Lead welding

[Glen Morgan]

The reason most builders don't weld lead is that they don't have the tools or skill. It was only ever about 10 per cent of Plumbers who could lead weld. If you think that a Bossed and folded chimney tray is superior to a welded one.............................why did they bother welding them? To avoid stretching the lead, that's why

Don't tar all of us builders with the same brush!

 

[mike os]

There are ups and downs for welded and bossed work.... when done correctly they both are durable and aesthetically pleasing...

 

[KenQ]

Bossing (bending) if done right will not thin the lead.
Burning (welding) is quicker.
Burning can be done using O/A, oxy/gas ( map,propane,and mixed)
Like most things lead welding is not hard if you know how.
All welds have different methods, mig is not tig. tig is not stick.
The trick to welding lead is:
Clean it using a stick shave / scrapper.
Set a very small neutral flame.
cut a clean thin strip of lead filler rod
Melt a small pool about 1/4 inch round.
as this melts feed in the rod, this will build up the pool
and at the same time cool the pool.
Come away from it, let it cool.
as soon as it solidifies start again overlapping by 50%
Stacking dollars, Much the same as tig.
PS
don't hit anyone when you through it at the wall.

 

[roofman]

Bossing (bending) if done right will not thin the lead.
Burning (welding) is quicker.
Burning can be done using O/A, oxy/gas ( map,propane,and mixed)
Like most things lead welding is not hard if you know how.
All welds have different methods, mig is not tig. tig is not stick.
The trick to welding lead is:
Clean it using a stick shave / scrapper.
Set a very small neutral flame.
cut a clean thin strip of lead filler rod
Melt a small pool about 1/4 inch round.
as this melts feed in the rod, this will build up the pool
and at the same time cool the pool.
Come away from it, let it cool.
as soon as it solidifies start again overlapping by 50%
Stacking dollars, Much the same as tig.
PS
don't hit anyone when you through it at the wall.

Welcome on your 1st post mate but rubbish to your statement that stretching lead can be done without losing thickness...When you come out of a chimney back box and need to bring it around a sharp stack corner and down then something has to give and its always right on the transition from the 90 degree to the surrounding 50mm width. I don't lead burn because i am not good enough but i can dress lead.

 

[Dcal]

Welcome on your 1st post mate but rubbish to your statement that stretching lead can be done without losing thickness...When you come out of a chimney back box and need to bring it around a sharp stack corner and down then something has to give and its always right on the transition from the 90 degree to the surrounding 50mm width. I don't lead burn because i am not good enough but i can dress lead.

@roofman that's not a very nice way to welcome a new member and one that obviously knows about lead and is happy to share his experience.

I know next to nothing about lead (I did manage to weld it in the end though) but I do know a little bit about metal and my take is, bossing can both stretch (which will thin the sheet) and shrink which will thicken it. Might be both on the same section but not always.
I think he is giving excellent advice and don’t see why you should "rubbish" his first post.

@KenQ hope you hang about and offer more help, I for one would be very glad to take it.

 

[gaz1]

for a first post it was good info except for the bossing as roofman has pointed out and yourself

we all have to learn something new and thats some good info to share

i dont think roofman has rubbished his first post just corrected him on the bossing side of it

i hope hes stays around though

 

[Brad93]

There’s a few lead work guys on Instagram who do some lovely work

 

[roofman]

@roofman that's not a very nice way to welcome a new member and one that obviously knows about lead and is happy to share his experience.

I know next to nothing about lead (I did manage to weld it in the end though) but I do know a little bit about metal and my take is, bossing can both stretch (which will thin the sheet) and shrink which will thicken it. Might be both on the same section but not always.
I think he is giving excellent advice and don’t see why you should "rubbish" his first post.

@KenQ hope you hang about and offer more help, I for one would be very glad to take it.

Please explain how i rubbished his 1st post...did you not read my first 6 words on my reply to him? ..I also cant seem to find your "welcome" post to the new poster but perhaps by your silly defensive dig at me it does the job.

 

[Dcal]

Please explain how i rubbished his 1st post...did you not read my first 6 words on my reply to him? ..I also cant seem to find your "welcome" post to the new poster but perhaps by your silly defensive dig at me it does the job.

OK I'll give it a go.
"rubbish to your statement that stretching lead can be done without losing thickness."

