Underwater Cutting and Welding: Essential Tools and Electrodes
Underwater cutting and welding are indispensable skills in the commercial diving industry, supporting a range of operations from offshore oil and gas maintenance to ship repair and underwater construction.
Because underwater environments introduce unique challenges—such as visibility issues, strong currents, and pressure differentials—commercial divers rely heavily on purpose-built tools like those offered by Broco Rankin to ensure safety and efficiency. SMP supply the Broco Rankin range of underwater tools and accessories for cutting and welding to the commercial diving industry. Broco Rankin has been a leader in this field since 1975, offering a comprehensive range of products designed specifically for underwater applications.
Underwater Cutting Tools
Broco BR-22 and BR-22 PLUS Cutting Torches
The BR-22 is the industry standard for underwater cutting, featuring high-impact and corrosion-resistant materials, a brass flash arrestor to prevent burnback, and an ergonomically designed handle to reduce diver fatigue.
The BR-22 PLUS is the next-generation model, offering enhanced features for improved performance and durability.
Exothermic Cutting Rods
Broco's exothermic cutting rods burn at temperatures exceeding 10,000°F, enabling rapid cutting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as concrete. These rods can be bent up to 90° to access hard-to-reach areas and continue to burn as long as oxygen is supplied, even after electrical current is removed.
Underwater Welding Electrodes
SofTouch® Mild Steel Electrodes: SofTouch electrodes are designed for certifiable underwater welds, consistently meeting or exceeding AWS D3.6 specifications for Type B welds. They feature the proprietary BroCote™ flux enhancing formulation, ensuring reliability and ease of use.
ProTouch® Low Carbon Steel Electrodes: ProTouch electrodes offer high performance for all-position welding, providing excellent mechanical properties and low hydrogen content, making them suitable for critical underwater welding applications.
EasyTouch® Economy Electrodes: EasyTouch electrodes are designed for cost-effective underwater welding, offering good performance for general-purpose applications.
Ni-Touch® Nickel-Based Electrodes: Ni-Touch electrodes are specialised for welding dissimilar metals and for applications requiring high corrosion resistance, expanding the range of underwater welding capabilities.
Welding Stingers
BR-20 and BR-21 Welding Stingers
These compression-type stingers are lightweight and durable, designed to hold electrodes at the optimal angle, reducing diver fatigue. The BR-21 features an index notch for improved rod insertion in low visibility conditions.
Underwater cutting and welding are not just technical tasks—they’re mission-critical operations that demand the best equipment and the right support network. With Broco Rankin’s 40+ year legacy of innovation and performance, and SMP’s expertise as a global supplier, commercial divers can work with confidence, precision, and safety.
Whether you're outfitting a dive support vessel for pipeline maintenance or conducting structural repairs in a port facility, SMP ensures you have the underwater cutting and welding tools and support you need—wherever you dive.