what is that flash?

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Im helping a bud build a small part for his bow hunting bow setup. It involves welding two things together, they are 1. A chrome plated piece of steel and 2. A zinc coated bolt. I am using TIG with miller diversion. I flapped off all the chrome and zinc i could  in the place where the weld will occur. I start the arc and as i get the heat up i see a brilliant flash that overcomes my hood. Then it goes fine for a few seconds then i'll see the flash again. Too bright for my shade 11 hood (miller). Im not blinded or anything but i know that its too bright to be looking at. Could my hood be failing or am i creating some sort of heat reaction with something in my materials that does this? Anybody experience anything like that? Thanks for the help.Miller diversion 165Miller mig 211Hypertherm pm 30Milwaukee 6230 14 inch chop sawMd 45 mag drill (RIP; fell on its head)New MD 45! Thanks to the esposa!Finally got an O/A setup
Reply:If it's an Auto-darkening hood it could be the sensors are covered some with dirt/crud and need cleaning. Or if that's not the case then the lense could be trying to fail, I had one do that too. Had to replace it, kept it inside when not using it and kept it dry I guess it just plain wore out. It doesn't have any batteries to change in it either, but if yours has batteries that would be something else to change. My new hood has changable batteries, AAA size.If it's a fixed shade lense, then I don't know what to tell you about the flash your seeing, unless the lense is cracked. Pull it out and check it.
Reply:You're seeing flaring from the plating that you haven't removed--very common.The zinc plate can be acid stripped--with care and caution. I do that as a matter ofcourse.The chrome/nickel/copper plating needs to be ground  back more.Blackbird
Reply:Thanks! How best to acid wash the zinc?Miller diversion 165Miller mig 211Hypertherm pm 30Milwaukee 6230 14 inch chop sawMd 45 mag drill (RIP; fell on its head)New MD 45! Thanks to the esposa!Finally got an O/A setup
Reply:Originally Posted by [email protected]! How best to acid wash the zinc?
Reply:I'm a huge bowhunter bud, and been shooting bows since im 4 yrs old. what exactly are you trying to do. Meaning welding what to what, or what kind of custom made thing or something. Maybe I can help, iv'e been approached by friends on almost every concoction of archery upgrade imaginable.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:weldermike, sorry so long to get back, the ipad isnt much for typing. My bud has a compound bow. His invention / modification is (bear with me im not a bow hunter, i dont even have A bow!) is a 1/2 inch aluminum rod. The rod attaches to the bow and extends forward towards the target or could be hinged back towards the hunters thigh. When it is forward i believe it acts as a counter balance. Forward it is retracted to its shortest length (about 16 inches?) when hinged toward the hunters thigh, it telescopes to be long enough to stabilize the bow on the hunter. This is a clever device, it's hard to explain in words but i can give you the guy's email if you are interested. My task is to weld a bolt to a piece of short metal tube. No big deal, and probably not of interest here. Hit me back if you want more detail. its pretty clever, im just not good at explaining it...sorry...eliotMiller diversion 165Miller mig 211Hypertherm pm 30Milwaukee 6230 14 inch chop sawMd 45 mag drill (RIP; fell on its head)New MD 45! Thanks to the esposa!Finally got an O/A setup
Reply:I know exactley what you mean, he's looking for something custom added to a stabilizer for target shooting. Hunting sabilizers are very short. I'm not interested in doing anything, but just figured I would write you back. Archery stuff is weird, the initial stabilizer may be made of magnesium.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys