Backpurging equipment - tape? - foil? - what?

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When I backpurge on stainless, it's typically pipe and it's typically just capped on the ends with tape (painters tape - the blue stuff - or aluminum foil tape).  Thats easy enough.Whenever I do butt joints or even some corner joints, I have trouble getting consistent back purge.  The solution right now seems to be tape the hell out of it and turn the flow up a bit more than I would say on a pipe.  Foil tape helps sometimes vs. masking tape.I've seen one picture of someone making a backing plate from aluminum foil (then taping the endges).Idealy I would like something that is fast, reliable, an easy to clean up even it gets burned a bit.  Acetone cleanup is OK, but wiping with a dry rag would be best. Anyone have a good solution? or suggestions?Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:If it  ISN'T food products then use Solar B or some other pickeling  compound.....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Not sure if this will help you but,  I fold over the alum. foil several times and getting a real thick piece to cap off end and use a hose clamps to pinch her down to the pipe/fitting. I'm too cheap to buy those nice purge plugs you can find on the internet. Good luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CIf it  ISN'T food products then use Solar B or some other pickeling  compound.....
Reply:Yeah your right it is expensive but that can will do a bunch of weld joints it goes a long way. I mix it with Methanol and it works great.....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Dangit.Now I know where my extra bottle of Heet (for Solar Flux) went.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:You use it too?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I've used the solar flux before too, but it really just doesn't work as well as real purging IMO. It definitely has its uses, like on a plate that you cant back purge. But if at all possible purge.
Reply:Silicone plugs. Nice&ezy not even expensive Attached Images--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:I like plumbers putty for temp sealing for other jobs and would be tempted to try it for low pressure gas sealing...just a thought..
Reply:Not a "plug" answer but:One trick my pipewelder friend uses is to take an old gas lens and clamp it in the end of the purge hose as a diffuser after blocking the tungsten hole with a piece of TIG filler. Makes for an even gas fill at lower velocity so he can crank up the purge higher.The other trick was to sacrifice an oxygen regulator, throw a CGA-580 nipple on it and REALLY crank up the purge for big jobs. Not great if you are buying the argon but he mentioned filling LONG runs of pipe on jobsites that way.Last edited by farmall; 03-10-2011 at 07:24 PM.
Reply:The foil tape is all you need.  Are you leaving your entire joint exposed on the front side, or are you covering it and removing the tape as you go?  The latter is the route you usually need to take.
Reply:http://www.boxandsupply.com/index.ph...&cPath=149_154 cheap and reusableWELD TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDEA bad welder blames his equipment, a good weldor can lay a perfect bead on any thing
Reply:Originally Posted by SupeThe foil tape is all you need.  Are you leaving your entire joint exposed on the front side, or are you covering it and removing the tape as you go?  The latter is the route you usually need to take.
Reply:Is there no way you can clamp lump of copper flatbar  tightly behind some of your butt and corner joints to save messing around with tinfoil and purging? If you decide to tape the front of the joints and remove it as you go, then be careful with the backing glue as it can also contaminate your weld.