How do you prep your materials before you make a manifold?

I typically grind a little off edges of where I will weld.
Then I take a paper tower and wipe the edges clean of any oil that may exist.

 

bevel the edges to a similar angle that the elbows come with, wire wheel the whole piece, wipe with acetone, clean filler rod w/ acetone, then weld.

 

I'm also interested.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k20 jon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bevel the edges to a similar angle that the elbows come with, wire wheel the whole piece, wipe with acetone, clean filler rod w/ acetone, then weld.</TD></TR></TABLE>
See, I dont know about the whole acetone thing. I'm hearing it a lot, but it doesnt make much sense to me. If I've already grinded off the top layer of steel, how can the surface be contaminated?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by discrete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">See, I dont know about the whole acetone thing. I'm hearing it a lot, but it doesnt make much sense to me. If I've already grinded off the top layer of steel, how can the surface be contaminated?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I do know your grinder can pick up crap and spread it around, like inks and oils.

 

Its alot easier to take a few seconds to clean it w/ acetone rather than chance oils/dirt getting into it and getting a comprimised weld from contamination.

 

Make sure you try not to touch the area with bare skin or else you can release your body oil into the piece.

 

Don't forget to give your filler rod a quick acetone wipe as well

 

Is there any other solvent that I can use to clean the metal and filler besides acetone?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xtremeazian &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any other solvent that I can use to clean the metal and filler besides acetone?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why not just use acetone ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xtremeazian &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any other solvent that I can use to clean the metal and filler besides acetone?</TD></TR></TABLE>'

acetone leaves the least residue in relationship to it's price (imho). Buy it and be happy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90blackcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Why not just use acetone ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was just seeing if there was anything else i can use, like something I already have laying around the house

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by I4sillypwr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">'

acetone leaves the least residue in relationship to it's price (imho). Buy it and be happy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

sounds good