If you weld, you should read this!!!

[kwhauck]

It's one professional welders experience using brake clean to clean parts before welding because he was out of his normal carb cleaner. It's scary because most people wouldn't even think about it before doing it...

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm (http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm)

With that said,cleaning the area with a grinder, sand paper, flap wheel or wire brush is about as much as you need to do for prep work before welding and this story is one reason why you don't use solvents.



I had never thought about this and could easily have done this myself since a case of brake parts cleaner is usually my parts washer.....

[Ttop191]

Wow...I just started a welding class Tuesday...makes me wanna read all about this stuff now...

[cherrington17]

good read. definitely read labels!

[bdyman]

well iam sorry but i have never used carb or brake clean before welding, never even knew you could just using the stuff cleaning parts its strong and makes ya cough a bit

it was stupidity on his part, he should know that companyies like 3m make a weld through primer, not to mention the metal once grinded clean ya dont really need anything else to clean the metal, thats what the shielding gas is for

sorry but its his own fault for using that product to weld

[Nate's Alero]

Holy crap.... i'm glad i read this, i've been a welder at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for about 9 months... and i haven't used a solvent yet, i usually just use a metal grinder wheel, and a wire brush... and it's good... thanks for posting this

[A57]

Umm someone that really need to go to welding school....or not to ever pick up welder at all...

kinda fell sorry for that guy.

[JLw7123]

ya read the labels before you use the product.

[rida125]

yeah, why would you need to use a solvent to clean anything before you weld anything, like everybody is saying all really need is to get any of the big crap off the metal that would cause trouble with the bead, and then your good.

[AleroDrime]

wow, im glad we sandblast in the Baja shop

[zoL]

Can I get a tl;dr?

[MMGT1]

Wow, I am a Welder Operator by trade and never, ever have I seen anyone use solvents to prep metal for welding. Through training in my 25 tickets including AWS, CWB, T.S.S.A. and NASA cert in Tig Aluminum the only one I ever had to use was alcohol. Under NASA certification I had to use Alcohol to wipe the aluminum TIG rods before using. If the rod touched any surface after the alcohol wipe it was to be discarded. Nowhere have I ever herd that it was a good idea to use a solvents on anything! If there was anything in the metal that needed removing, you grind, sand, wipe with clean rags, or torch. And always in a properly ventilated area. Hell, my welding helmet is feed by a fresh air respirator that keeps the helmet pressurized so nothing gets to my lungs without passing through a 4 stage filter that is strapped to my back! A 600 dollar investment that more people need to pop the coin on imo!!

[[ion] C2]

It's a great idea to clean the metals first if you want a nice bead. My fabricator has always used non-chlorinated brake cleaner for all his surfaces before TIG welding. Also, this thread is 2+ years old. :awesome:

http://ion-productions.com/turboManifold/23.JPG

[MMGT1]

I did see that cuz Ive been reading the old threads here...lol Little time killer I guess man. I would advise to stay away from the solvents alltogether dude, it's just not good practice.

[happyisthealero]

A 600 dollar investment that more people need to pop the coin on imo!!



600? Wow! from where? miller sells one 1300-1500 range. I definately need one I cant stand the smell of welding fumes. Let me know thanks

[MMGT1]

I use the Esab 9/13 with the 160 fresh air supplier. Bought mine about 11 years ago though... no idea what its worth now, but it's an amazing helmet. Helmet was 575 and supply was 600 at that time. Been able to use it with stick, aluminum tig, flux core, mig and stainless tig. The range of the esab and clarity of lens is second to none imo

[AleroB888]

I want to buy the Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. So I need somebody to talk me out of it..... :)

and yes, I saw the "welding for dummies" book there with it, lol
and only 3/16 inch thick capable, it says.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/product.php?model=M00337

[AGT]

Zol with his tl;dr is killing me.

1 sentence...what is is this about

2 sentences...get to the fucking point

3 sentences... tl;dr

[AleroB888]

I want to buy the Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. So I need somebody to talk me out of it..... :)

and yes, I saw the "welding for dummies" book there with it, lol
and only 3/16 inch thick capable, it says.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/product.php?model=M00337

Nothing on this one?? Can operate on 110 V....

[MMGT1]

If it's only light gauge you want to work with that one looks just fine. If you have the room though B, I'd buy a full size stick or "Arc Welder" used and then buy the TIG kit for it. You reverse the polarity on the Arc welder when you attach the TIG kit and you can weld anything your heart desires man.

[happyisthealero]

I use the Esab 9/13 with the 160 fresh air supplier. Bought mine about 11 years ago though... no idea what its worth now, but it's an amazing helmet. Helmet was 575 and supply was 600 at that time. Been able to use it with stick, aluminum tig, flux core, mig and stainless tig. The range of the esab and clarity of lens is second to none imo

you gotta link? Im having trouble finding one

[MMGT1]

http://www.esabna.com/
;)

[mfuller]

Sorta OT, but Brew makes some very nice bike frames.

[AleroB888]

If it's only light gauge you want to work with that one looks just fine. If you have the room though B, I'd buy a full size stick or "Arc Welder" used and then buy the TIG kit for it. You reverse the polarity on the Arc welder when you attach the TIG kit and you can weld anything your heart desires man.

No, I have a negative amount of room. I did a little MIG welding years ago, but still a noob at it. I have a helmet and gloves, that's about it. What else do I need as far as materials, etc., in addition to that Diversion 180 to get started? I only have regular 110 house voltage available.

[MMGT1]

Welding jacket, steel table. Weld a steel tube to one of the back corners. Tank, how's the laws there on buying gas? If you set up in the garage, cut the concrete and drive the largest spike you can find in the ground... careful of gas lines and cables to the house...lol Ground your table to the spike. That way you wont have to always attach ground to your work, just ground the table and gives you a nice big work area without an annoying cable in your way. You'll want to find yourself a couple pieces of brass as well. You'll want that to bead a tungston tip for aluminum. There is a real art to getting the perfect tip on it, but it will come with practice. I'd love to get my hands on a TIG for the house here, man the things I could do...

[MMGT1]

and rods!... hahahaaha lots and lots of rods

[Oldsman]

I remember when I had welding in school they taught you not to do dumb shit like this.

[MMGT1]

That guy is lucky he didn't tun himself into a dam vegetable! I bet he deep fries frozen turkeys too...