Before there was TIG. Hydrogen Arc welding

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There was Atomic Hydrogen Arc welding. Thanks to the thread about Arc welding history I found out about this process. Youtube had a few vids from 1943 explaining the process. Thought I would share them.Part 1 describes the theory of operation[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZwYMyHlWXk[/ame]Part 2 shows technique and applications[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz-S5wLGHwI[/ame]Part 2 has some great shots of the molten pool and shows that the process can be used to butt weld Monel screen fabric together.Pretty neat tech for 1943. I dont know how it would stack up to modern TIG but it sure looks cool.
Reply:I love old technology   For such an old "outdated" process, that was a nice fillet weld near the end of the video!Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Its as if TIG, Plasma cutting and Oxy fuel all had a love child.
Reply:I watched old joe weld with one of those in a darkened shop running bigger tungstens it looked like he was welding with a flame throwerBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:holy crap I need to find one of these
Reply:Reminds me a lot of a carbon arc torch.Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Wow.  Talk about Hydrogen embrittlement.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie from way back or something that you would see in a steam punk video game
Reply:Would probably work on aluminum fairly well, It'd be like a cross of tig welding and oxy/hydrogen welding
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI love old technology   For such an old "outdated" process, that was a nice fillet weld near the end of the video!Dave J.
Reply:thats the coolest thing ive seen in welding why cant we still have that today?
Reply:Originally Posted by flux core joethats the coolest thing ive seen in welding why cant we still have that today?
Reply:Way cool videos.--love the cartoon welding character.--complete with tacky opening sound track.Anybody wanna comment on the backhand travel technique on the last bead in the second video?  gun in right hand, filler in left, travel to the RIGHT, add filler behind the torch.thanks to cold1 for sharing.
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellWhy do you want that, if you can TIG instead? Not being a smartass, just asking.
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellWhy do you want that, if you can TIG instead? Not being a smartass, just asking.
Reply:My favorite part of the torch was the fine tuning of the tungstens with a wooden paddle and starting the arc on the charred wood. I am also amazed at the clarity of the shots of the actual molten pool. There is no tint or glare, it looks like it is just standard lighting.Pretty amazing they could get that good of a shot with camera tech from back then.I am not a welder but I like the idea of the arc being independant of the work. Also the adjustment of the arc variables is pretty neat, looks like you could get some great arc control. No worries about arc blow either.
Reply:Fun watching the old movies.Compared to a Tig arc, the atomic-hydrogen arc appears quite broad.The process seems to be somewhere between oxy-acetylene & tig welding.My guess is that the process disappeared with the advent of the smaller more precise arc from tig, the much smaller welding head of a tig torch and the fact that shielding with hydrogen gas might have caused some embrittlement problems.Thanks for sharing! Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:I loved these videos.   I showed lots of people at work, even the wife when I got home.  old/historical stuff always interests me
Reply:I Love all the comments about OLD SCHOOL welding. This is what I do now! I am a Hydrogen Atomic welder, yes it is old but there is no other technique that provides the same heat as this. the best descriptions of it is to think T.I.G. on lots of steroids. I work for a chain and lifting equipment Manufacturer and we use the Atomic to weld joiner links into the chain in sizes from 4mm to 24mm.
Reply:dude, pics and video NOW!!!!  we must see this in action todaypretty please?
Reply:Originally Posted by HemiwayI Love all the comments about OLD SCHOOL welding. This is what I do now! I am a Hydrogen Atomic welder, yes it is old but there is no other technique that provides the same heat as this. the best descriptions of it is to think T.I.G. on lots of steroids. I work for a chain and lifting equipment Manufacturer and we use the Atomic to weld joiner links into the chain in sizes from 4mm to 24mm.
Reply:For what it's worth.........Google the Multiplaz3500......that's the modernised version of Atomic Hydrogen welding that I use...... or to give it it's proper name The Langmuir Process......it's also on another thread on this forum.There are also a number of videos on UTUBE.Ian.
