Welding Bolts

[EmptyNester]

This is a question on types of steel.

I have the welding cart I made with mild steel. I was thinking of welding some large ubolts on the side to hold cables.

The bolts I have are normal shiny metal bolts (not stainless, not galvinized). Can I weld it to mild steel with MIG using 25% CO2 without anything special?

I could try it and see what happens - but I really appreciate the responses when I ask a question in the forums. I always learn more than I would expect.

Thanks in advance.

[sportbike]

Should be fine. The steel you made the cart from is just a low carbon hot rolled product. The bolts are probably ungraded or grade 2 equivalent steel with zinc plating. You could grind off the plating prior to welding, then paint, but it will likely be fine to use the bolts with the zinc plating as well. The plating is very thin and the weld quality should be adequate, just don't hover over top the weld and suck in all of the fumes :-)

[jerky]

ya if there just your average bolt, you wont have a problem. weld one up see what it does, and like sportbike said (thats twice today) just stay back from the fumes abit or wear a respirator. if your really worried, take a wire brush to the bolts first. also make sure there is no oil or rust on em.

[SeanMurphy265]

I don't grind the coating off, but I should! The welds usually look like crap because of the coating! Find some plain uncoated bolts, that will work even better.

[67cudafb]

I tend to wear a respirator just about any time I welding, maybe overkill but my breathing not the best. Better safe then sorry.

[EmptyNester]

Are there any fumes that are particularly worse than others? How serious of a mask or respirator do people use?

[jerky]

Are there any fumes that are particularly worse than others? How serious of a mask or respirator do people use?

i posted what i use somewhere else that i cant find..... i use a NORTH 7700 half mask with the P100 pancake filters.... http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/north-7700.htm

they fit great under a welding helmet and doesent fog up. depending on what im doing, i can wear it all day long and not have a problem.

[DVA]

Do you have pictures of the bolts? Best bet is to grind off the coating if you are going to weld if it is zinc as it becomes airborne at about 800°F and is very bad to breath. Wont hurt you much if it is once or twice but welding some materials without proper preventative cautions can lead to serious health issues. I would say do not get in the practice of welding zinc plated material with out properly cleaning it. Also it makes for some nasty hot splatter that will shoot all over the place when welding.

Check out this link for some more information and safety tips to remember when welding.

http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtrai.../weldhlth.html

[Jason]

I have asthma and weld without anything other than my welding mask. Probably a bad idea but oh well.. How do you guys fit a respirator under your welding mask?

[DVA]

If you are welding something bad and do not have ventilation system ensure you are welding outside and do not put your head directly over the weld as heat tends to rise. This will help you avoid the majority of the harmful fumes.

[redbeard]

I usually just set up outside when I weld galvanized and add a fan to pull the fumes away if it seems like they are lingering.

[everlastsupport]

Just beware if you are outside you might need more gas flow or shield it at the torch. Normally if there a zinc/galvanized coating we grind it off and paint.

[jerky]

How do you guys fit a respirator under your welding mask?

if you look at the link i posted and see the mask i wear, it has lots of room under my mask. the pancake filters, or the little round purple ones fit and dont intrude on your helmet... i work in a heavy industrial plant, with people always welding, or cutting or gouging something, and it helps wearing it at the end of the day. ALOT less black crud comes out of my nose at the end of the day when i wear it as to days i dont wear it.

[ogorir]

yup, I use one of those too. sec, lemme find the part #s

mask:
$9.71 3M 6200 series mask small 21617, med 21618, lg 21619
P100 series filters:
$5.17 2091 particulate
$7.79 2096 acid/gas
$7.87 2097 high efficiency + ozone

prices are from weldwarehouse.com

[EmptyNester]

So, I welded the bolts today.

I did grind them first to remove any coating. There was no visible difference after grinding than before.

Since I was welding them onto the welding cart, I moved my welder off first. I am a rank amateur when it comes to welding, but the first weld on the first bolt was the worst looking thing I had ever done. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. When I moved the welder, I had to disconnect my regulator because the hose was twisted. When I reconnected it, I didn't turn it on.

So, now I know how bad a weld looks without shield gas. After turning my gas back on, all my welds were good (good = inconsistent rookie welder level )

[Trip59]

i posted what i use somewhere else that i cant find..... i use a NORTH 7700 half mask with the P100 pancake filters.... http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/north-7700.htm

they fit great under a welding helmet and doesent fog up. depending on what im doing, i can wear it all day long and not have a problem.

I think that was my post... search 'respirator' and you'll find the info folks offered up for me. My problem is that I have a long bushy beard, so masks don't work. I was trying to find out what cartridges folks use so I could make a respirator/snorkel. I figure it'd be about like diving, I was never tempted to breath through my nose then... I'm actually surprised they don't already make them for us bearded folk.

[Cippee]

It's not something you would want to do often but I used to go diving a lot and when people with beards would go we would have them put vaseline on there beard to make a seal.