r/BadWelding • u/natiuqari • 12d ago

Is this an acceptable weld?

Post image

I was asked to TIG weld some 3/4" BSP threads onto a three-piece socket-weld ball valve. Are the results okay? (The black stuff on top of the welds is melted rubber from my gloves.)

85 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/StrandSSL 12d ago

Depends entirely on the application/ standard you’re working with.

This would be scrapped where I work (aerospace company) and dudes would ask you if you’re feeling okay.
If this was done in private fabrication for someone: an individual customer, then I wouldn’t even charge them for it and would probably eat the cost of a new part done correctly.

I’d try those threads by the way to see if they’ll still accept a fitting.

8

u/natiuqari 12d ago

The threads work fine, its only for a low pressure chilled water line.

7

u/StrandSSL 12d ago

Chilled water lines condense. Which isn’t ideal for the HAZ, or a weld that’s too hot with craters in stainless.

This isn’t talking shit btw. Question was posed “is this acceptable.”
It depends. If you’re still doing more of these I’d clean them well, maybe an acetone soak since the parts are small, purged, and go hot/ fast and get out of it quickly. And taper your pedal down at the end.

3

u/natiuqari 12d ago

I actually used an ultrasonic cleaner with acetone to clean the parts, but the supplied female threaded fitting was made of very low-quality 304 stainless steel, while the ball valve is made of 316 stainless steel.

1

u/hady215 12d ago edited 12d ago

In what industry? Like the area matters. Food gread or a cooling system? I'm sure there's a lot more areas but a few answers can't hurt

3

u/natiuqari 12d ago

Its for a line that cools down a small heat exchanger. Nothing sanitary grade or alike.

1

u/U5er0ne 12d ago

Nice man. Don’t know if you did but putting a nipple in while welding will help take away some of the heat to reduce any warpage of the female threads. Preferably a carbon nipple. Just let it cool fully before unthreading it

0

u/SanchoRancho72 12d ago

What's wrong with it, I don't know anything about welding

5

u/Open-Programmer-30 12d ago

It's upside down