Where To Buy Scrap Metal For Welding
Getting into welding and I've got the garage space, about to get the welder, got tons of resources/books on the subject, but I've no idea how to procure metals other than by going down to home depot. Is there somewhere I should be looking to get better deals on scrap metals? Do junk yards sell to the average consumer? Just wondering, as I'd like to get started with practicing the art but I don't want to get ripped off in the process. Thanks!
where to buy scrap metal for welding
Welding is one of themost durable ways to connect pieces of metal. It's used foreverything from car parts to fences to building structures. Whilemost metals do best when welded to similar materials, welding ofdissimilar metals is also possible in some cases, depending on themakeup of the metals and the welding process used to fuse them.
The material is used ina wide variety of industries, many of which require welding forcertain materials. You can find aluminum in all sorts of vehicles,from cars to airplanes. It's also used in buildings, especially inplaces where its lightweight and durable features are prioritized.
Aluminum welding worksbest with stick welding, gas metal arc welding, and AC-TIG welding.Not all aluminum can be easily welded, however. Certain grades ofaluminum weld more easily than others. Some require extra care,including filler materials that help the materials fuse together.
Perhaps the most commonmetal used in welding projects, steel has many qualities that make itideal for this process. Steel is relatively cheap, which makes it apopular choice. It also has a high tensile strength, which means thatit can withstand a great deal of stress before it breaks.
Steel welding workswith most welding types, which is another reason it's a popularmaterial. Methods used for steel welding include stick welding, fluxwire welding, gas metal arc welding, resistance spot welding, andDC-TIG welding. AC-TIG welding is not typically used with steelparts.
Many other materialsare routinely used in welding projects. Magnesium alloys, brass,copper, and titanium are common. Unlike aluminum, steel, and iron,which can all be welded using basic stick welding, these metalsrequire more specialized methods.
Which metal you usedepends on the project and what welding methods are available. AtSam's Welding, Inc, we offer both in-shop and mobile weldingservices. Contactus today to make a plan for your welding project.
This artist uses insects to inspire his scrap metal art. There is something to be said for creating something natural out of something useful. Each of his scrap metal art pieces, like his larger-than-life ant, is full of tiny, intricate details that invite closer inspection of each stunning detail.
In simple terms, welding and brazing are processes that use high heat to bond metals together, often by raising the temperature of a welding rod and the metals that are to be welded together to their melting point. The rod and the metals can then flow together, forming a bond that is nearly as strong as a single piece of metal.
Welding and brazing rods and fluxes usually contain quantities of silver, manganese, zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, or vanadium. Sometimes those metals are applied to the outside of welding rods, where they help the melting rods combine with the metals that are being welded or brazed. So the bottom line is that quantities of unused welding rods or wire can contain valuable metals, and so can quantities of welding scrap that appears worthless.
Use a clean rag and possibly some acetone to wipe up the are to make sure there are no impurities left on the metal. If you cleaned the surface earlier in the day or any day prior, you should definitely wipe down the surface again since there is always the chance that dust and grime from the environment would have landed on your otherwise clean welding surface since you worked so hard on it.
The most challenging part of welding any material is learning through the mistakes. There are often tens of variables where you could make an incorrect approach and make poor welds. So, let's get you up to speed on MIG welding stainless steel and help you accelerate your progress.
Setting the correct amperage output for welding stainless steel takes a bit of a trial and error. Generally, to weld most steels, you need about 1 amp of power for every .001" of steel thickness. Stainless steel may require a bit less amperage because it retains heat better than mild steel. However, this depends on your shielding gas selection, desired penetration, and travel speed. Sometimes it's desirable to actually use a slightly higher wire feeding speed (amperage) than for welding mild steel. But it's best to start on a scrap piece with a somewhat lower wire feeding speed and work your way up until you find a setting that works with your travel speed.
Since stainless steel retains heat and has a high expansion, you can easily warp and distort the welded part, especially if welding the thin sheet metal. So, besides avoiding sensitization (high heat that leads to chromium carbide formation), you must manage heat to prevent excessive distortion.
