See my welds...

[aametalmaster]

Some guys ask on some forums to see your welds. Well i have them but they are gone pretty quick as they get ground off. Here are some pics of radiator tanks i make for CAT engines some with HP to 7,000 and some tanks are 26' long. The pics migh not come in order so there will be a fit pic of the plate and tank. Then a weld. Then its sanded smooth. Then some misc building pics. The tanks are pressure tested and have a baffle plate in the center for two compartments for the liquids. Welded with a Miller 252 w .045 gas flux core and CO2 gas...Bob

 

[Tony Wells]

Hey Bob,
since we were off into pressure testing on another thread, may I know how you approach the process?

Good looking work, btw.

 

[aametalmaster]

Hey Bob,
since we were off into pressure testing on another thread, may I know how you approach the process?

Good looking work, btw.

These tanks are filled with air to 36 psi then tested with soap and water. Thery have a 7 psi usage. Now we have bigger tanks that i make that are tested to 1,500 psi. They are filled with water and pumped up with a pump to the 1500 psi. And some are x rayed just depends what the print says...Bob

 

[jgedde]

Beautiful welds! Do you see much difference with straight CO2 than with Argon CO2 mix?

John

 

[7HC]

Not bad for a first attempt; don't worry, you'll improve with practice.:rofl:

Seriously though, can you elaborate on why both flux core and shielding gas (CO2)?


M

 

[Rbeckett]

Bob,
Looking good on the welds. Do they X-ray or just leak test prior to paint? I worked in a shop that repaired pressure vessels for the hydraulic industry and they did X-Ray on every weld before it was passed onto paint or finishing. In 3 years I only had 2 fail due to inclusions of tungsten in the bead. Definately my fault, but very easy to fix after the but chewing I got for messing up in the first place. And I thought that only 2 was good, but there were hands that had been there 30 years that never had one fail inspection, so I was the new kid and it really set my mind toward perfection every time after those butt chewings....
Wheelchair (the other) Bob

 

[Hawkeye]

Some special welds, such as structural steel, require both gas and flux-core to make absolutely sure no air gets to the weld. Gas alone is subject to wind blowing your protection away. Adding flux is extra insurance.

 

[7HC]

Some special welds, such as structural steel, require both gas and flux-core to make absolutely sure no air gets to the weld. Gas alone is subject to wind blowing your protection away. Adding flux is extra insurance.

Got it, that makes sense. Thanks Mike.


M

 

[aametalmaster]

Beautiful welds! Do you see much difference with straight CO2 than with Argon CO2 mix?

John

Yes big difference. The Argon/CO2 or 75/25 didn't flow well around the smaller fittings so i switched to straight CO2 and the problem went away. I really think i had a bad bottle of 75/25 where it was mostly Argon and they didn't put any CO2 in with it...Bob

 

[aametalmaster]

Bob,
Looking good on the welds. Do they X-ray or just leak test prior to paint? I worked in a shop that repaired pressure vessels for the hydraulic industry and they did X-Ray on every weld before it was passed onto paint or finishing.

Mine are just air tested or hydroed, where the ones next door are hydroed and x rayed. Here is a 26' long one i did 4 of a while back...Bob