what do you use to clean up metal before welding?

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What is the best method on new square or round tubing to prepare for welding?  Is it one of those wire brushes?  Thanks!
Reply:What ever you do, NEVER USE BREAK CLEANER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!! A wire wheel in a small 4 inch grinder works well. Always ware safety glasses. PS. Did i say never?Last edited by transit; 02-15-2010 at 11:54 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by transitWhat ever you do, NEVER USE BREAK CLEANER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!! A wire wheel in a small 4 inch grinder works well. PS. Did i say never?
Reply:Originally Posted by transitWhat ever you do, NEVER USE BREAK CLEANER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!! A wire wheel in a small 4 inch grinder works well. Always ware safety glasses. PS. Did i say never?
Reply:an angle grinder. just tickle it with a grinding disc, its quicker than wire brushing. if its gal section then make sure you take off all the gal from the weld zone before you strike an arc. if its factory painted you can generally get away with welding over it.
Reply:The wire burshes on grinders usually don't remove rust and scale, only polish it. I usually use a 4 1/2" grinder with a grinding disk or sanding disk or flap wheel to get down to bare shiny metal. On larger itens I'll use the 7" grinder instead. The only thing I'll use the wire wheels for is removing slag from welds, or knocking off loose flaky rust and paint before I grind.On some items I can use the stationary disk/belt sander or bench grinder in the shop..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:i am fond of the course knotted wire wheelsDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:For thin tube, I love 3M Roloc pads.For lighter scale, a tiger paw/Metabo flap disk.For heavy stuff, kiss it with a hard grinder. I don't like wire brushes to clean up the ends of tubing, because if you orient the grinder wrong it will catch the end, kick, and spit out bristles.  It also isn't adequate most of the time for getting to bright, clean metal, though I will use it on occasion if I can't fit anything else there and it's not a critical joint.
Reply:Originally Posted by transitWhat ever you do, NEVER USE BREAK CLEANER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!!! A wire wheel in a small 4 inch grinder works well. Always ware safety glasses. PS. Did i say never?
Reply:I am welding all new steel, so rust is not my concern.  When i was using my grinder with a 1/4 disk it just seemed to take off more and be more inconsistent than i liked.  I will try a flap wheel.  What grit should i get? 60? 80?Thanks for you help!
Reply:I have used 50 and even 36, but 60 or 80 is good. It will burnish itself into nothing before long anyway. The flat discs are the ones I like. You need a rubber backing attachment to use them.This is just an example, not the only ones on the market.http://www.amazon.com/3M-SandBlaster.../dp/B002DUCIZKCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by Spar-XDo you mean BRAKE cleaner along with a wire brush?if so then.........Yeah, dont do that but there is no harm in using a solvent to prep your work area whether it be alcohol, acetone, carb cleaner, brake cleaner etc. prior to welding.Just make sure to use it moderately and let it evaporate before you start welding or after using brushes/grinders, well I guess anything in that matter that can make a spark and ignite the fumes.Is there really that many people that try to use flammable solvents with wire or sparky objects?
Reply:Originally Posted by adamsmith007I am welding all new steel, so rust is not my concern.  When i was using my grinder with a 1/4 disk it just seemed to take off more and be more inconsistent than i liked.  I will try a flap wheel.  What grit should i get? 60? 80?Thanks for you help!
Reply:I've been using my son to clean my metal before welding it up . Oh, yeah -and he uses a right angle grinder (wire wheel, sanding disk, or grind wheel). He's 13, FINALLY wanting to help out the old man.Just another clown trying to be cool
Reply:Most metal I go over 1st with a clean rag and acetone. For most cleanup on clean dry metal I use grinder. For metals going to finish work such as painting,  powder coating, or plating I use a sand blaster so I don't scar the surface.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:in our production facility we use flap wheel disks, bead blasting, and acetone or another solvent that evaporates fast.flap wheel disks are good enough to take metal down to a bright finish and don't get junked up.  sometimes all it will need is some degreasing though.
Reply:Best bet is to use a steel that DOESN'T NEED ANY CLEANING to start with. Check it out at: http://www.scsprocess.com/steelproce...treatment.htmlIt welds really nice too.
Reply:NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use chlorinated break cleaner, NEVER!!!!
Reply:Simple green is what I use to clean up parts whan I have time.Salas Repair General Welding & Fabrication
Reply:Teenager.Lincoln Weldpak 100Miller Maxstar 150Cutmaster 82Victor OA torch set...somewhere around here...
Reply:Originally Posted by transitRead here and think it over.http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
Reply:Acetone it's the "safest" solvent I've been able to use and it's what all the old heads use (sorry guys)
Reply:Sorry i didn't make myself very clear.  I was wondering how to prep metal that i would be welding like the grey stuff i see on angle iron.  it doesn't seem to be on the metal tubing i buy, only angle iron so far.  Not sure if this is mill scale that i hear people referring to.But i looking at all the replies, i see something i over looked but you all answered so nicely and that is how do i prep metal to paint.  It looks like simple green or alcohol.  Thanks!