Invisible Stainless Steel Welds (cosmetic welding?)

[jcorallo]

Hi,

When I look at my brushed stainless steel cooker hood, I can see its been welded in sections (which I assume rightly or wrongly is TIG), but from the outside there is no evidence of weld around the edges where the panels have been joined - it appears to have been ground smooth.

(I also notice this when I go for a pee at my local pub - the urinal is made from welded stainless sections and you cannot see the joins! )

How do I achieve this effect?

Cheers,

Jules

 

[matt1978]

Usually they will fold everything where possible, to keep welded joints to a minimum, but where they have to weld, they usually have a very tight fit up (no gap) and weld the joint Autogeniuosly (without wire) with Tig, usually with Pulse. Then they just linish it and round the edge off and then polish it with a series of polishing pads, of varying grits and/or with a machine to give the brushed effect depending on what finish is required. The only thing they cannot replicate is when the Stainless is left with a grained finish, where you can see the grain of the Stainless on the surface of the steel.

 

[Hitch]

Probably most of it is folded, with minimal welding.
As Matt mentioned, then fused together with tig, no rod. Then its polished up.