Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Stainless bluing and argon

I have heard of a process where you control the bluing on stainless with a copper bar that pumps argon on the backside of the weld to keep the bluing from appearing. Does anyone have any information on this?

Robert Bailey
mfg - Rochelle, Illinois, USA
2004

Argon is an inert gas; and if the area being welded is exposed to an inert gas, thus excluding contact with oxygen, then oxidation can't occur. It sounds like you are describing welding with inert gas shielding.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

What Ted say's is correct. This can significantly reduce the blue oxidation on TIG welding if properly done. It will NOT stop all of the oxidation (blue). If you need a better system, you use a "inert atmosphere bubble" that operates on inert gas under positive pressure. This may be a large steel tub with a plexiglass top or it might be a plastic tent. The secret is to get all of the oxygen out by filling with argon and evacuating the bubble and refilling with argon. Typical is three cycles.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004

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