Metal prep for welding

[photogod]

What are some of your tried and true methods for prepping your metal before welding. In my last few projects I have been wiping down the metal to get the oil off but have not been doing much else. My welds have been a bit spotty and messy so I am looking for input and guidance from those of you who weld a good deal as to your prep methods for a good weld . I am going to switch from flux core to gas shield on my upcomming trailer top fab idea so I will get less mess and spatter to deal with. Thanks for the input!

 

[Capt. Jim]

I get the metal clean and free of rust/debris by using a 3M Roloc pad in my angle grinder. Cleans and polishes the metal without much metal off.

 

[MrMoMo]

Grinder with a grinding disk to get the heavy stuff off (hard rust), 80grit blending pad to shine it up nice.

Spotty and messy eh... before you make your welding pass, do a pass without squeezing the trigger - make sure your body is comfortable for the entire pass. If your arm gets into an awkward position 1/2 way through, your weld will suffer.

 

[Capt. Jim]

... before you make your welding pass, do a pass without squeezing the trigger - make sure your body is comfortable for the entire pass.

Never realized 'til your post, MoMo, but that is what I do on longer welds.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I'm a new welder, but I grind the bad stuff with a grinding wheel, then shine it up with 80 grit flap wheel, then spray it down with brake cleaner. When completely dry, I weld.

 

[2badfjs]

I get the metal clean and free of rust/debris by using a 3M Roloc pad in my angle grinder. Cleans and polishes the metal without much metal off.

thats what i do, get the coating off, basicly all i do.
dont forget to bevel you material for max. penetration.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Clean wire wheel on the grinder dedicated to metal prep. Spray w/ brake cleaner (the fast evaporating kind) and weld away. Works great.

 

[450 DUDE]

Whats metal prep?





The switch in wire will help alot
I very gulity of not enough prep.
All the above posts are good methods.

ken

 

[nuclearlemon]

Whats metal prep?

ken

chemical, removes all the oils

 

[photogod]

Great guidelines everyone. Thanks much. Project starts next week so I will give your input a shot.

 

[brian]

chemical, removes all the oils

6010 welds through all that crap

 

[450 DUDE]

6010 welds through all that crap

Im with you.

chemical, removes all the oils

Sorry I was joking....



ken

 

[mabrodis]

I usually use a braided-wire disk on a angle grinder, it beats up the metal pretty good (be careful those disks grab stuff like mad, much worse than a grinding disk, since the disk is basically a bunch of wires just wanting to catch on things) without damaging it.

I use a disc like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91281

or

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91278

(another warning, those things grab stuff like mad on my Dewalt grinder, got to really hold on to that grinder!)

The basic wire ones (without the braiding/knotting) don't hit the metal hard enough to actually clean it IMO.

Using a grinding wheel works, but that actually takes real metal off, so if you want a perfectly smooth piece to weld, hitting it with the grinder may ruin that.

Good Luck...

 

["N8"]

I run through break cleaner too fast so i usually go get the tub of acitone. Just dont hit it with the welder too fast with your face close to it, inhaling a big lung full of that stuff will make your weld suffer almost as much as you do!

 

[photogod]

Many thanks for the replies. Some very good ideas here. I can look forward to much better welds now.

 

[Poser]

Going to solid wire and shielding gas instead of flux-core wire should prove to be the biggest improvement.


Toll, MO2, along with other local welding supply houses sell an aerosol anti-splatter product that knocks the cleanup time after welding to about nothing. Clean up what you want to weld, spray this product on the metal around the area you are working with and weld away.



Good luck!


-Steve

 

[photogod]

I have used the anti splat and did see some inprovement but I think my problem has been stated here tons, and that is, I seem not to be cleaning and exposing the weld area properly. I'm lazy and in a hurry and excited about getting into a project. I will take drastic steps to do proper prep from now on and I can stop buying grinder discs by the truck load. Thanks for the direction.

 

[Grench]

I get the metal clean and free of rust/debris by using a 3M Roloc pad in my angle grinder. Cleans and polishes the metal without much metal off.

I like using the little Roloc pads on the die grinder, but they don't last long. Do you have a good (cheap) source for Roloc pads?

 

[spressomon]

What are some of your tried and true methods for prepping your metal before welding. In my last few projects I have been wiping down the metal to get the oil off but have not been doing much else. My welds have been a bit spotty and messy so I am looking for input and guidance from those of you who weld a good deal as to your prep methods for a good weld . I am going to switch from flux core to gas shield on my upcomming trailer top fab idea so I will get less mess and spatter to deal with. Thanks for the input!

Cleanest = TIG

 

[photogod]

Going to solid wire and shielding gas instead of flux-core wire should prove to be the biggest improvement.


Toll, MO2, along with other local welding supply houses sell an aerosol anti-splatter product that knocks the cleanup time after welding to about nothing. Clean up what you want to weld, spray this product on the metal around the area you are working with and weld away.



Good luck!


-Steve

UPDATE: Took Posers advice tonight after running out of flux core and switched on the gas with the solid wire. WOW, what a difference. I kick myself for not doing that sooner. My welds improved 100%! FWIW.