inconel

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There is a heat treating place next to my shop.  I have fixed one or two of these before.  They are heating elements for the furnaces.  All are electric.  I don't know how much a new element is, but I fix them for him.  He told me they are inconel, All I know is they tig with out filler quite nicely.  One was shorted from what ever was in the oven, one had been repaired by some one else.  I was given a third element to use as parts.  I clean them up, bend everything back into place and cut out pieces of the spare one with a cut off wheel on a 4.5" grinder.   Just a butt weld with no filler.I looked at the plate on the machine, 22,000 watts, 100 volts.  I have seen the furnace run at just under 1600* F ( I think its F)Machine was set on 120 amps and I didn't use all of it  3/32 tungsten #8 cup.  I weld one side, turn and do the other side.  Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 times (remelt) to get a good smooth connection.  The stuff flows like butta.Nope, not my work....1/2 hour each.  Customer was happy with job and bill.David Last edited by David R; 03-01-2010 at 07:25 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Hey David - That's pretty 'cool' welding of a 'hot' element.  Interesting welding challenge that inconel material.You do realize that this could trigger a new Tig competition...in lieu of Tigging razor blades, folks could tig toaster elements. Rick V
Reply:Neat. Do these elements actually glo red running on high? It would be interesting to see if there is any visual difference in the repaired locations or not."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:That's one big BBQ element you have there.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyNeat. Do these elements actually glo red running on high? It would be interesting to see if there is any visual difference in the repaired locations or not.
Reply:Pretty nice job David.Although I -thought- a lot (most?) bare electric heater elements were in the Nichrome material 'family' and not the Inconel group.  Although they are kind of close in the alloying elements 'recipes', they aren't quite the same thing.  Either way, the alloys are a blend of (usually) a mix of nickel, iron, and chromium primarily with some other elements in there.  Proportions vary depending on the exact alloy.  Don't breath in the fumes.  Vaporized chromium is Not-Good for humans.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Thanks MoonRise.  I have been a lot more careful about all welding fumes, the dust from cleaning slag AND the arc air.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Im sure the repairs are great, but im curious.  MY experience with inconel and everything ive heard about it has been that its very sluggish.  Im wondering that if this material "flows like butta" it may not in fact be inconel?Have we all gone mad?
Reply:My first welding engineering job was working at a company that manufacutured industrial thermal equipment, things like ovens, and crystal growing chambers for silicone manufacturers etc.I'm doubting it's inconel, but probably a similar refractory metal. Most of them weld up readily and weld very easy if clean. BUT, they need 100% penetration or they are prone to cracking from thermal cycling.Any high nickel alloy will seem "sluggish" though and most have relatively poor wetting action. not a problem for anything else but making the bead shape look ugly.nice job though, gravy work if you ask me
Reply:anyone ever use helium to tig inconel with?.. flows a tad better..if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:I took a picture today.  It has 4 of those elements.  I could not see where I had welded it, but I now it was on the inside (middle) of the element near the back, the first two or three curves.   I could not see where I had repaired it.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:killerif you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:As far as Inconel, I don't have a clue.  The owner of the heat treating place told me what it was.  He may know less than I do.  All I can say is its easy to weld with a tig torch.  I have some 75% argon, 25% helium, but don't need it.  Not many amps required for this job.  The helium is for aluminum to raise the arc voltage and get more heat out of my 185 amp machine.  Yeah, its gravy    Send me all you got.David Last edited by David R; 03-02-2010 at 06:21 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:yup.. cunducts electricity better than argon, hence the heat.. i weld pipe and stuff... not much thinwallif you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI took a picture today.  It has 4 of those elements.  I could not see where I had welded it, but I now it was on the inside (middle) of the element near the back, the first two or three curves.   I could not see where I had repaired it.
Reply:Originally Posted by ibanezed4yrsyup.. cunducts electricity better than argon, hence the heat.. i weld pipe and stuff... not much thinwall
Reply:heh.. my bad..if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..