Pot metal welding guide, what is pot metal, and how do you make it?
Pot metal can be found at some point in a welder's welding assignments.Some welders don't know what pot metal is or how to make it.
The quality of welding can be compromised if you don't have the facts.This metal should be welded the same way as traditional metal.
The kitchen is brought to mind by the mention of pot.This has nothing to do with welding any kitchen utensils.The origins of pot metal is what it has to do with.
In the past, automotive repair shops would gather scrap metal and melt it in a pot for use on small jobs.There was a lot of different metals in this scrap metal.It was informally referred to as pot metal because it was melted in a pot.
Pot metal is a term that means low-melting-point metals.An alloy is any metal made by combining two or more metallic elements to have a stronger metal.
Zinc is the primary ingredient in most pot metal cases.Pot metal is melted together.The action alters the properties of the metals in the mix, which results in a low melting point.
This type of zinc-rich hybrid metal is weak and has a low melting point.
It might be hard to identify this metal.Pot metal is a mixture of metals.It is an alloy, we previously said.It is one of the primary metals used to make it.If the pot metal you are looking at has a higher amount of iron, it will pass for iron.
Though it will look like that metal, it won't have the same attributes.If you treat the pot metal the same way you would handle the primary metal in its ingredients, it will be easy to mess your work.
It is important for welders to know how to work with pot metal so that they don't compromise the quality of their work.There are many ways to identify pot metal.
You can see the melting point of the metal by heating a sample.Pot metal has a low melting point.If the sample melting at low temperatures is what you have, that is pot metal.
White smoke will be produced if the metal you are heating has a high level of zinc.
Weighing your sample will tell you if the metal is aluminum or pot metal.Pot metal is heavier than pure aluminum.The finish of pot metal leaves a pattern that is not found in aluminum.
You can see some darker areas in the finish, which is an indication that the metal you are using is pot metal.
Sometimes you need to make items in a mold.Pot metal can be used in such cases.The process of casting is easy and fast.Pot Metal is cheaper than other metals.
These are some of the reasons why welders find this metal quite beneficial when it comes to some projects.
Pot metal does not age well.The metal is used to make items that are not exposed to the elements.The purposes of this metal include:
If you notice, this metal has a wide range of applications in the kitchen.Many of the cookie cutters you find in the kitchen are made using pot metal.The cookie cutters are easy to bend.Any cookie-cutting device will benefit from this ease.
Pot metal can be found in toy boxes.Toy cars and similar toys are usually made from this metal.The cheap metal helps lower the cost of the inexpensive toys.
Pot metal can be found in inexpensive furniture.This metal can be found in low-end guitar and other musical equipment.
The metal was used to make window cranks.The modern-day electronic windows were not used before.Pot metal's low cost made it possible for manufacturing costs to remain low.
Pot metal is popular in the making of jewelry.It is easy to shape and is a quick way to make jewelry.
Identifying this pot metal is the most important thing.It is not possible to tell pot metal from other types of metal.Consider the following.
The benefits and uses of this metal have been highlighted.This metal isn't easy to work with as a welder.There are a lot of challenges when working with this metal.
Most of the problems you will encounter with this metal come from the fact that it is a mixture of metals.The type of metal you are going to work with is the first thing you should consider.The mixed metals pose a challenge here.
Some metals should not be welded.Toxic fumes from zinc can make you sick.If you determine that the pot metal you intend to use has a high level of zinc, don't weld it.
The welding is going to be difficult if the pot metal contains a lot of aluminum.
Pot metal is melted at low temperatures.This can pose a challenge since the high temperatures from the welding machine can quickly melt this metal and leave you with a lump of metal instead of your desired product.It might be better to use port metal parts instead of the whole project.
You will probably get assignments that require you to work with pot metal.This metal has its fair share of problems when it comes to welding.Pot metal will behave differently than usual metals in your everyday welding life due to its mixed nature.
Although this metal has a low melting point and might contain zinc, you can still use some tricks to accomplish your welding project.
TIG-welding the pot metal is the first thing you need to do.The heat generated by the electric arcs is used in this process.The metal you want to join has a high temperature applied to it.Skills and equipment are required for this process.
TIG welding is not a big challenge if you have enough welding experience.The approach you use to TIG-weld pot metal is the same one you will use for aluminum.
Make sure you use low-temperature settings when starting the actual welding.If you were welding aluminum, you would use the same approach because it has a low melting point.If you want to work on a piece, keep the temperatures low.
Don't stop welding.You can still melt your piece if you do this.Work in short intervals of around five to ten seconds.The practice gives you enough time to cool down the pot metal.Don't allow the pot metal to heat too much; as soon as it starts to flow, you have to stop welding and let the metal cool down.