Reply:but pics of your setup is what we want
Reply:The Plasma welding system that puddy is talking about is NOT the same.. It is a Transferred / non transferred plasma torch  cutting / welding  system that has some real issues that have not been addressed as far as ever being a commercial welderfor a hobby guy it is way overpriced...it has a nice compact power supply though Heminway that is interesting and surprising that it is still used as a process todayOld Joe had that machine and used it to weld thick aluminum plates together and the filler rods were big 3/8 to 1/2 inch dia and they could be because of the amount of heat that that machine can put out..Tig don't have much on it as far as that goesAnd when joe did this welding i was about 13 or 14 and he was in his late 60's early 70's he taught me about welding processes that i would have never seen and machining things he was quite educated and did pass some of that on to meBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Cool video and interesting technology, but good luck welding a watch spring with any heat source and not losing the proper temper!Gee Killdozer almost 3 years ago I paid out just under 2 grand and now you tell me there are issues with this unit......why didn't you warn me before seeing as how you seem to know all about the unit and the hidden issues I haven't so far come across.....can you be more explicit in those issues please.BTW, I looked up the characteristics of the Atomic Hydrogen Welding or Langmuir process and they are the same, both transfer the increased energy to the plasma stream by the pressure of the gas involved, which in both cases is hydrogen, and this is derived from the water (H2O) in the M/PLAZ unit.The only difference is...... the Langmuir process uses twin tungstens shorted together to get started, whereas the M/PLAZ uses a Hafnium cathode grounded to the copper nozzle to get the arc started....same process, same gas, different material.Ian.
Reply:Originally Posted by puddytatFor what it's worth.........Google the Multiplaz3500......that's the modernised version of Atomic Hydrogen welding that I use...... or to give it it's proper name The Langmuir Process......it's also on another thread on this forum.There are also a number of videos on UTUBE.Ian.
Reply:Originally Posted by bullfrogg0but pics of your setup is what we want
Reply:Originally Posted by WookieWeldingyour POSplaz has really nothing in common with atomic hydrogen welding cause atomic hydrogen welding works your POSPLAZ does not AWS bend tests have proved thisIt was quite funny when the PosPlaz rep came to the AWS meeting in costa mesa california and tried to weld up a test plate that broke or more like fell apart
Reply:Well Ian i have seen the welds you have posted using that machine and i must say they look like a lot of the welds posted on WW    http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=139711Southpaw and i reviewed this machine back in June of 2011 and there are some of your bird poop pics on the page here  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=56610Why you are so proud of that thing i don't understand but you believe what you want and i will stick with reality thank youAnd I have seen an Atomic Hydrogen machine in operation up close and personal and the multi plaz is not the same ...not even closeBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Hey Guys, I Cant post pics of my unit but there is one practically identical here, http://www.specialwelds.com/articles...en-welding.asp as well as some other info. The process is very slow, in our application we start with a V-cut in the chain link and for a 16mm link it takes approx. 25-30 minutes by the times you pre-heat and then fill and smooth the weld. if anybody has any other questions I am happy to try to answer them but my knowledge is more in the practical application than the science of it.
Reply:Killdoze, none of my welds look like bird poop.....the second link did show bird poop type welding by some red neck guys but not I old bean.Nobody would post welding as an example of their skill or equipment like the second link with the trailer and the other weird stuff which incidentally was done with conventional welding equipment by people who hadn't a clue......does that fail the person or the equipment?Anyway, my last word on this subject, I will in future only comment or discuss this welding method with people who are using it and know what they are talking about.Ian.
Reply:Thanks hemmingway! The biggest question in the thread is concerning hydrogen embrittlement of the base metal. Has that been a problem in your expeirience?
Reply:This is one of the coolest videos I have ever seen! Thank you for sharing this!
Reply:cold1 as I have said I don't know a lot of then technical info regarding the atomic, but all of our welds that are used in high tensile chain are normalised and then heat treated to the standard required and my supervisors assure me that this helps remove any hydrogen embattlement issues. To our knowledge we are running the only machine of it's type in Australia and there is only 2 of us that have the skills to do the welding, so it really is a dying art.