Filter material for welder innards?

[JOEPRO]

Recently noted some fine metal dust inside a new to me TIG welder which is being cleaned out at present:



I am thinking of maybe hot gluing in some sort of filter layer to try and reduce this being pulled in without adversely affecting cooling air flow too much.

Maybe grey scotch pad material?

Or what might be good for this, cheap and readily available.

I also know that prevention is better than the cure so don't grind right beside the welder with it turned on etc.

 

[eddie49]

This just proves how important it is to design the airflow correctly. The good machines have a "wind tunnel" where cooling air only passes the fins of the heatsinks, not the boards.

 

[Kram]

The wind tunnel type design is fine for the high power components on a heatsink but the rest still need some airflow.

Stainless wire mesh may help, possibly a bit restrictive if you go for the fine mesh stuff.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TIMESETL-Stainless-Steel-Woven-Wire/dp/B07NS653BP

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Filters-Cleaning-Condition-Replacement-Particles/dp/B0CBBK1D1R

I try not to grind anywhere near the welder

 

[JOEPRO]

I'm thinking more of a non flammable sponge type material might capture the fine particles better

Grey scotchpads are my best idea so far, I have some at home. I'll hit one of them with my blowlamp and see does it burn. Don't want to add something flammable inside the welder for obvious reasons. Best case is it would not burn but melt.

 

[Farside]

Or what might be good for this, cheap and readily available.

J-cloth. make (or buy) a small frame to fit over the louvres.
I tried J-cloth as a simple filter medium years ago and had no reason to bother with anything else. It's dirt cheap, can be cleaned but replaced easily if you don't want to.
I replace / clean my PC filters every couple of months, as the PC room is a dust magnet due to airflow in the building.

edit - just noticed you said fireproof.

 

[chrismac]

I wonder if there is some pre-filter type material out there, which would do what your asking, I mean pre-filter for industrial HVAC type systems which could be cut to suit, over kill maybe if a scotch pad will do,

 

[zzr1200]

Cooker hood filter cut to size...???

https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=cooker+hood+filter

 

[frank horton]

look at domestic air con filters.....
made a couple of frames 40x30mm that used the pre made filter......very cheap...there are two types one looks like hollow fiber and the other is just paper.....they were used for ifiltered incoming air on a spray booth that originally had restricted air flow and was pulling dirt n dust from under the doors....
similar to this but with a card board frame.....

Pardon our interruption...

 

[rtcosic]

Google motorcycle air filter.
I bought some foam types from eBay or Amazon.
It was to replace the mesh type someone had removed.

 

[BrokenBiker]

get some chainsaw/strimmer air filter foam.

is that the one i sent you? if so thats absolutely shocking how much has built up in there over the 4-5 hours use it got.

edit, didnt see it was fine metal dust, just read dust. not sure whether that was me or not, i generally turn welders off if im cutting/grinding near them

 

[JOEPRO]

get some chainsaw/strimmer air filter foam.

is that the one i sent you? if so thats absolutely shocking how much has built up in there over the 4-5 hours use it got.

edit, didnt see it was fine metal dust, just read dust. not sure whether that was me or not, i generally turn welders off if im cutting/grinding near them

I'd also say some of this could have originated from the factory! Probably not a completely clean environment where they assemble them so who knows

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'd also say some of this could have originated from the factory! Probably not a completely clean environment where they assemble them so who knows

makes me want to open my current welder and clean it now

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'd also say some of this could have originated from the factory! Probably not a completely clean environment where they assemble them so who knows

did you notice the sticker on top of the case?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

makes me want to open my current welder and clean it now

I opened mine after owning it for 8 years....it was bad. Ended up washing down the boards they were so filthy...covered in microscopic dust and metallic bits!

 

[JOEPRO]

I opened mine after owning it for 8 years....it was bad. Ended up washing down the boards they were so filthy...covered in microscopic dust and metallic bits!

Washing down the boards - with what?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Washing down the boards - with what?

Sorry...100% alcohol...didn't do any harm on my Kemppi and was the only way of getting the muck off.

 

[bricol]

Anything you like, as long as it doesn't melt anything - and you don't power it up until it's dry again

For your filter - I would be fitting it to the outside - then it's an easy check, and an easy clean - fold a couple of joggle sections, glue/screw/rivet to the back and slide in what ever filter you want to use.

Inside, you are going to forget it until it over heats.

 

[Brad93]

Lorch use stainless mesh and polypropylene? white filter wool.

 

[JOEPRO]

I ran the machine after cleaning briefly tonight to check the air flow direction.

It's actually pulling air in through the back and venting out through this front grill and more grills on the side panels.

So I can fit something external to the fan metal mesh cover. I will try some grey scotch pad I think that should work well to be honest and with it being on the outside of the welder and to the back of it, it doesn't present so much of a fire risk as being inside the machine and inaccessible.

 

[JOEPRO]

did you notice the sticker on top of the case?

Yes some good changlish on there