Welding Tips and Tricks

I have been trying to tig some aluminum tanks and welding mostly at night because of the daytime temperatures. So it's cooler but.....that dang kamikaze bugs are attracted to the arc light and committing suicide by diving into the puddle. So then I have to stop because of contamination, grind out and start over. Maybe if I get a bug zapper and put it near the barn door?........

Yikes, that's a lot of bugs. Maybe you could pick up a roll of window screen, and create a shroud or tent over your work station?

I finally had a big thick piece of steel that I could use a 3/16" stick rod on and really burn it in. Got the job done, lifted up My helmet and seen a faintly glowing red puddle cooling down. A big blow fly circled round, seen the puddle and did a fast landing on it and promptly "popped" all over Me. Welcome to the welding world.

Lol that's funny. Had a bad job one time at a Tyson plant(weird food grade) and there were roaches all over this corner. When I lit up they all scurried away and froze. When I stopped they'd creep back. I was using it like a bug repellent Arlington get them away so I could measure. That's about the worst I've had tho. Work at an ethanol plant worst is some pigeons getting into the feed on the roof when a line is down. I would suggest fly ribbon or a fan.

I had two moths kamikaze on my aluminum joints I was making. There was no glow but I dunno maybe they just wanted the warmth. It was interesting watch them carbonize.

And then more wire brushing!

Well at least I can look forward to the future. Our plan is to put a radiant tube heater in the barn for winter heat so I should be able to work without unsavory interruptions. Our future plans are for a climate controlled building with a full shop and vehicle service area. Probably be sitting around drinking a beer and reminiscing about the "good ole days" in a year or so.

Good thing it's not June. I can't imagine a June bug diving into a weld puddle.

This time of year we have zillions of deer flies. I call them ear flies as they are constantly in your ears and in my hood. I use 99% Deet and overhead fans and a cross flow fan. If I'm doing TIG , you have to block the wind. MiG isn't bothered so much. Sometimes I just quit and go in for the day.

Annoying little things (and some big). This one didn't get the puddle, but close enough to get roasted.

Here's my two lil "friends"
The carbon life form being carbonized on the carbon steel was the most amusing

I had 3 bugs land in the same 2" aluminum joint while I was messing with settings on a kids Dynasty at work the other day. He wanted to know what the smell was, I just pointed to the fly wing sticking out of a ripple lol.

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