Welding Advice

[GreeCguy]

Good morning my fellow Bitogers!

Needing some welding advice here. I'm currently rebuilding the trailer our Church uses for it's Food Pantry ministry. Once a week, we head to Lakeland and load up with supplies to be distributed at our local food pantry and our old trailer has seen much better days.

Currently, I have welded new steel rails for the bed, (they were 2x4's held to the frame with drywall screws - scary), and I have welded a new bed in place of the old wooden one. Now time for the side stakes and side bodies. I've been using scrap metal to do all this, (stuff I've been collecting for years), and I have these really nice posts with pre-drilled holes I want to use for my side body stakes. The problem however is that they are galvanized. I know you're not suppose to weld galvanized metal, but I'm welding outside so there is plenty of ventilation. Aside from the fumes, should I be wary of anything else while welding this galvanized metal? Should I try to grind the galvanized coating off the metal before I weld? I'm using a 6013 stick and an arc welder, should I try a different stick? Any and all advice will be most helpful. Thanks in advanced - GreeCguy.

 

[WiskyBadger]

Grind it first and wear some sort of respirator or mask. Your doing it outside that helps. I have a welding helmetand respirator all in one that works well. Maybe someone has one you borrow or maybe a place has one you could rent.

 

[Donald]

Without my glasses it looked like you wanted advice on your wedding.

 

[tig1]

1) Grind the galv coating off as best you can. Do that outside as well.

2) Since you are stick welding use 6011, as it pentrates better and welds over coatings like galv( that may be left behind after grinding) better than 6013.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Have a big glass of milk when you're done.

 

[Boczech]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Without my glasses it looked like you wanted advice on your wedding.


x1 I thought the same )

6011 or 6013 are good welding rods to use and don't forget your safety equipment ex: long sleeve shirt,pants,boots,safety glasses,gloves,cap,respirator


Have Fun
Bo

 

[morepwr]

As was said before, grind the galvanizing off where you will be welding and try to weld so that the breeze is carrying the smoke and fumes away from you.

 

[Zaedock]

I weld galvy all the time. Hold your breath.

Sometimes a fan on low (not high) blowing behind you will keep the fumes away too.

 

[GreeCguy]

Okay, so when I start welding tomorrow, I'm going to grind all my metal and then weld it using a 6011 rod while standing in front of a fan outside wearing a mask and holding my breath. But first, I need to head to the store to buy a gallon of milk and when I'm done I need to kiss my wife and talk about our wedding day. Awesome suggestions - thanks guys

 

[doitmyself]

If you are a hack welder, like me, you might find the 6011 a bit more difficult to get a nice bead with compared to the 6013 or 7014(which is really easy to weld with IMO).

You might want to practice a bit on some old scrap.

That's my experience with a 45 year old Craftsman AC stick welder (probably US made, decent unit back then).

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
If you are a hack welder, like me, you might find the 6011 a bit more difficult to get a nice bead with compared to the 6013 or 7014(which is really easy to weld with IMO).

You might want to practice a bit on some old scrap.

That's my experience with a 45 year old Craftsman AC stick welder (probably US made, decent unit back then).


Mine is an ancient "SureWeld." It's a nasty looking beast but it does the job nicely.

You're right, I should have done some practicing before I started working on this trailer as it's been about three years since I've done any welding. Of course, when I was welding the rails on the frame, I started from the outside and worked in, (working toward the axle), so now all my pretty welds are under the deck where no one can see them and all my "bird poop" welds are visible to the viewing public.

 

[Zaedock]

I prefer 7018 when I weld with two car batteries in series.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
"bird poop" welds.


My first instructor called them drunken mud daubers.