Visibility welding seams

Puritan · Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:51 pm

Alright folks,
My ass (job) is riding on correcting this problem so any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I've never had any problems welding Tee Joints or beveled plate, but my new job requires me to weld A LOT of sheet metal seams. Problem is as soon as I strike the arc I can't see sh*t but the arc and puddle. I end up welding off seam pretty frequently as a result of not being able to see the work in front of the puddle. I've tried turning the shade on my lens up to 11 and down to 8 with neither helping. The only thing that seemed to remotely help was positioning my head at an angle where the arc was hidden behind my gun. (kinda like makin' a submerged arc weld) While I can stay on seam a little better like this, the weld quality is not as good because I have no idea what the puddle looks like. Are my eyes just jacked or what??

Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:01 pm

Yes, It could be your eyes. It's happened to me before.

Go to your local Wal-Mart pharmacy, pick up the box with the finest print you can find, and go to the reading-glasses section. Try different lenses until you can read the fine print without "playing the trombone". If this works, try welding with these glasses on. If this solves your problem, see an eye doctor (most places won't let you put side-shields on readers and call them "safety glasses").

Failing that, you can try marking the edges of your weld with something high-contrast, like a silver-streak or soapstone.

Steve

Puritan · Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:55 am

was getting try getting a hold of of some silver streak pencils. Do they show up very well on stainless?

jpence38 · Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:07 am

Try changing the color of filter plate you are using.. No, the silver will not show up on SS. Use a fine point black sharpie or paint pen.

Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:05 pm

Puritan wrote:was getting try getting a hold of of some silver streak pencils. Do they show up very well on stainless?

The "silver streak" also has bright red refills that show up well on stainless, unless your welding lens has a red hue. The "gold" lenses don't let you see the "red streak" very well either.

Steve

jpence38 · Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:26 pm

Cool. I didn't know they had red. I'm gonna have to check those out.

Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:32 pm

jpence38 wrote:Cool. I didn't know they had red. I'm gonna have to check those out.

I don't even know what they're called, but they fit the silver streak pencil. A fab shop I once worked for kept them in the consumables drawer for when we had to fab SS handrails and balustrades. They worked great.

Steve

samydavisjr · Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:47 am

There is a marking substance made by curv-o-mark not sure what its called but it actualy ignites when in contact with the arc. It is very usefull when it is hard to see the weld path. It gives you a very good indecator as you move along centering you on the weld.

Sam

Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:01 pm

The red "silver streak" refills I referred to are called "Red Riter", seen here:

http://www.pipefitter.com/dolphincart/c ... at=Cat0024

Steve

Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:01 am

Depending on the thickness of the material being welded, use a cutting disc on a small grinder to groove (1mm - 1/16 deep) along the seam. Then just point the wire right in the cut mark and away you go. Also works great for marking the path of the next run in a multi run butt weld.

jpence38 · Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:11 am

Otto Nobedder wrote:The red "silver streak" refills I referred to are called "Red Riter", seen here:

http://www.pipefitter.com/dolphincart/c ... at=Cat0024

Steve

Thanks Steve. I am ordering some in a few minutes. They look like they will work good. If they show up on stainless and aluminum like the silver does on steel that would be most excellent. The sharpies work good, but after a while the tips flatten out and you cant keep a good sharp line with them.

ogorir · Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:33 am

I use weldinmike's technique a lot, especially on thin pipe I'm too lazy to bevel. just butt the joint and take a grinder on a 45 degree angle and run it down the seam for a shallow 45 degree bevel. easy to follow and lets the bead lay a little flatter on the outside surface on thin stuff.

kermdawg · Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:37 am

Hey if your havin trouble with your sharpies, which ones are you buyin? You need to buy the big ol fat ones, ya know the ones the taggers use to make graffitti. They last alot longer and the tips will right on anything.

I found that the normal sharpies didnt last very long doin layout on a dusty concrete floor and like you said didnt make a very good fine point after a while. The big old fat ones work great though, can get a real fine point and they last.

Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:14 pm

jpence38 wrote:
Otto Nobedder wrote:The red "silver streak" refills I referred to are called "Red Riter", seen here:

http://www.pipefitter.com/dolphincart/c ... at=Cat0024

Steve
... If they show up on stainless and aluminum like the silver does on steel that would be most excellent...

Just be aware the color of your lens will affect the visibility.

Steve