welding galvanize problems

[bebop4212000]

i just recently started welding hot dipped galvanized. we are using 1/8 7018 rods in the field and i am having a devil of a time getting my verticals and overheads to tie in and be smooth. any suggestions on amps, rod techniques, or anything that would help. thanks

[Mike Sherman]

E7018 is the wrong electrode to use on galvanized. Try E6010 with a whipping technique to help volatize the galvanizing ahead of the weld.

[Guest]

Is welding it with flux core MIG and option for you? Hot dip galvo is the worst, but fluxcore reduces the popping and spitting. In the shipyard , I used to weld 150 pound cleats with 7018, 1 1/2" welds multiple pass. The root, or first pass was always horrible, but subsequent passes used to be better after some of the galvo was burned off. What Mike said is good counsel.... 6010 will be better, for you.

[morpheus]

this is a good bit off topic but how does one safely weld on something that's galvanized ? I always try to weld on it out in the open ...

- jack

[Guest]

I always try to stay upwind, and a little fan is enough to diffuse the fumes....if you get a metallic taste in your mouth...you've been hit....get lots of rest and sleep it off. There's really nothing you can do once you have been hit...you just have to ride it out. I've been hit with it many times. Not too bright, huh?

At work I have a blower that the guys use that go under ground to work in man holes in the street...it really works good.

[morpheus]

thanks for the info Rocky.

so, you use a fan when MIG welding, perhaps i've just had too big a fan going and it just blows away my shielding gas, because I haven't had good welding success doing that.

- jack

[Guest]

Originally posted by morpheus
thanks for the info Rocky.

so, you use a fan when MIG welding, perhaps i've just had too big a fan going and it just blows away my shielding gas, because I haven't had good welding success doing that.

- jack

Position the fan so that it is in front of you blowing away from you. Just have it close enough so that it draws the fumes away.


Like this: you...welding....fan>>>>>

[BillC]

I was watching a fellow student cutting pieces of galvanized tubing on the bandsaw in welding class tonight. I asked him what special precautions he was going to take welding the galvanized tubing, and his response was that he was going to wear his welding hood...

OK... I asked him if he was aware that the zinc from the fumes would make him sick and he had no idea that there was any reason for concern...

[Guest]

BillC, How's the school coming? What phase are you in now?

[jimic]

welding Galvanized

I agree with mike when we used do weld down galvanized roof deck we always used 6010.

[BillC]

Originally posted by Rocky D
BillC, How's the school coming? What phase are you in now?

Hey Rocky!

Welding school is going OK, but it is hard to make significant progress only two nights a week. If nothing else it is still a great form of relaxation and recreation... Darn hard to worry about work or anything else when you are trying to concentrate on controlling a dime-sized puddle <GRIN>

I am still practicing 3G with 7018. My biggest difficulty has been arc blow. No matter what I have tried, I can not get rid of arc blow with 1/8 7018 rod. Everybody in the class has had the same problem, and no one could win. We finally all dropped back to 3/32 rod and were able to make good welds.

I tried welding towards the ground and away from the ground and perpendicular to the ground. I brought in jumper cables and had grounds on the top, bottom, and sides at the same time. I added five loops to the stinger cable to add inductance... No change.

So, I am making good vertical groove welds with the 3/32 7018, but it takes a lot of rods to fill the groove, and lots of restarts in the groove to be careful about. I would really like to try the 1/8 rod on a different machine away from school and see if the arc blow is a function of the grounding paths at school...

Next week I will go back to 4G. I almost like overhead better than vertical. I don't have to worry so much about burying slag when it is always trying to drip out of the weld puddle. Of course the fact that it is dripping onto my gloves is not so cool <GRIN>...

[Guest]

You shouldn't be having that much trouble with arc blow on 1/8" rod. Something is odd about your welding circuit...not sure what, tho. The coils around a steel pipe work better for creating inductance.

Sounds like you're having fun in spite of the difficulties...arc on, dude!

[Mike Sherman]

Arc blow in a school enviroment when there are many welders all in a small area seems to be a common thing. I have seen this at other schools I have visited. There are many solutions, but the simplest is to switch to AC welding.

[Jerry]

I was told 20 years back by a welder who was retiring that seeing how I was going to be welding galvanized for quite awhile that I should make sure to drink plenty of milk and yes have a fan near to blow smoke away from me.

J P Streets Welding

[BillC]

Originally posted by Mike Sherman
Arc blow in a school enviroment when there are many welders all in a small area seems to be a common thing. I have seen this at other schools I have visited. There are many solutions, but the simplest is to switch to AC welding.

I look forward to trying AC stick welding one of these days. The machines we use at school are Hobart DC only. Two BIG power supplies feeding maybe a dozen control units each of which is again split into separate controls and leads for two weldors. I know that at least each control unit has a common ground, as we have been warned not to use DCEP and DCEN on the same unit at the same time.