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Letter 22936
Finishing Weld Seams On Satinless Steel
#4
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Thank you for reading:
I am working on starting a custom range hood and metal accents
business. I have been in sheet metal fabrication for 11 years.
Recently I have been working with the best tig welders I know who are
trying to weld one of my stainless steel proto type range hoods.
The material is 18 gauge #4. Some of the welds are up to 20.00"
long. My problem is the 'denting' from the tacks, or from areas where
the weld stops and starts. We are using heat sinks and the welds
themselves are mostly white and seemingly cool.
Is there a method to avoid these dents? Is there a finishing
method I should know about?
The commercial hoods I have seen are much 'duller' than when you
peel the plastic from a fresh piece of flat #4 sheet metal. And I see
no dents in commercial hoods (or hoods made by major appliance
manufacturers.
Do you think belt sanding with paper or scotch brite is part of
the finishing process?
I have been working to start my business for nearly 2 years now.
The metal finishing is now my biggest concern. I need help. Thank you
for all replies.
Joseph Norris
metal accents - Eugene, OR, USA
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Dear Joseph:
I am facing the same concern, if you get the answer, would you
please let me know.
Best regards,
Xiankai Lu
- Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Hopefully you will get an answer from an expert welder, but I can
only suggest a surface finishing appliction. The best way to blend in
welds and to achieve appearance of SS is to use non-woven wheels,
wire, or if you are very careful, a good quality belt ( in that order
). I suspect, heat is your biggest problem and you may require an
starting metal piece to dissipate then discard.
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Have you tried a copper manifold backing with argon at 3 Psi
running through it.
Fred Tofts
- Labrador City, Canada
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HI JOSEPH,
I OWN A CUSTOM METAL FAB SHOP. WE MAKE ALOT OF CUSTOM CANOPIES AND
VARIOUS STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCTS. THE DENTING THAT OCCURS FROM
TACKING CAN ONLY BE AVOIDED WITHOUT TACKING THE PARTS TOGEHTER. THE
HOODS THAT YOU SEE WITHOUT THOSE MARKS ARE MASS PRODUCED USING VERY
EXPENSIVE JIGS THAT DON'T REQUIRE ANY TACKS ON THE LONG SEAMS. WE
FINISH OUR HOOD WELDS USING DIFFERNT GRITS OF SANDING DISKS,BELTS AND
COMPOUNDS USUALLY THE TACKS WON'T BE VISIBLE. BUT ITS A LONG PROCESS!
DARREN GOMIEN
CUSTOM METAL FAB - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA
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