Does Anybody Enjoy Welding?

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I know what you mean!

Yes, I've done that too. I've TIG welded Stainless sheet metal, MIG welded galvanized sheet metal and then later joists frames and other things. I had to get out of it due to likely lung damage. The air filters don't work worth a damn.

If you get a little Lincoln MIG welder with its stand and a gas bottle, you can have as much fun as you want. You CAN weld aluminum, stainless, and iron with a MIG. I'm not sure about brass or copper. You would need to turn the power way down and find some silicon bronze wire.

You can use Silicon bronze rod to TIG weld brass or copper to iron or stainless. The lower temperature required makes this easier to TIG weld with less heat distortion. (major issue with stainless)

Did you grind away the zinc coating, or just weld over it? My old workplace used to make the welders weld galvanised steel without removing the zinc. Idiots.

It is easier to grind your starting point if you're doing galvanized. The zinc slows you down a little because you have to let the heat burn it off. A little secret is to weld galvanized sheet metal vertical down whenever you can. The zinc burns to the front, gas bubbles travel up and out, puddle travels down and in. Stop just before the end of your weld and then flick the puddle to the end so you don't get that stupid blob at the bottom or that weird crack that takes to long to fix.

Don't believe the "folk tale" about zinc gas. It will NOT kill you, not even cancer causing in fact. Some people do find it irritating like pollen is to people with allergies.

Welding over rust likewise will NOT hurt you.

Being forced to weld over structural paint however, will force you to change careers. See, the little weenies in white shirts don't want to use the bead blaster to take the paint off just because HALF the joist needs rework. Hmmmm...

Really? I was told in college that it was dangerous and could cause serious respiratory problems.

....Anyway it still makes me feel sick.



Why would anyone think that it would? It just results in a crappy weld (when using MIG anyway).
Yet another thing we used to have to do at work....

I have been a fitter/fabricator/welder/elec/tech in the oil refining-exploration>compressed gass's field for over 23yrs. Ever wonder how gas is liquified (ie CO2/argon)?

My speciality is > Master Pipe Fitter of B.31.3 asme code 304 and 316 stainless. Fitting pipes(up to 5') and components I enjoy the challenge of making it fit.and making it right..go figure. I couldnt stand the nas's sub-standard fit, and the other welders would fight to weld my pipes.Part of the job is bending long complicated runs of tubing....stainless also.

I also work on Pro Mod Dragsters doing NOS direct port injection, 4130 chassis and roll cages..

Even build 1/10 scale RC trucks/buggies at home. Which i braze for its ease to get inside their small size

So..Yes...MIG,TIG,Stick(yuk)and braze I own all but never use stick,

What's so bad about stick? I love stick welding.

heat build up...
control..
materials...
flux and contamination..
undercutting..
back grinding
Any grinding !
start/stop
breathing smoke
splatter
moisture control,rod oven
Shall I continue?
.
You can like it all you want
Simply NOT going to be "allowed" in most of what I do....
You trust your life to a stick welded chassis with 2700hp at 260mph?
Or how about the petrochem plant with gas process' running at 25,000psi? I've seen 100,000!
Look at the pressure of welding/medical gass's I liquify air(argon,nitrogen,helium,etc)
I wont even stick weld a bicycle

Stick has its points.....
cant TIG with a car battery.
does mild steel
ummmm....

Meh, I think most of these issues could be overcome with good technique. (Not saying you don't know what you're on about or anything, obviously you do.)

I must agree though that stick welding is becoming obsolete due to more specified methods. But for me it is just a great 'all round' process. There's just too much that can (and usually will) go wrong with MIG and TIG. Each to their own though, eh?