Exercising Safety During Orbital Welding Repairs
Working with gas lines is always a bit like walking a tightrope. When it works it’s exhilarating, but when it doesn’t it can be absolutely terrifying. I was recently on a construction job where orbital welding repair was being used on a damaged conduit that had security system communication lines running through it. Obviously, the lines posed no danger and if they were damaged the worse that would happen is that they would have to be pulled back and ran through the tubing.
The gas came into playing during the welding process. Orbital methods rely on inert gases, most often argon for commercial-grade uses. Because of the intensity of the flame needed to produce the proper amount of heat the gas is highly concentrated and poses a risk if not managed properly. The equipment we used for the job was shipped with a local purifier, which while unnecessary, made us feel more at ease.
It’s incredible watching the process in action. The welt caused by the flame, or the arc, is so unbelievably precise that it’s easy to see why the technology is used for industrial level applications. Seeing such an incredible job done with a remote really reminded me how much has changed in the last 50 years. Gone are the days of assembly lines of skilled tradesmen harnessing torches and repeating the same task for an entire career, but I digress.
In all seriousness, you should always exercise great caution when you’re working with gas, no matter the concentration of it.