Chicago Pneumatic supports you throughout all your metal welding processes, from surface preparation to weld seam removal and finishing. Our range of angle, vertical and die grinders, angle and belt sanders is designed to optimize your metalworking applications.
Our tools range designed for the welding process facilitates the work of metalworkers
Consistent speed and power are critical to achieving efficient material removal throughout the welding process. As a specialist in metalworking, Chicago Pneumatic offers you a versatile range of air tools especially designed to help you in surface preparation and cleaning. Chicago Pneumatic supports welders by providing multiple tool designs to reach narrow spaces and multiple speed options based on application requirements.
Our top tools selection for welding: vertical and angle grinders, angle sanders, belt sanders, die grinders
Working with tools & abrasives: how to choose the right tool?
1. Metal plate preparation
For metal plate fabrication, surface preparation can be carried out using an angle grinder (4”, 4.5" or 5"), a die grinder for chamfering, or a vertical grinder (7” or 9”) where a very high material removal rate is required. Resinoid grinding wheels or flap wheels are recommended.
2. Weld seam removal
After welding, weld seams are removed to make the surface flat and/or the corners sharp again. These activities are carried out with angle grinders (4”, 4.5" or 5") with traditional wheels, or die grinders with mounted points or carbide burrs. If cleaning is required for painting applications, a wire brush is recommended.
3. Surface finishing
Finishing operations are performed to achieve a smooth surface finish or to prepare for metal for painting. Rotary, belt or orbital sanders are used with sanding pads, abrasive discs or belts.
Did you know? Up to 1/3 of welders and fitters’ activity consists of grinding weld seams. This is an important information to consider when choosing your tool.
3 Safety tips when working with pneumatic grinders
Speed: Make sure the tool’s speed never exceeds the abrasive’s maximum operating speed (MOS).
Air: Make sure you have a good, tight connection between the air line and the tool’s inlet. Use Teflon tape or similar to help achieve this.
Abrasive: Always use an abrasive designed for the job: i.e. only use a cutting wheel for cutting and a grinding wheel for grinding.
Stainless steel and aluminum have a lower heat conductivity than steel and overheat more readily. To avoid overheating and melting the metal onto the abrasive, don’t push on the tool too hard and ensure you use the right abrasive for the job.
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Welding is a very important stage of fabrication. However, for any welding process to be efficient and accurate the material must be prepared properly so that it is in the best possible condition for the next step. This can be achieved by effectively removing coatings such as paint, oils, greases, and rust (oxides).
It is crucial to remove impurities such as rust and mill scale when working with carbon steels. However, when working with stainless steels, it is often important to remove chromium oxide if a shiny decorative finish is required.
Nonferrous materials present their own challenges in the weld preparation process. For example, oxidation can take place very quickly on metals such as aluminum and titanium, and so there is a short time frame between surface cleaning and welding. If large areas are cleaned too early this often results in needing to rework the piece.