Hi all
I have 200+ feet 2" by 2" iron rod that is covered with thick and sticky protecting agent. It feels more like syrup than grease. Last time I cleaned the bars with a degresing agent and high pressure water and after that I used an angle grinder. And I may do just the same this time. But it got me interested: how do (large) machine shops clean their iron before welding? My method seems a bit impractical :)
As it is difficult or impossible to clean the inside of the pipe I have considered heating the pipe endings near the weld before the actual welding. The idea is to burn any possible oils remaining inside the pipe away. Is that a practical solution? I use GTAW/TIG I I believe that using a low current would allow me to heat the pipes sufficiently to burn any oily residue but not melt the pipe? Any comments?
IW