TIG-washing MIG welds

[Sodo]

Well I can't believe I'm the first to do this, but maybe the first to post it?
This is probably illegal in 17 states (but common in Canada etc )

Since I'm no good at holding filler rod I welded this with the MIG
then whitewashed it with the TIG, & doesn't it look nice?
It's a stair railing.

 

[jwmorris]

Yep, your not the first to clean up welds with a TIG. FWIW I have even come across "welds" that were actually body filler with the circular "beads" made from Popsicle stick or something like it, where the two tubes were only tack welded in a few spots, on a roll cage no less.

Why I have always thought the person that knows the most about any particular weld was the person who laid it down. With the exception of an X-Ray inspector.

 

[Sodo]

FWIW I have even come across "welds" that were actually body filler with the circular "beads" made from Popsicle stick or something like it, where the two tubes were only tack welded in a few spots, on a roll cage no less.

That sounds like a "hit" for the insurance money, surely worth posting a pic. Almost like "pushing someone down the stairs." :shocked: How did you happen to run across that?

 

[CincyFlyer]

I've "fixed" other folk's aluminum welds this way.

 

[Sodo]

I've "fixed" other folk's aluminum welds this way.

Interesting.... I hadn't thought of doing it on Aluminum. So if I welded some Aluminum with my DC wire-feed, and lets just say a bead (just one, of course), is "unattractive" in a 'visible' location. Kind of like me when I go to into town. Can a DC TIG re-melt aluminum beads and pretty them up? I don't have an AC TIG (but I'd like one!)

 

[Shield Arc]

This aluminum weld was made with my Everlast PowerArc 200, DC / CC only welder. With an air cooled Tig rig.

 

[Sodo]

If I can get my welds to look like that I'll be happy. Did you JUST get done with that?
What's it look like (if you pretended you didn't like the look of it) and went over it again with the DC TIG?

That is,,,,, if you don't mind furthering the education/debauchery in TIG-washing.....

 

[Shield Arc]

That weld was done years ago. I gave the Everlast PowerArc 200 to a friend.
I'm not real big on washing over welds. I've seen guys get run off the job for doing that!

 

[Sodo]

ba da bump.... of course!

But TBN welds are not subject to inspection. And I will never be run off the job (except by my wife). And that'sonly to come in for dinner. OK maybe one TBN member is a working welder, wonder how long until that feller sees this post and replies?

I'm pretty disappointed how few folks are reading TBN anymore, posts from 2 weeks ago are still on page 1. It wasn't long ago within 24 hours a post could drop to page 2. "72 viewing" the Welding forum? Yeah right.... I recall those server problems of awhile back (a year ago?). I think a lot of folks just quit posting on TBN, which is disappointing, there were LOTS of great discussions, great info. But never enough PROJECTS......

 

[CincyFlyer]

Interesting.... I hadn't thought of doing it on Aluminum. So if I welded some Aluminum with my DC wire-feed, and lets just say a bead (just one, of course), is "unattractive" in a 'visible' location. Kind of like me when I go to into town. Can a DC TIG re-melt aluminum beads and pretty them up? I don't have an AC TIG (but I'd like one!)

I only use AC on aluminium, so I wouldn't actually know. I gave my brother my wire feed aluminum-capable MIG. He'll never use it with anything but steel and C25.