson but could never quite find the right words? Conversational Tradespeak 101 will help you talk-the-talk with no trades experience necessary. Each week we will look at some common, and not so common, trade terms. We will define the term before putting it to use in everyday conversation. We will also misuse the term for no particular reason other than a mild form of entertainment.

 

 

Term: Enthalpy


Trade: HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning


Definition: For a given sample of air, a measure of the total heat content (the sum of the heat energy of the dry air and heat energy of the water vapor within it). It is typically used to determine the amount of fresh outside air that can be added to recirculated air for the lowest cooling cost.


Proper Usage: Enthalpy calculations are vital in keeping cooling costs low and efficient.


Improper Usage: “Hey Jerry, I think I pulled something sliding into home plate. It may be my spine or somewhere near my enthalpy.”

 

 

Term: Gas Pocket


Trade: Welding (Arc)


Definition: A weld cavity caused by the trapping of gases released by the metal when cooling.


Proper Usage: Thanks to Charlie not being on top of his game, the number of gas pockets set the whole job back a day. Charlie was sent home early to think about what he had done.


Improper Usage: At lunch, Charlie left a gas pocket in the break room which did not gain him any new friends on his first day on the job.

 

 

Term: GMAW


Trade: Arc Welding

Definition: Gas metal arc welding (also known as MIG, flux cored arc welding, spray arc welding and short circuit welding) is used for 70% of welding done today. 


Proper Usage: GMAW offers fast welding speeds, a narrow bead and deep penetration. The process uses continuously fed electrode wire and a shielding gas.


Improper usage: “GMAW, I know I’m twenty-six, but can I still just hang out here till I find a job that recognizes my extraordinary skills and pays me what I’m worth?”

 

 

Term: Liquidus


Trade: Welding


Definition: The lowest temperature at which a metal or an alloy is completely liquid.


Proper Usage: The Liquidus temperature for Carbon Steel is Temp C°1,537.00

Improper Usage: “Liquidus? Hell yeah! He’s the Greek God of Melting Ice Cream if you don’t eat it fast.”