welding titanium

[tig trainee]

Im hoping to weld some Ti and i was wondering if i need AC tig or will a DC tig do?

Thanks

 

[simon718]

dc, do a search, someone on here welded up a titanium exhaust with a little rehmann dc inverter, fingers99 possibly? will have a look for ya

welcome by the way where abouts you from?

 

[simon718]

here's the link

 

[madkayaker]

what you thinking of welding? You get nasty fumes of it when welded

 

[Wozzaaah]

Sure you're not thinking of galv MK? I don't think titanium welding is particularly hazardous though I may be wrong.

 

[madkayaker]

I was talking to Omnitia and he recons it is (used to be industrial chemist)

 

[weldequip]

Not so far as I'm aware, just critical to how it's welded...TechnicalAl is the man to answer
weldequip

 

[Omniata]

Not so good if the shielding gas isn't flowing adequately through the nozzle, titanium oxide isn't too good for your lungs, forms a fine white powder which can be very "abrasive"...

 

[Archie]

Constituent of white paint isn't it? Can't be too bad!

 

[Wozzaaah]

According to wiki it's used to colour pretty much most things white.

 

[Omniata]

It is but not dangerous unless in powder form.......


It's a very "light" oxide but "clumps" when wet, kind of clogs your lungs...

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/icsc/dtasht/_icsc03/icsc0338.htm

Is an MSDS for it, if "not so bad" why the "pregnancy risk"...

All powders pose a risk to you but TiO2 forms quite easily and separates from the metal, adequate ventilation and respiratory protection is essential. As it should anyway with the extra Argon being used....

 

[runnach]

Ti is lovely stuff to weld, keep to wps parameters for heat input and post gas (trailing shoes ect) As for fume, treat all fume as a potential killer over time, more so with copper & kunifer fume.

use appropriate safety measures prior to commencing any hot work.............

*cough* n cheers

 

[hotrodder]

Tigtrainee,
DCEN (as for steel, stainless) and plenty o' argon. As Runnach said Ti is lovely to weld (not so nice to fabricate with depending on alloy) as long as it's kept CLEAN. Hard to explain but if you take the differences between carbon and stainless (puddle behaviour etc) then Ti is kind of like another step beyond stainless if that makes sense.

As for fume, TIG produces very little as no filler is transfered across the arc. Unless you're burning the stuff with oxy fuel i wouldn't worry about it- stainless fume is far more toxic. Biggest risk welding Ti would be from all the extra argon if ventilation is inadequate and wallet pain if fubared

 

[TechnicAl]

I should take a look at this
http://www.twi.co.uk/content/jk24.html

 

[Omniata]

Any surface oxide should then be removed by pickling (HF-HNO 3 solution)

I seriously do not recommend anybody handles HF acid solution without having calcium gluconate antidote nearby....

 

[hotrodder]

Yeah, hydrofluoric acid is nasty stuff. Found (around 2 - 7% IIRC) in pickling pastes for stainless too

 

[tig trainee]

Thanks for the help everyone, will get some photo's of how i get on after im done.

 

[3Rs]

In including your lungs. You will have to use the same methods when welding SS, to avoid contaminating the weld pool you will need to use pure Argon, and back purge (if you can) control all drafts or build a habitat. Around what ever your welding.