Wedling on headers, on car ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Wedling on headers, on car ?
This for you electricians and welders out there. I have a basic arc welder and I need to weld up an EGR pipe to my headers(2" from the head). Simply, do I need to worry about anything or should I just go about my welding. I am just thinking of all the electrical system that are grounded to the block and I don't want kill anything. Oh, and if you haven't realized it, I am very new to welding.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (kman0066)
As long as you put the ground to the welder closer to where your welding than anything electrical, should be fine. Just like when using it on exhaust work, you always put it kinda close to where your welding. Electricity always takes the shortest route :yesnod:. Oh, and don't stick it on the negative of the battery :jester :lol: .
[Modified by GlockLT4, 6:33 PM 2/12/2004]
[Modified by GlockLT4, 6:33 PM 2/12/2004]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (GlockLT4)
As long as you put the ground to the welder closer to where your welding than anything electrical, should be fine. Just like when using it on exhaust work, you always put it kinda close to where your welding. Electricity always takes the shortest route :yesnod:. Oh, and don't stick it on the negative of the battery :jester :lol: .
[Modified by GlockLT4, 6:33 PM 2/12/2004]
[Modified by GlockLT4, 6:33 PM 2/12/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (britvette)
Disconnect the battery first
BTW, i haven't done arc welding in a long time, so I'd get some more input before going off of my word :jester . Just going by the law of physics that elect always goes the shortest route though.
Disconnecting the bat is good to keep sparks from getting near fumes though... so that's a good idea. Also eliminates the circuit it creates.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (GlockLT4)
Disconnect the battery and take a chain and wrap it around the frame and let the other end just lay on the floor. This will ground your chassis and prevent electrical spikes through the system that could damage the ECM or other electronic parts.
-Jeb
-Jeb
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 12
From: Saint joseph MI
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (jburnett)
Not sure about cars, but on the engines I work on (Biig Diesels) I sometimes see bearing failure due to electrical arcing from welding. So make sure your grounded well and close to the weld.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 2
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (kman0066)
Sounds like a pig of a job with an arc (stick) welder anyway. This is a job for MIG, if I understand the problem correctly.
When welding under the bonnet, I have a fibreglass blanket which I spread around the part I am working on, because the smallest spark can burn through a rubber hose, or mark your paint, or make petrrol change its chemical composition in an interesting and illuminating fashion.
If you don't have a fibreglass blanket, use an old piece of cloth, soaked with water, to surround the work area. With that, and the battery off, you won't have any problems.
I have been welding in the engine bay myself today, and when the smoke cleared and the Fire Service had left, it looked like a pretty good job!
(Only kidding :D - I WAS welding and no probs whatsoever. - but do use the damp sheet)
[Modified by britvette, 8:56 PM 2/13/2004]
When welding under the bonnet, I have a fibreglass blanket which I spread around the part I am working on, because the smallest spark can burn through a rubber hose, or mark your paint, or make petrrol change its chemical composition in an interesting and illuminating fashion.
If you don't have a fibreglass blanket, use an old piece of cloth, soaked with water, to surround the work area. With that, and the battery off, you won't have any problems.
I have been welding in the engine bay myself today, and when the smoke cleared and the Fire Service had left, it looked like a pretty good job!
(Only kidding :D - I WAS welding and no probs whatsoever. - but do use the damp sheet)
[Modified by britvette, 8:56 PM 2/13/2004]
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
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From: Dallas TX
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (jhughes2101)
Not sure about cars, but on the engines I work on (Biig Diesels) I sometimes see bearing failure due to electrical arcing from welding. So make sure your grounded well and close to the weld.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
Likes: 1
From: Cotati Ca
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (kman0066)
This for you electricians and welders out there. I have a basic arc welder and I need to weld up an EGR pipe to my headers(2" from the head). Simply, do I need to worry about anything or should I just go about my welding. I am just thinking of all the electrical system that are grounded to the block and I don't want kill anything. Oh, and if you haven't realized it, I am very new to welding.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 250
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (kman0066)
I would try and find someone with a mig welder.
Arc is messy and painful to use on thin gauge steel.
You may end up burning holes through your header.
I can put a nice bead on tin foil with a mig welder or a nice piece of cicken sheit with an arc welder :smash:
:cheers:
Arc is messy and painful to use on thin gauge steel.
You may end up burning holes through your header.
I can put a nice bead on tin foil with a mig welder or a nice piece of cicken sheit with an arc welder :smash:
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
From: CALGARY ab
Re: Wedling on headers, on car ? (AGENT 86)
I would try and find someone with a mig welder.
Arc is messy and painful to use on thin gauge steel.
You may end up burning holes through your header.
I can put a nice bead on tin foil with a mig welder or a nice piece of cicken sheit with an arc welder :smash:
:cheers:
Arc is messy and painful to use on thin gauge steel.
You may end up burning holes through your header.
I can put a nice bead on tin foil with a mig welder or a nice piece of cicken sheit with an arc welder :smash:
:cheers:
ARC IS MESSY!
Try to used mig (wire feed with inert gas purge), not flux cored wire
protect the area
disconnect battery
connect ground clamp near welding
have your assistant ready with sponge to soak up any sweat you have produced :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
for precision welding use the TIG only way to produce excellant results.
good luck!