MIG or ARC?

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Jul 10, 2009 | 09:37 PM

#16

snipAR-15

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 246

Likes: 0

mig, any day.

Jul 11, 2009 | 12:45 AM

#17

Ford_Six

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 18,488

Likes: 22

From: The Big, Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTE Herman

Let's talk about talent for a minute. I was younger and thought I was a pretty good welder. I do computer work and was at a Exxon in Louisanna. They invited me out to the plant/field to see first hand what the software I was writing was managing.

There was some pipeline work being done by TIG and I asked if I could have a shot at it. They said sure but they would like me to do a piece and then apply their NDE processes (Ultrasound and X-Ray) to see how I had done.

Long story short, I did what I thought was a top-notch job but the inspectors tore it to shreads. I mean I was really humbled with just how bad my work really was. Now the guys that really had the talent were extremely kind in furthering my education; showing me what was wrong with my technique and such, but I had a LOT to learn and far more metal to burn before I was ever going to get close.

Ever seen the hull of a submarine? In some areas, it's 3" thick, and a pretty temperamental steel alloy. Welding a patch in is no walk in the park. Every PASS gets ground and magnafluxed, the backgouge gets magnafluxed, and then it's all UT inspected once the temperature normalizes. This isn't too bad, except that the whole time you're sitting there welding, the steel is being pre-heated to a constant 225º-300º, if it goes outside this range you're done. If it goes below the minimum preheat temp, all the heaters come off, the temperature is allowed to normalize, and then it gets a heat-off MT check. If it passes this, then the heaters go back on, and about 24hrs later you can weld again. If it's over temp, and you're a smooth talker, you get away with a few days off. If it's your first offense, you'll probably lose your quals or at least your SubSafe certs. If you've done it before, you won't have a job anymore. You could even be brought up on malpractice charges that can land you in Federal prison.

I've done a lot of work that passed x-ray and UT testing, it was my job for some time. Now I'm just doing plain structural steel work.

Jul 11, 2009 | 01:15 AM

#18

rebocardo

Post Fiend

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 13,873

Likes: 3

From: Atlanta GA

> you'll probably lose your quals or at least your SubSafe certs

I like hearing our subs and sailors are in good hands :-)

Jul 12, 2009 | 10:37 AM

#19

dtpatt21

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 61

Likes: 0

I love to weld with my mig, I'm not too good with it though. The local community college has some night classes in welding that I would love to have the time to take. Thank goodness for my angle grinder to clean my welds up!