Cleaning up welds in tight spaces

[mjs19780]

Hi - Has anyone any tips on how to clean up welds in tight spaces ? I've made some repairs, but its just impossible to get a grinding disc in there to clean up - like the inner corner of a box section for example.

Any advice appreciated! Cheers, MIke

 

[hunter27]

I use a die grinder and burr to get into tight spots but if you do wear a mask.

 

[qwakers]

That and a finger sander

 

[bert]

Roloc disc, Die grinder and finger belt sander are my tools of choice

 

[Mick Annick]

Yes, finger sander first, if not break out the evil die grinder, all the PPE I can muster and pray

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Black and Decker finger file....they're excellent with blue abrasive.

Buy the big abrasive belts and just tear off small belts for the finger file....cheapest way (learned that on here...not my idea!)

 

[James1979]

As above 90 degree die grinder and a burr

 

[RonA]

I use a die grinder and burr to get into tight spots but if you do wear a mask.

& good eye protection + gloves because the burr produces very fine & sharp particles, which pierce your skin with consummate ease. Ask me how I know RonA

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Die grinder is the last tool I reach for when all else fails...because of the shrapnel it generates which gets everywhere!

Has its uses....but ain't a nice tool to use on a regular basis.

 

[bricol]

Don't forget the good old hand file - get into all sorts of places you can't a power tool in to.

 

[clift_d]

If it's only a small area then you could probably get away with using Dremel with a sanding drum.

 

[brightspark]

I use a die grinder and burr to get into tight spots but if you do wear a mask.

and goggles and gloves the shards come of real fast and are a pig to get out of your fingers

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

and goggles and gloves the shards come of real fast and are a pig to get out of tour fingers

If you use a die grinder on a stuck m16 nut (because the car has to be back on the road and there is zero choice...near petrol tank!!) without proper gloves and short sleeves then it takes exactly 2 weeks to pull all the metal shards out...and you find them in some surprising places too I can tell you!

At lest the dewalt cordless one is controllable....the 230v Makita would easily break my fingers off if the die caught on anything.

Black and Decker KA900E is my tool of choice...I even prefer it to the angle grinder because its a nicer tool to use (easy to control)

 

[AndersK]

Switch to TIG and forget about it

 

[nickk]

A small sharp chisel ,especially one with a convex (towards weld) edge,is very effective on lumpy welds and spatter.

 

[8ob]

Hi - Has anyone any tips on how to clean up welds in tight spaces ? I've made some repairs, but its just impossible to get a grinding disc in there to clean up - like the inner corner of a box section for example.

Any advice appreciated! Cheers, MIke

Make sure the weld is a thing of beauty and it wont need a grinder/sander

Bob

 

[mjs19780]

Thanks guys - yes - I do try to make them as good as possible but sometimes they do need a good cleanup!

will have a look into those options - the die grinder sounds deadly!

 

[mjs19780]

Think I’m going to get one of those black and decker finger sanders