ive got some scaffolding poles and girders that i want welding,
trying to make a swing gate(scaffold) and weld pins onto the girder.
has anybody welded this type before?
any tips?
Yes welded that before a few times with TIG. It's not too bad wall thickness wise but grind as much galvanised coating of as you can and either work outside for ventilation or use an air fed mask.
If you get a lungful of galv fumes you'll know about it later, feel sick as the proverbial you will. DAMHIK
One thing to think about the scaffolding if steel will almost certainly be galvanised. You will need to grind every trace of this off, for your health and the strength of the weld. You should also have a suitable mask while grinding.
You will know if you have been exposed to the zinc fumes (poisoning) symptoms are very similar to flu possibly sweating headaches and sickness.
From the welding side of things the zinc boils off and spits this affect the composition of the weld pool and can lead to a brittle weld.
I'm not a very good welder, but once all the precautions have been observed and followed ive managed to weld the end of a small section of scaff tube to a six inch wide RSJ. I used some cheapo 3.2 mm rods with my ancient buzz box, can't remember what it was set at
If your lugs for the pins a the sort of thing you can purchase off the shelf often around 16mm thick. if you are limited with welding power it might be worth grinding a 45 on them especially the top so your 1st weld end up flush with the surface then you can weld over the top ot build up some reinforcement. All depends on material thickness and weld position.
So above the red would be your 1st weld then build up with more runs as in green.
When I prepare something, I use the solid grinding disk, only because it is faster.
When finishing I use flap disk, first 40 grit, if needed, then 80.
But my work isn't fancy at all.
started it and masks are needed, welds ok with mig, as long as clean and close joints,just getting the right setting so it penetrates is next,
and when the rain stops to work on it