Jump to content
HybridZ

Safety tips for fabricators!


Recommended Posts

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?fid/68/tid/154821/pid/1124694/post/last/#LAST

 

if your not aware if this you should be!! most soft metals tend to load up a grinding wheel and as the surface becomes loaded it tends to grab and shock load the wheel, which tends to either jam or throw the part or frequently the grinding wheel explodes from the sudden load/shock and large chunks get thrown at high velocity, getting killed/hurt is not infrequent

 

"GALLING

The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas due to seizure curing sliding friction or impact welding under pressure of two similar metals

 

 

http://files.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT-16.PDF

 

http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/mechhazd0001.htm

 

http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/ehs/safety_notes/15_grinder.pdf

 

http://www.magion.com/Applications/Galling/galling.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great post. Nice to pass on safety info. Maybe we need to make a safety sticky in the fabrication forum. I know I'm always looking for good hints and tricks for fabrication and safety.

I think this is it. I'll change the title and sticky it. Good stuff guys!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A little technical correction on why a grinding wheel can come apart when loaded with soft metals, such as aluminum, is......The embedded soft metal expands from the heat generated by grinding and causes the wheel to fracture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why the hell was I never taught this one in metal shop in High School? We only ever really worked on iron and build trailers. Still, that would have come in handy knowledge back then and I am glad to know it now. We did however get the never move a gas tank without a safety cap ... there was even a patch in the wall with newer cyinder blocks to go along with that story :o

 

So what is the best way to cut soft metals?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cutting soft metals? I use my bandsaw for that. I'm not too sure about brass or copper or other metals, but you can cut aluminum with wood saws too, like a table saw or a chopsaw. Just need a carbide blade and you need to go SLOW. I have some "airhorns" on my Mikunis which were made from a plate of aluminum and had the airhorn part routered in with a 3/8" radius carbide router bit that was intended for wood.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2126 is CORRECT

 

but GALLING also causes failures

 

"GALLING

The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas due to seizure curing sliding friction or impact welding under pressure of two similar metals

 

BTW COPPER/and BRONZE are frequently bad about this

 

http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/page...chhazd0001.htm

 

http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/ehs/safet...15_grinder.pdf

 

http://www.magion.com/Applications/Galling/galling.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All of those soft ( non ferrous ) metals should be cut,sanded or whatever, with a cutting wax to resist the load up on sanding discs or blades. I prefer a sanding belt or disc over a hard stone wheel for everything but hardend steel. The only thing I use the wheel for is sharpening tungsten electrodes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 11 months later...

I do a lot of aluminum grinding. I never use a grinding wheel. The best method I've found is to use a cut off wheel to remove the bulk, and then move to a flap disk of about 40 grit for the rest. When sanding softer aluminum such as a 40 series or lower you have to move around a lot or cool the metal often. Flap disks aren't nearly as dangerous as grinding wheels are. I use a 50 series wire which is much harder, and allows me to grind away without it heating up and getting soft. It also has the added benefit of being a better color match for 60 series aluminum sheet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

BTW the question of which auto darkening welding helmet comes up frequently so,

 

Ive got 4 auto darkening hoods now,

but I use the cheap a$$ harbor freight hood more and more for two reasons,

first it works flawlessly, and second if I screw it up with welding splater Im out something less than $50 so its no big deal to weld overhead or get a bit careless with it, and I can save my $340 hood to impress guys while it hangs on the welder cart, as its not significantly better in any function but snob appeal, and while it looks great,its not much better in function, in my opinion

in fact Ill buy a second spare for the shop,next time I drive bye HF

 

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46092

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94336

 

might as well get a couple of these also while your there

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94128

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98704

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you close your eyes for a tack weld?

 

maybe that's why they get so scratchy by the end of the day....

 

(Makes mental note: "Try closing eyes before pulling trigger for tack welds...)

 

Haha, I remember when I built my downpipe. I had serious "sunburn" from tacking everything a billion times. I am also white as a ghost LOL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm

 

 

http://brassmein.com/articles/weldingrods.htm

 

http://www.cpwr.com/hazpdfs/kfwelding.pdf

 

http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/welding.htm

 

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1669

 

 

well worth reading thru, yes you'll need to actually read thru the info!, but failing to do so could KILL YOU, so take the effort

Edited by grumpyvette
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, and on the auto darkening hood discussion, I also have a cheap china-brand one, and it works well for hobby use. I really do prefer it over my friend's "middle of the road" model because his has preset darkness levels, where I have an actual adjustment knob.

The $350+ autoglas helmets are really designed for someone who is going to be wearing it for more than 6 hours per day on a regular basis.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

 

 

THANK YOU for this post... It very well could've saved my life as I do the same thing with the brake cleaner on occasion!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

always glad to help! BTW anyone who has any useful safety tips, PLEASE POST THEM, as we ALL need to think about those factors while working.

and YES IM AMAZED at the skills some of the members have shown and stand AWED at a few of the project some have built, you gentlemen on this site should feel proud as its people like you,that are willing to swap drive trains and modify cars significantly from their original configurations, that advance the hobby's skills far more than the guys that simply replace store bought components on cars that those parts were built to fit on.

Edited by grumpyvette
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I've seen that kind of thing personally... Had a guy on a job I was inspecting decide that he needed to clean the auger of a large highway boring machine while it was running! It caught his glove and ripped his arm right out of it's socket!!!

 

I just try to keep in mind that metal is harder than flesh:shock:!

 

My dad used to teach Building trades at the high school when I was growing up. The first day of class he would bring a package of hotdogs and take all the teenagers to each machine and show them just what thier finger would look like if they got it too close... He always said that at the end of the day, you could still count to ten on your fingers then it was a good day!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

in my experience many items at HF are basically cheap crap but there are exceptions or stuff that's cheap enough that you can use it and throw it away if it fails without feeling bad about the cost, the first three items are in the cheap enough category, the jack stands can be found on sale cheaper but are a very good value as they are the correct height to work under your car and strong enough to be safe, with a 12 ton rating and a 3 ton car, four of them provide an except-able safety margin, Ive used four in my shop for over 15 years or more and never had the least problem, the 12 ton jack stands are a good value in my opinion

 

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=91214

91214.gif

 

these work surprisingly well for most welding and if they get screwed up your only out $50

 

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=96451

 

this can save you some serious time trouble shooting even if its not dead on accurate

 

96451E.gif

 

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=94357

94357.gif

 

working under a car without some safety glasses is rather stupid at this price

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34924

34924.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...