Cooling welded connection

[czechsonofagun]

This is just a question I have. I seen some people to cool down welded piece by dumping it in water to be able to work on it sooner.
I always feel it should cool down on it's own.


What do you think?

 

[spo307]

i have never used water to cool welds, maybe after burning I would drop it or run it under water

 

[AlanB]

It depends on the situation and what you are trying to make. For most projects the ability to continue working and ability to handle cool pieces far outweigh the thermal shock to the steel.

That said, sometimes when working on something critical or difficult to weld especially something where thermal shock and various contraction properties will cause problems (cast pieces in particular come to mind) then I will look for different cooling methods, maybe allowing the piece to cool at room temp, maybe burying in my sand box, or maybe wrapping it in a thermal blanket.

 

[The Haymaker]

For most applications, I don't think it makes a difference. We aren't welding containment vessels for a nuclear reactor or pipe fittings for the sewer output from a truck stop bathroom.

I use water or snow for the smaller pieces, and for big projects like the plow I'm making now, I just don't bother. Compressed air will also work.

I'm applying this to simple metal/metal attachment, not working with forgings or other large chunks of material.

 

[Willl]

When needed, I don't even hesitate to grab the hose.

"Were not building watches here"

 

[SPYDERLK]

Extreme differential cooling can crack, or strain the metal and make later cracking more likely. It is more of an issue when thick and thin are joined. When I need it quick I use a spray directed to favor cooling as uniform as possible down to a reasonable temp - then dunk to cool to touch.
larry

 

[Sandlot]

I seldom use water to cool a piece down. Sometimes I will just set it down on the floor and let the cool concrete pull the heat out of it, or just go get a beer. I am rarely in that big of a rush. I weld stuff not to break. Rushing the process may lower my chances of being successful!

 

[Cami]

Another option is to limit heat input to the work in the first place. If you can do downhand welding and it'll work for your situation, things won't get as warm as they would if you were to weld uphill.

Having a piece that's too hot to work on sounds like a good excuse to go have a coffee.

 

[jimmer2880]

I used to do that, until I had a piece break just after the weld. I also noticed, that if I tried to drill a piece which had been dunked - it didn't drill very nice

No more quick cooling for me.

 

[Cami]

It just came back to me: Once a coworker was doing a weld repair on an excavator stick and the owner arrived as he was finishing. The owner asked if it was done, and my friend said he could use the machine as soon as it cooled off. A minute later, when everybody's back was turned, the owner took the shop water bucket and threw it on the still-hot repair! He was informed that there would be no warranty on that particular job.

 

[Egon]

And then there is post heat treatment!

 

[sandman2234]

Never, not for me. I just don't like what flash cooling does to metals.
David from jax

 

[whistlepig]

Pouring cold water on a hot weld will almost guarantee the weld to fail.

 

[Willl]

Pouring cold water on a hot weld will almost guarantee the weld to fail.

Wrong.

 

[whistlepig]

Wrong.

Right.

 

[Willl]

So your saying every hot weld you hit with water fails ?

Are these 'your' welds ?

 

[whistlepig]

So your saying every hot weld you hit with water fails ?

Are these 'your' welds ?

I said "almost". I can't weld at all.

 

[Willl]

I do and have hit many of my new, hot welds with water.

None have failed and no parent material near the weld has failed.

Were building 'farm implements' here.

 

[whistlepig]

I do and have hit many of my new, hot welds with water.

None have failed and no parent material near the weld has failed.

Were building 'farm implements' here.

You have been lucky.

 

[JB4310]

I don't think it's a great idea to quench a red hot weld/steel with cold water. I don't know the facts, but stands to reason that going from opposite ends of the temp spectrum like that would cause great stress to the material, especially if it's for a critical application.

If I need to speed up the handling time, I'll blow compressed air over it, or if outside use a hand held leaf blower, that moves alot of air around the work area.

JB.