wood boiler repair

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I got a call yesterday and was asked if I could weld a wood stove. Not sure if it was the right thing to say. The customer said it was just a pinhole. When I got inside it was 2 cracks 7" long in the worst place I've ever welded. Attached Images
Reply:Norsky63:Thanks for the pics. I've been caught in situations where a camera would have saved some memories and confirmed stories. In my case, not welding related.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Aw Geez manI guess it's a whole lot better than working around sewage, or animal waste."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:At least you didn't have any boogers...that we can confirm.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Been there and done that. Yeah it's always just a small pinhole. The guy I did it for just wanted to make the season the upgrade, that was 6 years ago and he's still using it. I had to weld in a patch it was so bad. They don't clean them enought and the soot makes a acid that eats into them. Talk about confined space, I put a fan on the stack to draw the air out and through the door.Brett B & B Fabrication and Welding Inc.Spalding, MI.
Reply:I got lucky a few years ago and found a set of hannay reels with 100' of stinger ans 100' ground  1/o with a green insulation its very flexable in very cold weather. 37 below wednesday nite!      Like the fan idea in the stack.....would help reduce welding boogers!
Reply:Originally Posted by UP BRETTBeen there and done that. Yeah it's always just a small pinhole. The guy I did it for just wanted to make the season the upgrade, that was 6 years ago and he's still using it. I had to weld in a patch it was so bad. They don't clean them enought and the soot makes a acid that eats into them. Talk about confined space, I put a fan on the stack to draw the air out and through the door.
Reply:Gizz,Note quite.  Wood ashes + water = lyeAnd lye is an alkali, not an acid.  The pH of an acid is below 7, and the pH of an alkali is above 7.The pH of plain pure water is 7, neither acidic nor alkaline but neutral.Depending on the wood and how the fire is burning, you could have acidic compounds being formed.  But lye is not acidic.It's just a pinhole and it is just a five minute welding job.  Yeah, right.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:What about a creosote build up inside. Cresote created by wood burning can contain a mixture of many chemicals. Nevermind the proven fact it is very flamable.http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts85.htmlAddon: Yep I have welded pot bellied stoves before that was full of the stuff folks never cleanout. The inside of the pot belly was cooked clean or  creosote but the chimney was full of cresote and it was dripping down the joints of the stove pipe. I did the job but gave them advise clean the chimney pipe of risk a house fire.Last edited by specter; 03-13-2009 at 03:24 PM.Reason: addonCo-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:Also have been there, done that.  Done the sewage plants, and pig farm stuff also (as Samm mentioned).  Like you said, "I've got a pin hole to weld" usually ends up being a big job.  Plus, they want a price before you get off the phone.  Yeh, right.Lugweld, thanks for pointing out the "Up the nose" view.
Reply:Gee pa I hate customers like that! They want a price before you see the job. Then you get to the job find out its 3 times worse than they described on the phone yet they try to hold you to the price you gave them over the phone sight unseen.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:The joys of crawling in cramped, dirty places with barely enough room between your hood and the weld to fit the torch or stinger...I never quote a price over the phone.  I have to put an eyeball on it before I can give a price.   If pressed for a price, I just tell them my hourly rate and the price will be that times however long it takes.   Then they ask, well how long is it going to take?   So I say, I have to see it to estimate the time!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:The best time to quote the hourly price is 1 hour after your done!"Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400