Thats a bit harsh and he didn’t say that.
He said "Bossing (bending) if done right will not thin the lead."
Bending if done correctly i.e. to the correct bend radius, will not thin the lead in any meaningful way.
At a really high level you might be able to measure the thinning, but if done correctly it will be less than the tolerance on rolled lead sheet. (Do it in a folder and you will certainly thin and probably tear the lead like I did on my first attempts.)
As I said bossing that includes shrinking the lead will thicken the sheet locally so again not thinning.

You have said you don’t burn lead.
From the post I assume @KenQ can burn lead (whether he does or not is immaterial to my argument) so if he needs to shape a lead sheet to the extent that he would thin it more that he wants by bossing, he has the option to burn it and keep the thickness where it needs to be.

If bossing is the only option then I assume you can start with a thicker sheet and still end up with the recommended thickness for the application.
Wasteful of materials in my opinion but certainly worth doing if hot works is an issue, or if you can't do it off site and bring the finished piece. (I accept this is not always an option)

I am not an expert and I agree you are correct in your statement on bossing (I said that in my post) but in my opinion, there are better way of getting your point across to someone new to the forum and who probably doesn’t know the craic.
I think the real value of this forum is the wide range of views and experience available.
I also think it's important to try and keep it inclusive while not being afraid to challenge.
I came here to learn stuff and I stay about because I still learn stuff most days.

I fully agree I should have welcomed the OP but I‘m a bad person and I was replying to your post.

 

[roofman]

OK I'll give it a go.
"rubbish to your statement that stretching lead can be done without losing thickness."

Thats a bit harsh and he didn’t say that.
He said "Bossing (bending) if done right will not thin the lead."
Bending if done correctly i.e. to the correct bend radius, will not thin the lead in any meaningful way.
At a really high level you might be able to measure the thinning, but if done correctly it will be less than the tolerance on rolled lead sheet. (Do it in a folder and you will certainly thin and probably tear the lead like I did on my first attempts.)
As I said bossing that includes shrinking the lead will thicken the sheet locally so again not thinning.

You have said you don’t burn lead.
From the post I assume @KenQ can burn lead (whether he does or not is immaterial to my argument) so if he needs to shape a lead sheet to the extent that he would thin it more that he wants by bossing, he has the option to burn it and keep the thickness where it needs to be.

If bossing is the only option then I assume you can start with a thicker sheet and still end up with the recommended thickness for the application.
Wasteful of materials in my opinion but certainly worth doing if hot works is an issue, or if you can't do it off site and bring the finished piece. (I accept this is not always an option)

I am not an expert and I agree you are correct in your statement on bossing (I said that in my post) but in my opinion, there are better way of getting your point across to someone new to the forum and who probably doesn’t know the craic.
I think the real value of this forum is the wide range of views and experience available.
I also think it's important to try and keep it inclusive while not being afraid to challenge.
I came here to learn stuff and I stay about because I still learn stuff most days.

I fully agree I should have welcomed the OP but I‘m a bad person and I was replying to your post.

i cant believe ime sitting here at almost midnight reading nothing more than someone who needs to take life less serious...chill out man and stop crying over nothing...goodnight.

 

[David price]

I sold one on here to a member as I would never use it as I already have 4 oxy acet torches

Hi, have you got an original everest blow pipe torch you'd like to sell?

 

[David price]

That was me mate and i still struggle to produce work that myself would be happy to pay for and that's why i sub it out...Having the right tools and a head full of youtube clips does not always make you an expert. Lead burning in the garage is half possible but get out on site 50 ft up hanging off a roof ladder in windy conditions and its another ball game

Hi, do you by chance have an original everest blow pipe torch you'd like to sell?

 

[roofman]

Hi, do you by chance have an original everest blow pipe torch you'd like to sell?

Maybe..if i think on tomorrow i will put some pics up,i was going to try get into lead welding but for me its easier to sub the work out

 

[Parm]

steelwork covered in lead, A

why was that? I’m interested to find out

 

[David price]

Maybe..if i think on tomorrow i will put some pics up,i was going to try get into lead welding but for me its easier to sub the work out

Thanks, much appreciated

 

[gordon stephenson]

On the coke ovens, there were two different sections, The black end and the white end!! Black end dealt with the creosote, and the white end was salt, Salt used to cause the steelwork to rot, When you worked in there your palms would be soaking in just a few minutes,

 

[David price]

Few bits of lead work I've done

 

[David price]

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