for those welders out there

[02gt]

Have you ever welded 20 gauge stainless if so do you have any tricks its a pain

Thanks andrew

[Goober]

Have a fresh air supply, that stainless smoke is nasty for ya (people are certing up for stainless about 60' from my work station and it gives me a headache from that distance!) What process are you using?

[Dirtyd0g]

I tig it and use silicon bronze rod.
Alan

[djom1cincy]

I weld it all the time all the way to schedule 5. Love doing doing it. It's like a art to make it look good.
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee336/djom1cincy/utf-8BSU1BRzAwMDMuanBn.jpg
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee336/djom1cincy/utf-8BSU1BRzAwMDkuanBn.jpg
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee336/djom1cincy/utf-8BSU1BRzAwMjMuanBn.jpg
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee336/djom1cincy/utf-8BSU1BRzAwMjQuanBn.jpg

[JIMS SVT]

Everyday I weld 20 gauge stainless. I must be used to it because I never noticed any smoke coming off of it after 14 years.
Whats the problem your having? Make sure you get plenty of small tacks on it before you start welding. It will want to separate fast with the heat.

[Goober]

We have the EPA in here monitoring the air in weld school for chromium and everyone has to wear air fed helmets. Maybe its just the wire blend for these Israeli APC's we're starting on, but we have all sorts of EHS idiots running around.

[djom1cincy]

We have the EPA in here monitoring the air in weld school for chromium and everyone has to wear air fed helmets. Maybe its just the wire blend for these Israeli APC's we're starting on, but we have all sorts of EHS idiots running around.

All s.s. gives chromium off when welded. I've been involved in several air test before. I try and keep my head back from the weld. Sometimes you just can't stay back from it though.

[02gt]

Everyday I weld 20 gauge stainless. I must be used to it because I never noticed any smoke coming off of it after 14 years.
Whats the problem your having? Make sure you get plenty of small tacks on it before you start welding. It will want to separate fast with the heat.

Its the thinest I've welded do you use a backing plate to pull the heat when possible its just bowing like no other i usely weld 16 gauge its just something new for me lol but its not smoking on me either

[02gt]

http://i42.tinypic.com/zl5ctw.jpg

I was getting good color

[02gt]

http://i42.tinypic.com/bevtc9.jpg

Here is better pic

[Dirtyd0g]

I think whoever said the smoke from stainless is dangerous is thinking of galvanized because I have welded tons of stainless without that problem. Stainless is basically iron and nickel. Galvanized coating is dangerous
Alan

[Pitbull1052]

daum dj those are some fantastic welds I wish I could weld like that....

[Goober]

I did, and I'm just saying that the EPA, OSHA, company EH&S and union safety are all requiring the use of fresh air fed helmets for stainless, titanium and aluminum welding, along with anything that has been painted and needs repaired. I know that the wire and base materials we use are different than what's out there for civi use. But if all of those agencys are on the same page with something, then that tells me there is something bigger than we are led to believe.

[beercan5.0]

I would say most of everything Jimssvt and I weld on a dialy bases are government jobs. Such as Lockheed, Northrop grumman, and even the U.S. Air force. These companies typically come in to make sure everything is up to par because you have to be a certified welder to weld any of there products. And ive never heard anything about having vented welding helmets. With the exception of anything galvinized. Im not saying its not that way wherever you work, however where we work, we cant mess around or we lose government contracts.

[thecollector]

The occupational exposure limits to hexavalent chromium have been reduced by 90% recently. In a production emvironment a fume extractor is recommended, while this is most likely the work of attorneys looking for settlements there is an alarming increase in statistcal risk associated with it.

In light use I wouldn't worry, if your burning stainless for hours on end its a cheap way to avoid a tumor.

As to the OP id ask collin, he can give you an explanation and he's just a few ft away. If you don't have an extractor id alert jennifer she always needs something to do anyway.

[Goober]

I'm in the same line of work. Everything we do is a directly awarded government contract. The stainless they're certing on is a 3" thick K joint and running 1000+ IPM.

But this has gotten waaaaaay off topic.

[djom1cincy]

I think whoever said the smoke from stainless is dangerous is thinking of galvanized because I have welded tons of stainless without that problem. Stainless is basically iron and nickel. Galvanized coating is dangerous
Alan

Wrong. S.S. smoke is dangerous to your health. Chromium is a toxin in the fumes from welding on ss. Galvanized welding is no better but everyone knows that's bad for you. Not many know about ss.

[djom1cincy]

daum dj those are some fantastic welds I wish I could weld like that....

Thanks man. Lots and lots of practice. I'm only 33 years old but been welding for 17 years. Damn! Just realize I've been welding over half my life.

[Dirtyd0g]

Any welding supply you buy says it is bad for your health, it isn't a healthy job no matter how you look at it.
Alan