Anything welding

Got around to making this tailgate bar removable in case I have to load something big in the bed.

 

So why is cutting stainless with a plasma torch so bad but i haven't heard the same about welding stainless? Can someone explain a little further please

 

It releases hexavalent chromium which is a very nasty carcinogenx really nasty stuff to be breathing in.

 

I'm sure welding stainless gives off the same fumes. You'll get sick pretty fast from it.

 

And welding stainless doesn't release the gas?
How do people generally cut stainless along curves and tight lines and shit like that? I like working with it surprisingly but not if it's gonna kill me lol

 

Welding does release those fumes. They cut it with a plasma cutter, but I guarantee you, they use proper safety precautions like a good respirator, ventilation, etc....

 

Damn i always wondered why so many people spend the money to build shit then coat it in steelit or powder coat instead of doing stainless everything right from the start. I was planning on doing that with bumpers because lotsa places 1.5 schedule 40 stainless pipe can be had cheaper than 1.75 DOM in 6ft shipping lengths. I guess i might not be doing that anymore i'll have to look into it more thanks

 

Pretty sure hex chrom was what "Erin Brockovich" movie was about

 

Dang, I just googled that and damn that's a scary article. Lol

 

You are supposed to weld it with a respirator or a ventilation trunk. At work we cut it with, shears, saws and grinders and shaped it with a metal break and a flap disk if we needed a curve. That was the procedures put in place after the air monitoring and to satisfy OSHA when I was in safety there. We also only worked with it in sheets or tubes like handrails, so nothing crazy thick.

 

Stainless is also not a good structural metal compared to mild. Just use HREW on a bumper, you dont need DOM.

 

Thanks for the info! I'm surprised this isn't all more common knowledge, glad i'm learning now

 

Yea you would be surprised how much info on issues like this is lacking in the field. Selfishly it's good for me in the safety field.

Dont weld galvanized or anything with a high zinc primer either, you will get a flu like sickness. Not as bad as hexchrome but definately not good for you either.

 

knew about not welding galv. and zinc coating, guessing it doesn't really work anyway. And yea i actually am really surprised lmao watched probably a dozen stainless welding videos and learned from some welding buddies but never heard this mentioned yet

 

Just wanted to thank the folks here who offer up their time and energy guiding newbies. I’ve learned a lot just from reading your assistance to others.

it is with knowing that kind of support is available that I took the plunge to pick up a welder during the holidays. Today I finally had time to get everything set up and strike my first arc.

Ever.

First pass was horrid but I figured out I didn’t have a good ground and hadn’t properly cleaned up the scrap angle iron I was using.

Second one is still ugly but I’m satisfied I’m on the right track. I still have plenty to learn but am encouraged. I need to pick up some clean stock to practice with and spend time doing so.

So again, many thanks to the folks here.

 

I have yet to really like any of the Miller Guns

But for the Aluma Pro line

 

I am not dead yet.

We always ground the galvanize off the Heat Effected Zone seems to have worked in my case

 

Thanks @glorifiedwelder for the coupons! Had received them and stuffed them in a corner cause I was working on my house and forgot the garage existed for a while. Finally got to go back out there today.

 

Sweet. Glad to see you got them.