Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 12 of 12
Thread: Weld spatter removal
-
21st Aug 2018, 04:26 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 201
Weld spatter removal
What are you guys using to remove MIG weld spatter?
Years ago I a heavy duty scraper with a handle which was the perfect tool particularly on larger flat surfaces like sheet metal, but it's long gone and I can't find them for sale anywhere.
Also, do the anti spatter sprays work? I had a bad experience with one leaving an oily film on finished components in the past, and have not been game to try them since.
Graham.
-
21st Aug 2018, 04:58 PM #2Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Lebrina
- Posts
- 1,910
Without being silly, the best spatter removal tool is avoiding it in the first place, so clean material, correct technique and well tuned welder to start with. For the spatter that cannot be avoided I find that a brick bolster can be a very effective tool as it can be sharpened sufficiently and has a bit of weight behind it that helps pop the little beggars off, likewise a sharp cold chisel can be effective. I find Argon based gasses to be worse offenders than CO2 for spatter in many cases. Yes, CO2 may produce more spatter, but the spatter seems much less inclined to stick to the parent material. Obviously as amperages go up, Argon based gasses can enter spray transfer, while CO2 cannot, (I would generally prefer gas shielded flux core at this point to be honest). CO2 reigns supreme for work on Galvanised or Duragal material and produces much less spatter and a better weld on these materials.
Spatter removal tool choices can also hinge upon what the end use of the component is and a coarse sanding disc may be a really good choice for a job to be powder coated or painted and a poor choice for galvanised products where it would remove far too much galvanising thus requiring large amounts of touch up work.
-
21st Aug 2018, 07:00 PM #3Banned
- Join Date
- Jan 2018
- Location
- Aldinga Beach.
- Age
- 73
- Posts
- 148
I have an old half round file with a handle welded to it to make a T. The handle is set at around 30 degrees and both front and rear edges of the file are ground sharp. I just to drag it across the surface of my table to remove splatter.
-
21st Aug 2018, 11:25 PM #4Golden Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
- Location
- Ballina, NSW
- Posts
- 900
I use a broad sharpened cold chisel which I just slide around by hand. I do have a can of spray oil, but rarely use it.
I have a couple of small fibreglass fire blankets (cheap at aldi occasionally), which are great for protecting stuff if critical.
Karl - that's an interesting observation re CO2 and splatter.
Mick
-
21st Aug 2018, 11:54 PM #5Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Murray Bridge S Aust.
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 5,945
Where I do a bit of work, we use a 4" angle grinder with a wire buff fitted to remove the worst of the berries, then followed by a paint scraper. As an anti spatter guard, we use elcheapo detergent mixed with water in spray bottles. Afterwards the trailers are pressure cleaned with water, to remove the residue. The trailers are constructed with Duragal and galv sheets.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
-
22nd Aug 2018, 12:33 AM #6Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2000
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 34
Back in the 70s as a kid growing up around my father's engineering business I remember there would always be a can of the old pure and simple baking spray near the MIG that was used as anti spatter
-
22nd Aug 2018, 08:30 AM #7Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Location
- Ballarat
- Age
- 65
- Posts
- 3,103
I bought the cheapest nastiest wood chisel I could find and now that the sharp end is rounded a bit it works a treat. It's about 25mm wide.
Phil
-
22nd Aug 2018, 10:42 AM #8Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 201
Thanks guys, some useful ideas there.
Karl, at the moment I'm MIG welding mild steel using Argoshield Universal (16% CO2), but it's been more than a decade since I had a MIG welder so my technique and machine set up is less than optimum. As I get back into practice I am getting less spatter but I still get some.
I like the idea of the brick bolster or large cold chisel. I've been using a small cold chisel and hammer but that is fiddly. I don't think the file idea would generate enough force in tight spaces, but I can see how that's a great idea for cleaning up the workbench surface. A trip to Bunnings is needed.
Thanks again for the ideas.
Graham.
-
22nd Aug 2018, 11:45 AM #9Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Canberra
- Posts
- 1,322
I've got a chunk of 75mm x 10mm flat bar that knocks off most bits without scratching or gouging.
-
22nd Aug 2018, 01:07 PM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2013
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 201
Is the flat bar hard enough to withstand this use? Is it just mild steel?
-
22nd Aug 2018, 01:48 PM #11Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Canberra
- Posts
- 1,322
-
22nd Aug 2018, 06:59 PM #12Senior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Frankston south
- Posts
- 102
For dingleberry removal I use the end of a sharpened file or a sharp cold chisel
Similar Threads
-
Rusty Nut Removal
By old1955 in forum GENERAL DISCUSSION / OFF TOPICReplies: 1Last Post: 16th Nov 2016, 09:44 PM -
Spatter Paint Finish - Any Clues?
By Anorak Bob in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 13Last Post: 5th May 2015, 10:57 PM -
more rust removal
By morrisman in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 61Last Post: 2nd Jan 2015, 01:14 PM -
Key Removal
By tongleh in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 17Last Post: 15th Nov 2012, 01:48 PM -
Anti-spatter spray
By Gavin Newman in forum WELDINGReplies: 8Last Post: 29th Apr 2012, 10:27 PM