Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter

Stainless steel pipe welding is gravy work. Always has been. Always will be.

If you may do it and do it well, you are the man and you will never go hungry. But it takes a good deal of attention to detail to do it right.

The main thing that separates the men from the boys or ought to I say, the real welders from the rod burners is the willingness to follow procedures for welding stainless steel. Procedures like waiting for the pipe to cool in amid passes, keeping the hot tip of the rod shielded with argon, snipping the tip of the tig welding rod when it gets crapped up, keeping your tungsten sharp.

One of the main procedures I am talking when it comes to is PURGE. Stainless steel utterly has to be purged with argon gas in order to prevent sugaring. Sugaring is also called granulation but it is severe oxidation no matter what you call it.

You cannot even get away with tack welding without an argon purge that shield the back side or inside of the pipe. So how do you do it? How do you protect the back side with argon?

Usually it is done with aluminum duct tape. The ends of a stainless steel pipe are taped shut and the whole inside is purged with argon gas. Even the opening in the pipe joint itself is taped so that argon may fill the entire pipe and push out any oxygen. The tape is peeled back just sufficient to get a tack once the pipe is purge enough.

What is enough? The only way to tell for sure is with an oxygen analyzer. A bic lighter will not do the trick. Even 2% oxygen content will blow out a bic lighter. And 2% oxygen will result in a black root pass.

There are a heap of other down and dirty ways to check the purge but an oxygen analyzer is the sure way.

Here are a few tips that will help you get a good purge on the stainless steel pipe you weld.

• Make sure there is no water inside the pipe…not even a drop. One single drop of water will throw a monkey wrench in your purging until it evaporates. Remember what is in water? Hydrogen and oxygen.
•   Poke a vent hole in the uppermost place you may find. Think of argon as if it was water. Because it is heavier than air, it will fill up any space like water, displacing the air as it fills each nook and cranny.
• More purge gas flow is not always better. A high and turbulent flow of argon will not inevitably purge a pipe more immediate than a lower flow rate. And a diffuser on the end of the end of your argon hose normally allows you to use a higher flow rate. A homemade diffuser may be made with a good deal of stainless steel wool , a good deal of perforated stainless sheet, and a bit of sheet metal.

Once you verify a good purge, you are ready to tack. Peel the tape back just sufficient to tack and let cool a bit and re tape. Then tack again 180 degrees apart. Continue until all tacks are in place.

More  tips for welding stainless pipe…

•  Laying an 1/8 inch wire in the root works better than dipping a 3/32 inch rod.
• Use a feather edge bevel. No land needed
• You may fix areas that do not penetrate by re welding
• Use only stainless steel wire brushes and only use files that have only been used on stainless steel.
•  Use just sufficient amperage. Using too much amperage will overheat the stainless steel and make things go south quick.

Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter

Colibri Zephyr Black Anodized/Polished Silver Wind Resistant (QTR224001) This Cigar or Pipe all metal case lighter features SST ignition system, single action design, fuel level window, top mounted push button trigger with adaptable flame and a refillable butane. Great gift.

Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter Pic

Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter Photo

Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter Photo

Colibri Pipette Black Pipe Lighter Picture