Professional welder on high end project - need advice

[Revs1972]

https://www.q-railing.com/en-gb/products/glass-railings/cap-rails/cap-rails/cap-rails/

Am I right in thinking the rail is just to finish it off and the glass is that structural element. What i don't understand is that the op says the balustrade is 4m long.
Well the Q rails can be bought in lengths of up to 5m, so why do they even need to have a joint. I'm guessing someone in their wisdom has bought shorter lengths for some reason ?
Personally, I would throw away all the crap and replace with new. If we are talking about hundreds of pieces, then take them to a proper fab shop and get them welded together there.

Hot works near glass is always a bad idea unless the glass can be protected.
One of the companies I used to work for had issues with damaged glass back in the early 2000's (well before I worked there ) and managed to win a court case against the complainant as they had subbies working for subbies etc

 

[Akira]

This is the next balcony pics, just 3 mitres, and a 4mm gap to be filled. I will post once this is done.

 

[dobbslc]

That ain't gonna work!

 

[Akira]

That ain't gonna work!

They want to cut out a bit of both ends and infill/tig a bit in there.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

They want to cut out a bit of both ends and infill/tig a bit in there.

 

[daleyd]

I'm no pro welder but even I could do better than that!

 

[tommullin]

any jobs going? i think i would fit in!

 

[HughF]

They want to cut out a bit of both ends and infill/tig a bit in there.

Disaster waiting to happen... You 'could' sort that out with a 4mm thick copper filler piece that is 2mm smaller in square dimensions driven between the gap then put a run down each side/end of each handrail, then a final run down the middle but it's one hell of a fudge.

 

[Akira]

The yesterday's welds are grinded down now. Just need to be grain finished.
We are getting closer to the expected perfection.

 

[mr migwire]

i think maybe someone is having a bash themselves and looking for a how to tutorial from the forum, why would a project manager come onto an internet forum why not get the yellow pages out and find a proper welder.

sorry guys this just sounds very sus to me....

 

[HughF]

Oh god.....

 

[FoxZulu]

This is just going from bad to worse! Maybe try using some JB Weld

 

[HughF]

Don't worry folks, It has been immortalised in the welding fails thread on weldingweb

 

[HughF]

The yesterday's welds are grinded down now. Just need to be grain finished.
We are getting closer to the expected perfection.

They're cracked in the HAZ, that whole lot needs skipping and starting again... Perfection this is not...

 

[Revs1972]

A nice cedar capping is the only things thats going to save that

 

[Akira]

i think maybe someone is having a bash themselves and looking for a how to tutorial from the forum

sorry guys this just sounds very sus to me....

Mate, im not a PM yet, but thanks for feedback! Doing my MCIOB courses, next year will be ok.

I have a big respect for welders and try welding by myself. I got a new Miller MPI 180 but have no space to weld. I have done some 316 stick for my boat like mooring buoy and the next thing is to do an outboard bracket for a 20hp.

As you read the starting post, I asked about the mistakes on this tig welding, as I will start at some point and will probably do much worse.

Regarding the right subbies to get on the job, in the big companies there is a very long procedure to get on the subcontractor's list, with all the approvals, references and so on. Then there are contractual arrangements that you just cannot swap a subbie at will but need some serious ongoing issues.

I have been told that this is the second subcontractor, the first was worse than this new one.

 

[Akira]

The welds have been just grinded down with a grinder. Is it better?

 

[Richard.]

Right.
You can't expect anything good to come out of this if your giving people or yourself (it doesn't matter) a 4mm gap to bridge. Sanding it down and saying it looks ok is just sweeping the dirt under the carpet. It will fail. There will be an immense amount of coking on the inside and that is all there is between both pieces. It's a disaster mate. You can't just chuck slivers in to bridge gaps either. Whether it's your own work or you are managing the project the very first thing you need to do is sort out the prep. Get parts fitting properly and tight. The standard of welding will go up trust me.
Gents it doesn't matter whether the Op is doing them himself or not. The problem is still the same. No need to bash him up.

 

[Revs1972]

Regarding the right subbies to get on the job, in the big companies there is a very long procedure to get on the subcontractor's list, with all the approvals, references and so on. Then there are contractual arrangements that you just cannot swap a subbie at will but need some serious ongoing issues.


In my experience, this is very true. But usually those subcontractors on the approved list are skilled in what they do. For example, if you send a guy to site to do some structural welding then he needs to have certification to carry out the welds that are planned. Also need to have RAMS in place ( risk assessment / method statement) for the work to be carried out. Not sure if you need certification when the welds are non structural, but common sense would suggest you need to be reasonably competent in what you are doing. A working building site is not the place to " have a go at welding".
In the past I have had agency subbies on site who say they can gas cut, but in reality didnt have a clue. I had to stop them making a further mess and wait until a mate could get to site to do it properly.
At the end of the day, you are only as good as your last job. I would be embarrassed to put my name to that mess. Find a way of getting a proper welder in, or as I have said before, measure properly and get all the joints done off site and refit. No point throwing more money at a crap result.