Welding is a profession that requires much knowledge on the part of the welder and part of that knowledge is knowing how to properly prepare metal for welding. If the metal you will be welding is not prepared properly it can cause defects in your weld and it could be considerably weaker than a weld performed on metal that was properly prepared. Below we are going to offer you some helpful tips on how to ensure that the metal you are working with has been prepared correctly.
The first thing that every welder should do prior to welding is to check the metal that they will be using. If the metal being welded has a coating, it is important that it is thoroughly removed before welding starts. To remove any coating on the surface of the metal you can use a grinder; this will ensure that all of the coating has been removed and your metal is ready to work with. When inspecting the metal, if you should happen to notice any rust, that must also be removed before welding. Rust can typically be found on pieces of metal that have been on a car. To remove rust you can either use the grinder or simply some steel wool.
If you are faced with using metal that is of an odd shape you may want to experiment with different cleaning techniques to find which one will work best. It is recommended that when you have to perform welds on metal featuring an odd shape that you use an angle grinder to ensure that all of the coatings and residue are properly removed. If the piece of metal that you will be using has been welded before, you will need to remove any bad welds using a grinder. Many welders feel that it is better to remove a bad weld and starting over than it is to leave the bad weld. By removing any bad welds you are now free to create a fresh, clean weld that you will know is strong.
Leaving any debris or contaminants on the metal prior to welding can pose many different problems for welders. The welds produced can become weak and may also be prone to porosity which can create a weak weld. To avoid any of these problems it is important that all welders thoroughly inspect all of the metal they will be working with. By doing this they can be sure that the welds created will be strong and free of any defects.
