Stick welder vs TIG on that stainless tank job last week

I had to pick between my old Lincoln stick machine and renting a TIG rig for a 200 gallon stainless tank repair at a brewery in Denver. Went with the TIG since the customer wanted it to look clean, not just hold. Took me about 4 hours longer than I planned but the welds came out way smoother than anything I could do with rod. The guy running the place even said it looked like factory work, which felt good. Have you guys ever switched processes mid-job and regretted the extra time or was it worth it?

3 comments

3 Comments

ramirez.sage20d ago

...and honestly the back purge is the thing that takes the most time but saves your butt every single time. I've never regretted taking that extra hour or two to set up the foil dams and tape everything off. The brewery guys are right, any discoloration inside that tank is gonna haunt you later when the beer starts tasting funny. That sugar water picks up everything, like a sponge with legs. So yeah, worth the extra time for sure.

elliot_miller221mo ago

That Lincoln of yours is a workhorse for sure, but for a brewery tank you definitely made the right call. A hundred bucks says the owner would've flipped if he saw rod stuck all over his shiny stainless. What kind of prep work did you do on the inside of that joint before you started welding though? I'm always curious if guys bother with a back purge on stuff that's going to hold beer or if they just wing it.

margaretrivera1mo ago

Aw man, back purge is non-negotiable on beer tanks. I read somewhere that even a tiny bit of oxidation on the inside weld can ruin a whole batch. That sugar water picks up flavors like a sponge. So yeah, we always run argon on the backside. On that joint, I solvent wiped everything down first, then used a purge dam made of foil and water soluble paper. Clean fit-up is just as important as the purge though.