Plant Maintenance welding tips

       

A good weld.

One of the most important things to making a good weld is the position that you hold the gun. Always find a comfortable position that will allow you to use both hands to steady the gun if necessary. If you are making an especially long weld, it is always a good idea to rehearse the weld beforehand so that you can keep up a steady travel speed, arc length and electrode angle. To create a good weld, you must also keep a steady speed along the length of the weld, as going too fast or going too slow in certain spots will be obvious on the weld when complete.

Preparation.

You should always wipe the area that you're going to weld first before starting. This will ensure the best quality of weld. It is common for plant welders to use one wire for MIG welding. The one with the most flexibility is.035 in. along with a 75/25 Argon gas mixture. Your contact tube, gun liner and drive rolls should always match the wire size you are using. You should also clean the gun liner and drive rolls every once in a while, and keep your gun nozzle clean of spatter. The contact should be replaced if it is blocked or not feeding well. Stick welding usually calls for a 3/32 in. diameter for material that is one-eighth of an inch or thinner and a one-eighth diameter rod for anything larger. The common electrodes are 6010, 6011, 6013, 7018 and 7024. If you are working on higher strength steels, you should use a 7018 rod. This will also present a better bead appearance.

Safety.

First you must ensure that you have read the instruction manual for your equipment. This will include important safety information plus instructions to get the most out of your welding equipment. Even if you're only doing a quick weld, you should wear the proper safety equipment: welding gloves, non-flammable pants and shoes, welding jacket, beanie or hat, and proper welding helmet. You should also cover all exposed skin to avoid effects of arc rays. You should also try not to breathe in any of the welding fumes as it can be quite hazardous to your health. Another excellent tool is a helmet that automatically darkens. This way you can position your gun or electrode without having to remove your helmet.