Welding in Water?

admin

Customer needs a boat lift welded on. Only practical way for me to reach the joint is to be in the water welding it. Water is about waist deep. Is this completely stupid? Any special precautions that would need to be taken? It MAY be possible to be on a small boat welding it if the lift can go up high enough. I'll need to take a look in person. Only have photos and the customers opinion to go off of right now.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Originally Posted by Econdron Is this completely stupid?
Reply:Divers weld in water, so water alone isn't the issue. Using common sense is. When we welded underwater, we only welded DC, never AC. The diver also never got between the stinger and the ground. We'd move the ground to another location if that was going to be an issue so he was always outside the ground/stinger area.. Also the leads were never hot until the diver was ready to make his weld. Then he'd call for it to be hot, and we'd close the knife switch and make the lead hot. When he was done, or needed to chip or change rods, he'd call for the leads to be made cold, then wait for us to tell him the power was off.Welding standing in water wasn't all that uncommon, usually patching leaks in barges as soon as we pumped out enough water to weld "dry", and the few completely submerged welds we did, the water was so warm, that the diver was dressed only in cotton coveralls, but did wear rubber gloves. Other than that, there wasn't really any special equipment. We did carefully inspect all the leads every time, and made sure there were no nicks or bad connections. Any questionable areas were all taped with rubber splicing tape and liquid electrical tape if minor, or we used a different lead.I'd have no issue standing in water to weld, if proper precautions were taken, and preferably the leads were kept dry, say in a small boat. If they had to be in water it really wouldn't bother me too much as long as they were in good shape. This is of course stick welding. I make no claims about the safety of mig..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:You may have heard here in the North West (Seattle) it rains a little bit. If we stopped working every time it rained, we would never get anything built. Thin rubber cannery gloves inside the welding gloves is a big help. When wearing a rain coat, stick the rod under your off hand arm pit. Then clamp the stinger onto the rod. Less chance of getting shocked. I can’t say I ever see an AC welding machine on a heavy civil construction site.People weld in water everyday.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Welded and ran lots of 36in exothermic rods underwater in SSDS mode with SL17s.  TopSide had a 400A DC knife switch and the protocol was identical to that stated by DSW.  As CEP stated, understanding your operational environment and donning the proper safety gear is essential. Rubber gloves inside your outer protective gloves is key.  Above all, inspect your work area and rip a JSA before you execute the task.  If possible, get with some humans who have done this task at this place before, for a consult.  Recommend you employ a partner/fellow welder to aid you during actual burn-in.IMPO, do not just "GoForIt"."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Welding in water is kind of like working really high off the ground. Be aware of the situation, but mostly think about the task at hand.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPYou may have heard here in the North West (Seattle) it rains a little bit. If we stopped working every time it rained, we would never get anything built. Thin rubber cannery gloves inside the welding gloves is a big help. When wearing a rain coat, stick the rod under your off hand arm pit. Then clamp the stinger onto the rod. Less chance of getting shocked. I can’t say I ever see an AC welding machine on a heavy civil construction site.People weld in water everyday.
Reply:The boat lift itself is above water, so there is no underwater welding, and the joint is dry (other than splashing). But parts of the lift are submerged. It's definitely a MIG application. What makes AC more likely to shock you? MIG is a DC process, correct? I was thinking of wearing those rubber fishing pants/suspenders. Though they may not take me seriously in those  I've welded plenty of times in angle deep water wearing rubber boots, and I've been shocked plenty of times even in the shop when my gloves get wet from some coolant or something on the metal. I don't understand electricity that well, I definitely want to be safe. It sounds like you guys are saying just wear rubber gloves. But it doesn't matter than the rest of my body is in the water??John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:I wouldnt laugh at your fishing waiders if you were in the water. You dont want to be wet remember? I would just follow the advice given. Turning work down can lead to future work loss.
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronThe boat lift itself is above water, so there is no underwater welding, and the joint is dry (other than splashing). But parts of the lift are submerged. It's definitely a MIG application. What makes AC more likely to shock you? MIG is a DC process, correct? I was thinking of wearing those rubber fishing pants/suspenders. Though they may not take me seriously in those  I've welded plenty of times in angle deep water wearing rubber boots, and I've been shocked plenty of times even in the shop when my gloves get wet from some coolant or something on the metal. I don't understand electricity that well, I definitely want to be safe. It sounds like you guys are saying just wear rubber gloves. But it doesn't matter than the rest of my body is in the water??
Reply:If I was doing it, I'd try to make the biggest deal out of it I could.   Call it hazerdous double pay or whatever, but it wouldn't be normal pay.
Reply:Put the Mig in the boat on a rubber mat with the helper to "pull the plug" if something goes wrong. Keep the leads out of the water, clamp ground close to where welding.
Reply:I just asked the guy if he had a little boat I could use, and if the lift could be raised any higher, etc. Then he says "it'll probably just be easier if I pull the lift to shore, it's not a big deal"  Before, it was "it NEEDS to be welded in the water". Customers...John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:Originally Posted by Econdron....What makes AC more likely to shock you?....
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronThe boat lift itself is above water, so there is no underwater welding, and the joint is dry (other than splashing). But parts of the lift are submerged. It's definitely a MIG application. What makes AC more likely to shock you? MIG is a DC process, correct?
Reply:When I taught Electrical Wiring, I told my students "There are Old Electricians and There Are Bold Electricians; There are very few Old Bold Electricians." I guess this applies to weldors as well as pilots and electricians.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by teh603Someone care to explain to me why this is a job for MIG instead of Stick? Stick on DC+ is also a DC process.I mean, I know you can flux-core it with MIG, but wouldn't stick arguably be better for the job?
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronIt's aluminum. I'm pretty sure they don't make steel boat lifts? Yes, you can stick weld aluminum, but I have no experience with it, nor do I have any immediate access to aluminum rods.
Reply:Originally Posted by EcondronIt's aluminum. I'm pretty sure they don't make steel boat lifts? Yes, you can stick weld aluminum, but I have no experience with it, nor do I have any immediate access to aluminum rods.