Weld prep routine

[OutbackL130]

How do you prep fresh new metal from the steel mill before welding?

 

[k0ua]

How do you prep fresh new metal from the steel mill before welding?

I usually hit it a bit with a wire wheel. And if that does not look shiny enough for me, I use a flap wheel on the 4 1/2 inch grinder

James K0UA

 

[Furu]

I am far from being an expert.

I wire wheel it for SMAW and O/A.
I wire wheel followed by 4.5 inch abrasive grinder pad for TIG.

 

[k0ua]

I am far from being an expert.

I wire wheel it for SMAW and O/A.
I wire wheel followed by 4.5 inch abrasive grinder pad for TIG.

Yes definitely the bare shiny surface fior TIG.. but the duller surface is fine for SMAW. I guess he didn't really say what process did he?

 

[Thomas]

I just buff to shiny.. remove dirt rust etc.

 

[Shield Arc]

Well all you get in construction is a quick wipe off with your glove! If the mud is still to thick to get an arc going, wipe it again.

 

[Pit Man]

Yep , grind off the mill scale with a flapper disc or wire wheel. Then wipe down with a quick drying solvent like acetone , paint thinner . This is for ASME code welding.

 

[Baby Grand]

With 6010 rod I rap it with a hammer to knock the loose rust off and then commence to weld it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Well to the pro welders, I mean those who do / did it for a living (shield arc) are you being serious that for stick at construction sites you really don't clean the metal beyond just being clean (knocking the scale off, rust off). I know for Mig and Tig clean is necessary (I assume for current flow) but stick seems to be the "just as long as you can touch metal you will be fine".

 

[Shield Arc]

Only for code welds! But not all the time! When we built the West Seattle bridge in the early 1980s I was splicing 24-inch pipe pile right on East Marginal way, 100% X-ray. It was pouring down rain, water was running down the inside of the pipe and out the joint. The welding inspector was watching me weld. I'd make a pass, and have to grind out two because of all the pins holes. I was standing knee deep in water inside a cofferdam. I asked the foreman to send someone up and put a cover over the pipe to stop the water. He replied "I thought you said you could weld"! I went back down in the cofferdam to continue welding, the inspector said to me I think I'm going to shut you down. I said good idea, but they can get some one else to make these welds, I'm out of here!