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diy sandblasting to remove welding slag... resend post

updated sun 18 feb 07

 

Michael Wendt on sun 18 feb 07


Paul,
I have a Miller 251 wire feed welder
but find that stick welding reaches into
tight places the wire feed gun won't
go so this advice applies mainly to
stick welding methods:
From the other comments about welding
slag cleanup, I realized I should add some
details on my methods.
1) If you are welding stainless with a stick
welder, I recommend you try some scrap
pieces first in various positions until you
find the best weld angle for bead finish.
Proper amperage, rate of travel, angle
and motion result in slag that comes off
without much trouble, just tiny fringe
bits that may cling a little.
I use an engine stand with an added axis
component to get the correct weld position
for this part.
2) Spray the areas adjacent to the bead with
WELCO 1620 Nozzle Shield /Anti Spatter
Spray so that the only slag will be over the
weld bead and the spatter just brushes off.
3) If you use Avesta 308L rod at the correct
weld setting, the slag pops off the weld so
cleanly that you scarcely have any slag to
contend with.

As with all welding and sandblasting, a
fast moving air stream cross face really
helps keep you out of the problem zone.

For accessible butt welds nothing beats the
chipping hammer and flap disk angle
grinder . I also have used the cup wire
brush on the 4 1/2 " angle grinder where
there is room to reach.
The reason I use sand blasting on pug
mill blades is no angle grinder can get
down between the blades and a wire
brush is also hard. For this reason,
try to minimize weld slag and spatter
by the means I have outlined above.
Regards,

Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com