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Welding in the Cold

B

Blackbear

Member
Hi folks,

I will be welding outside this week in the cold 20f. Is there anything special a need to do or consider or is it business as usual?

Thanks
BB
 
Metallurgically, probably not unless it's cast iron, but I'm prepared to be wrong about that.

Johnny was making a joke, but it's actually a good point in a left-handed sort of way. You'll be wearing more clothes, which is more chance for sparks and slag to start a fire. Careful what ya wear, and keep an eye out for hot slag.
 
The added winter clothes you will have on should be cotton, not synthetic. Some synthetics and insulation burn like you had soaked them in gas. [The first (and last) nylon quilted down filled jacket that I tried welding in taught me all about this in about 90 seconds.] The added clothing that you are wearing needs careful regular inspection as you are cutting, welding, and grinding to make sure you are not on fire yet because you won't feel it right away and
heavier clothing can be hard to get out of when you
do discover that you have been on fire and want to get out of them.
 
If you are going to be using Low-hydrogen rod (e.g. 7018), you need to preheat the metal to be warm to the touch...
 
I can tell you, from experience, insulated coveralls keep you warm, but they also are hard to put out, if they catch fire. I can remember running toward a snowbank, about 20 years ago, and sticking my leg in it, to extinguish myself ( me smell mohican burning, hmmm, me last mohican, must be me!) Also reminds me of a few lines from the C.W. McCall?? song, Wolf Creek Pass!
 
high school friend of mine's '56 Chev backfired through the carb and caught fire. He whipped open the hood, quickly removed his polyester jacket and threw it over the fire. It flamed up even higher, the jacket shrunk to the size of the carb intake, and disappeared down the carb. He just started removing clothing and throwing it on the carb, and ended up getting it out by the time he was standing their in his Fruit of the Looms.

He said the hardest part of the repair was getting all the burned plastic out of the 4 barrel.
 
If it's not an emergency, wait for warmer weather. Spent many a day out in that kind of weather in the last 35 years. I don't do it any more. If it can't wait,some younger guy than me can do it.
 
I like the wait til warmer weather thing too if possible. Otherwise, like the others say be careful to not set yourself on fire. Preheating the material might be the difference between getting the proper penetration and the weld holding to, not...
 
Throw away the old ragged coveralls and put on new heavy brown duck ones. The sparks won't go through the outer fabric and in to the inner insulation quite as easy.
 
Don't weld with wet feet. That electricity from that rod can go through your body if resistance is low by being wet. Weldors can get electrocuted. Don't be one. Safety all the time you are awake, please. Dave
 
You didn't give enough info in order to get a proper answer. What are you welding, how strong does it have to be, what rods are you planning on using, etc., etc.? You may not have to do anything special or you might have to take a lot of extra steps. Fill in the details to get the answers you need. Dave
 
Dress warm. I'd rather weld in the cold than in the mud... I generally wear a ski mask to keep warm as I find a winter hat doesn't work so well under the helmet.

Rod
 
thats funny ican relate just dont run past the waste oildump lol...with all those clothes on ornear the kindling pile doubtful if preheating metal is necessary for proper welding ,, never seen anyone practice that ,, however , not a professional welder ,, just a chikenscitwelder that can get somethin back in service in an hour ...
 
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