First try success with a tricky boiler weld

Was working on a cramped boiler section. Tried a different torch angle and it sealed clean. Any other tricks for hard-to-reach joints?

4 comments

4 Comments

amy_anderson1mo ago

Honestly the prep work gets ignored sometimes. On those cramped joints, taking an extra minute to really clean the backside of the fit-up can change everything. Even a little bit of oxidation hiding in the joint will mess with your gas coverage and cause that gray haze. A small flap wheel on a flexible shaft can get in there.

mia_ramirez501mo ago

Changing that torch angle to 30 degrees made a huge difference for me on pipe fittings. I'll sometimes bend my tungsten into a little hook for the real tight spots. What filler rod were you using?

faithflores1mo ago

Try a smaller gas lens on your torch. It focuses the argon shield better in tight corners where you're bending the tungsten. I run mine at about 15-20 CFH instead of the usual 25. Makes the puddle crisper when you can't see well.

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ruby_jones1mo ago

No kidding, that gas lens trick from @faithflores is a lifesaver on thin stuff. But when you drop your flow down to 15 CFH on, say, 16 gauge tubing, do you find the shield gets sketchy if you have to make a longer arc reach? I tried it on a corner joint yesterday and got a faint gray haze right at the end of the weld.