Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why don’t engineers just weld everything if welding can create such strong metal joints? The answer has less to do with which method is stronger and more to do with what engineers need a connection to do. In this episode of History of Simple Things, we explore the differences between bolts and welding, from the rise of welding during industrialization to the practical reasons bolts remain essential in cars, machines, bridges, and buildings.
00:03 Why not weld everything
00:54 Bolts and welding have different histories
02:14 Why permanent connections can be a problem
01:38 Why engineers still use bolts
02:21 Bolts before modern welding
03:59 How welding changed engineering
04:28 Why welding isn't always better
04:59 The real problems with bolts
06:24 Which connection should engineers choose
07:05 Why bolts are still everywhere
#HistoryOfSimpleThings #BoltsVsWelding #Engineering #Welding #MechanicalEngineering
Why don’t engineers just weld everything if welding can create such strong metal joints? The answer has less to do with which method is stronger and more to do with what engineers need a connection to do. In this episode of History of Simple Things, we explore the differences between bolts and welding, from the rise of welding during industrialization to the practical reasons bolts remain essential in cars, machines, bridges, and buildings.
00:03 Why not weld everything
00:54 Bolts and welding have different histories
02:14 Why permanent connections can be a problem
01:38 Why engineers still use bolts
02:21 Bolts before modern welding
03:59 How welding changed engineering
04:28 Why welding isn't always better
04:59 The real problems with bolts
06:24 Which connection should engineers choose
07:05 Why bolts are still everywhere
#HistoryOfSimpleThings #BoltsVsWelding #Engineering #Welding #MechanicalEngineering
