Stainless TIG filler rod (cheap)

[Luck-E1]

Hi all,
Been doing some TIG welding on stainless at my job site (rum factory) and building a prototype distilling (still) condenser and column. I save the stainless steel strips from worn out windshield wiper blades just for times like these. I try to make the joints fit without any gaps and do the autogeneal method to weld the pieces together, but sometimes those skinny strips work really well as filler rod. Just thought I'd share that tidbit of information. They're easy to remove, have two per wiper blade, and easy to store away. I've also made tension wrenches (for lock picking) out of them and ground them down to make a releasing tool for removing Weatherpack connector pins.
Aloha!
John

 

[dr_clyde]

So how do you control the alloy? In stainless steel pipe welding, especially in the food and beverage industry, its very important to know what your metals are.

Filler wire isn't that expensive...

 

[Rock knocker]

Glad I don't drink

 

[zkling]

Yea same here and I only use coat hangers for mild steel filler and rolled up aluminum foil or left over wire for welding aluminum.

 

[Professur]

Now now ... anyone who stick welds has gone to coat hangers and borax at least once.

 

[tdkkart]

To me, if I've gotten chase down, salvage and store left over wiper blades, it's just easier to go buy a box of rod. A box is a bit spendy, but it's not like you've gotta buy it again tomorrow, and you'll have it right there when you need it.

Probably got a $4000 welder and too cheap to buy proper filler rod.......

 

[Stooge]

Probably got a $4000 welder and too cheap to buy proper filler rod.......

no money leftover to buy a $40 tube after the $4k welder

 

[zkling]

I forgot to mention to save money on tungsten, i just use finishing nails. Presharpened too.

And to save on shielding gas I just run a hose to my mouth. Bead length is limited by exhale capability.

I'm having to much fun with this thread.

 

[BigMike782]

Come on you guys......20 bucks is 20 bucks
Maybe the rubber he pulls off he can wrap around his tires to get more life out of them.

 

[kazlx]

I'm sure the people that you are charging for a job would love to know you are tigging their distillery equipment with used parts from windshield wipers...

I wouldn't even have time to fool around with that for personal projects. I have better things to do than scrounge wiper blades for a $.25 piece of filler wire, and unknown wire at that.

 

[Zeke]

I've never seen the metal strips in blades even begin to rust. I'll be it's a quality alloy. He said it was a prototype so no one from the NSF is going to be checking.

 

[dr_clyde]

I've never seen the metal strips in blades even begin to rust. I'll be it's a quality alloy. He said it was a prototype so no one from the NSF is going to be checking.

Shouldn't matter. When you sell your services as a professional welder, you use the right consumables. I do sanitary welding at a brewery and distillery. I do prototypes for them. They would be horrified if I was using wiper blades to weld their equipment. Sanitary stainless is a whole nother ball game.

 

[kazlx]

That mechanic was working on your Camry but only had brake pads from a Civic. Oh well.

Most people wouldn't care as a suggestion for a hobby. His post makes it sound like he's charging for this job. Using scrounged materials is BS.

 

[bad_idea]

Damn

 

[PugetDude]

And to save on shielding gas I just run a hose to my mouth. Bead length is limited by exhale capability.

I use methane instead of acetylene in my cutting torch.

 

[JZHeyde]

PugetDude, where do you hook up the tube??? Ehh....just saying!

 

[welder4956]

Hi all,
Been doing some TIG welding on stainless at my job site (rum factory) and building a prototype distilling (still) condenser and column. I save the stainless steel strips from worn out windshield wiper blades just for times like these. I try to make the joints fit without any gaps and do the autogeneal method to weld the pieces together, but sometimes those skinny strips work really well as filler rod. Just thought I'd share that tidbit of information. They're easy to remove, have two per wiper blade, and easy to store away. I've also made tension wrenches (for lock picking) out of them and ground them down to make a releasing tool for removing Weatherpack connector pins.
Aloha!
John

Hopefully you are pulling our leg about doing this at work or just trolling. I might try something like that at home on something that was not critical, but never on a job. All stainless is not equal and stainless weld wire has more alloying than the base metal to allow for loss of alloying across the arc, to create ferrite in the weld deposit to avoid hot cracking, and the "L" grades have lower carbon content to improve resistance to stress corrosion cracking. If the wiper blades are perhaps 304 stainless and the equipment being welded is 316 stainless, there will be no molybdenum in the weld deposit (except a small amount from dilution with the base metal) to resist pitting corrosion. If the equipment is 321 or 347 stainless, the titanium and columbium stabilizing elements will not be present in the welds (again except for dilution). So, this practice could create some major maintenance issues for the plant owner down the road. The welds will probably pass NDE and hydrostatic pressure test now, but could start cracking after a few years of service.

 

[Tig Master]

Looks like a candidate for spam,unless there are pictures of the weld before and after with the filer rod this never happened.Get the message the ball is in your court.

T

 

[kkroger]

Looks like a candidate for spam,unless there are pictures of the weld before and after with the filer rod this never happened.Get the massage the ball is in your court.

T

Massage the Ball???

 

[Tinner]

Perhaps the OP could start another business repairing shoe soles with dog ****. Hey, it sticks.

 

[gmwelder86]

If he is doing a fusion weld as is coming in sanitary stainless theirs should be no need for filler rod. You cut, face, fit and tack perfectly square ends. No need for rod. Weld inspector must not be inspecting ID.

Op would probably walk head high for putting a weld down like this

 

[PugetDude]

Perhaps the OP could start another business repairing shoe soles with dog ****. Hey, it sticks.