New to me old Tig welding setup ...

[Tomme boy]

We have a huge ADM corn processor here. All pipe is tig welded using arc welders to run them. Just about everything is SS. Everything structural is arc. I have a few friends that have been there as contractors for almost 30 years welding pipe. I did 3 years as an electrician apprentice before I quit. Never been so sick in my whole life as I was while working there. Steam everywhere. Damp moldy. Having to work days and weeks on end in 165*+ buildings. Best move I ever made getting out of there

 

[Bret4207]

Things that give primadonna industrial weldors hives...

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No, I didn't grind the rust off. It's probably radioactive because the pipe came from a sketchy source. Besides, ain't got time for that, that's why we use $12/lb 5P+ 6010 DC rods. There's places I welded with two rods (Texas Tig method) to fill holes. It's stuck together good though.

"A grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't!" Saw that on a guys bumper sticker the other day. Pretty good IMO!

I watch a lot of welding videos on YT. I always get a kick out the pro instructor that just drags his chipping hammer over the slag and everything falls off like it's magic. Real life on the farm is different. I don't own a needle scaler just because it's a joy to use! I got a lot of tips from old millwrights and welders out of the logging and mine industry back where I grew up. I'm not sure what those boys would have done with todays equipment!

 

[wquiles]

Wow, I never realized how deep and varied was the collective welding experience here in this forum. Very impressive. I am just a hobby welder, doing mostly projects for myself, so far with Mig, in my "shop" (garage), and mostly in the seating/comfortable position. Besides the heavy duty car/truck, adjustable jacks that I use, this has been the largest project to date - a salt water tank for a friend - tank was 1 meter cubed (heavy! - he estimated above 1000 pounds of water). This was the one recent project where I had to weld out of flat/normal position, but again fairly easy with Mig:


I hear your stories about welding rusty material, out of position, upside-down, using mirrors, etc., and I realize how little welding I know. I consider myself lucky that my mentor "forced" me to take the welding class at the local Community College - like he said: "welding is like sex. you can only learn so much from watching videos. you really have to 'do it' to really learn". So I tip my hat to all of you experienced welders

 

[popper]

Neighbor was making ornamental steel fencing panels for high end houses. Square tubing wire welded together in his garage. I suggested he just get some devcon or JB and forget the welding/grinding/painting process - he didn't take my suggestion very well. Sure spent a lot on gas and wire though. He did give me a lot of $ for FIL's OLD fishing rods/reels/lures.