Grinding welds

[Blue]

Anyone notice that it has been 2 pages since the OP posted? He asked a simple question and got a lesson on everything but (the first reply pretty much answered his question). That is what I love about the internet....

He's probably too busy off-roading in his roll bar equipped Bronco....

 

[CJKaz]

While it doesn't have the weave pattern that a careful tig welder can produce, from these photos the main issue is that it needs to be cleaned. A thorough wire wheel cleaning of the slag and burned varnish is required before the actual weld can be assessed. At most a light pass with a flap wheel to remove the spatter.

The weld inside the acute angle in the first picture may have lack of fusion on the cap. No undercutting evident. Porosity doesn't appear evident, but cleaning of the slag is required.

This isn't a nuclear reactor. While it could be more aesthetically pleasing, the integrity of the weld is likely sufficient for the application. Without a radiograph or shear wave inspection, No one can be 100% certain.

As with most of these boards, the arm chair experts will chime in with opinion and hyperbole.

CJKaz
MSME, PE, AWS CWI, National Board, API 570 Certified Inspector (happily retired after 40 yrs)

 

[JimVonBaden]

It's a shame they only get paid $7/hr, what language do you think they weld in?

Jim

 

[LX-Markham]

CJKaz
MSME, PE, AWS CWI, National Board, API 570 Certified Inspector (happily retired after 40 yrs)

Finally, a qualified opinion. Totally agree that the weld needs to be cleaned properly before anybody can truly judge it.
And LOL @ all the comments that a weld must be pretty to be good. Seen plenty pretty welds simply fall apart from no penetration.

 

[pepi]

X2 on the cleaning, was the first thought I had when I saw the photo. Tig you have NO choice, if the surfaces are not cleaned, you might as well be trying to weld plastic.

 

[sberry]

I see lots of factory built that I wouldn't want my name associated with that seems to get the job done somehow in low stress situations.

I see a lot of it work in hi stress. We seen a failure on a hitch a while back, a couple but they tried to jump to the conclusion it was a cold mig weld but it was plain as day the engineer spec too light a tube, this was from a trailer company and as far as I know they still done nothing to fix it. Hundreds of these pos on the road.

Wanna see another dandy,,, some are ok but mobile home frames prove just how little bird **** it can take to keep 2 pieces together.

Here you can see some of the best from Z and a couple others not all work in motor sports is that good, there should be a thread,,, I cant believe this passed.

 

[Zeke]

It's a shame they only get paid $7/hr, what language do you think they weld in?

Same language they play the guitar in.

 

[kingston]

I'll clarify my earlier post. Just paint it...

 

[sberry]

I agree, no one would have ever noticed.

 

[slddnmatt]

My buddy kept bitching about rust and what color to paint the cage/ suspension goodies...solution clear powder coat.. Beautiful welds are works of art..And flapper discs work great to remedy bad welds and fitting issues...

 

[lotsoftools]

I see a lot of it work in hi stress. We seen a failure on a hitch a while back, a couple but they tried to jump to the conclusion it was a cold mig weld but it was plain as day the engineer spec too light a tube, this was from a trailer company and as far as I know they still done nothing to fix it. Hundreds of these pos on the road.

Wanna see another dandy,,, some are ok but mobile home frames prove just how little bird **** it can take to keep 2 pieces together.

Here you can see some of the best from Z and a couple others not all work in motor sports is that good, there should be a thread,,, I cant believe this passed.

Older 5th wheel trailers too. I scrapped a late 70's 5th wheel and some of the welds were so bad I don't know how they held the metal together.

 

[vhol5]

It's a shame they only get paid $7/hr, what language do you think they weld in?

 

[vhol5]

As for factory ****, tale a look at a Corvette frame sometime. It looks like someone literally squeezed a pigeon...

Amusement rides: The ones for Magic Mtn are made right here in town & the welding is done by $7/hr Spanish speaking people. I don't go to Magic Mtn...

 

[mtwaterguy]

Older 5th wheel trailers too. I scrapped a late 70's 5th wheel and some of the welds were so bad I don't know how they held the metal together.

After 40 years.... how bad could they have been.

 

[Rickey]

I inspect welds daily in accordance D1.1, ASME, and API. Those may not be the prettiest but that will hold. Don't grind it. Nothing like Krylon. Also for those saying MIG it up, well MIG is not as strong as SMAW. FCAW would be OK. That GTAW pic was pretty but that is not a fair comparison on the beads either. A good SMAW bead will suffice just as well as a GTAW bead although will never be as pretty in my eyes. Run a wire wire over it, take the slag and dust off and apply first coat of Krylon. jmho

 

[PCO6]

Rickey - That was WAY too sensible for a first post. Welcome to GJ.

 

[Rickey]

Thanks PC. I am sure I swill stick my foot in my mouth and need to be picked up sooner or later... Prob sooner.

 

[brownbagg]

its a shame 1.1 don't have a classification for ugly

 

[383 240z]

WOW, I cant beleive this thread is still going. Keith

 

[jrsulo]

Start over and pop rivet that ***** !!!!!!