You should limit the weld metal size to the smallest possible size that provides the necessary weld strength. Using a lower volume of weld metal reduces the resulting shrinkage stresses and warpage. Additionally, ensure a proper and equal joint fit-up. Use fixtures to hold welded parts in place to prevent joint movement while welding. Spacing out tack welds equally over a large joint line may help control distortion when welding thin stainless steel sheets.
Using post-welding shielding gas flow protects the heated metal from oxidizing. Under no circumstances should you remove the MIG gun torch from the end of the welding bead immediately after extinguishing the arc. Instead, keep the MIG gun nozzle with post-flow enabled over the end of the weld for about 3 seconds (or more if you use high amperage to weld thick steel). This will prevent weld contamination as it solidifies and cools down.
While stainless steel is challenging to weld, you shouldn't give up if the first few welds don't turn out well. Practice on scrap metal first with your MIG welder until you gain enough confidence to weld more complex projects. This material has excellent properties and can significantly improve the performance and utility of many assemblies. So, it's no wonder stainless steel is used almost everywhere. Therefore, if you learn how to weld it efficiently, you can elevate your welding career or enjoy doing DIY projects that look and perform much better than mild steel.
Forge welding is a process used to join two pieces of metal together by heating them to a high temperature and then hammering them together. Developed in the Middle Ages, forge welding is one of the oldest methods of joining metals. Forge welding is an essential technique and an invaluable skill for a blacksmith. It came from the necessity to integrate little pieces of metal to form a large piece of metal. With practice, forge welding requires hand-eye coordination, speed, and attention to detail. It also requires the blacksmith to understand the ideal temperature of the material being welded.
Forge welding is used to create a more substantial metal by joining individual pieces of metal to create a larger or longer project. It is the traditional method of creating chains, swords, railroad spikes, and gates in the blacksmith shop. It is also used in the creation of cookware and farming equipment. Granting the blacksmith the ability to forge different types of metals into one, forge welding is a versatile and essential skill in the smithy.
Welding heat varies based on the type of metals being used. Before you heat up your materials, double-check their forging temperature. Watch for them to turn yellow when they are in high heat in your forge. If you continue heating past this point, the carbon in the metal starts to oxidize, ruining your metal. With practice, the forge welding temperature and its corresponding color will become more familiar.
After you have applied your flux, place the metal back in the forge. Bring it back up to a bright yellow heat. Do not leave it in the forge too long or you may cause your metal to spark, which will mean your metal is contaminated. Remember that each material has a different welding temperature, so do the research on your metals before you start the process.
Remove your piece from the forge when it glows bright yellow. Forge welding must be done quickly to prevent your material from becoming too soft. You can join your pieces together with metal wire until the main weld is formed. Then, bring your piece to the power hammer or a hydraulic press to join the weld. Make sure you do not hit the metal so hard that the weld slips out of place. Repeat until your finished weld is clean and has no weld lines.
"@context":" ","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":["@type":"Question","name":"Is forge welding strong?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, forging involves heating and reshaping the material. The diffusion bond of a forge weld is often stronger than a fusion weld in which the metal is liquefied. The high heat combined with pressure significantly increases the strength of the material. When forged, steel adapts to the new shape, and the deformed particle structure substantially increases strength.","@type":"Question","name":"Do you need to use a flux for forge welding?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, you should use flux when forge welding. Borax removes any oxidation. Oxidation causes a layer over the steel, giving you an imperfect weld between the two pieces of steel. It bonds with the oxidation, becomes viscose, and squeezes out of the joint. You might see this oozing out of your pieces, this is known as slag. It helps seal the weld.","@type":"Question","name":"Can I join two different types of metal when forge welding?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"With the right technique, heat, and pressure, you can forge any two metals into one.","@type":"Question","name":"What is the best temperature for forge welding?","acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Forge welding temperatures vary based on the metals you are forging. Different metals require varying temperatures and the amount of heat each piece needs varies. Some ferrous metals like aluminum require a very low temperature to heat and can be easily molded. Most aluminum alloys come up to temp at 800 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, steel needs to come up to temp at about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit."] 041b061a72