We all know that welding makes use of heat that is generated using electricity so that the metal can get heated enough to the point that it melts. That said, we also know that heating something that’s wet will take a long time and that electricity and water do not mix well. And there are moments when metal can get wet due to the rain or other similar instances. So, can you weld wet metal?
In theory, you can weld wet metal because there are instances when welding can be done in the middle of rainy conditions or even underwater. However, the problem here is that welding wet metal isn’t completely safe because it increases the chance of getting electrocuted.
Yes, it is possible for you to weld wet metal or even during wet conditions. But there are still going to be underlying problems regarding welding wet metal, especially when it comes to the safety risks involved. As such, it is better to know more about what happens when you weld wet metal before you attempt to do so.
Can You Weld Wet Metal?
A lot of us are familiar with how the basic process of welding goes. In the most basic sense, welding metal involves melting the metal using heat so that you can join two different metal materials together at their melted ends. Of course, the way you heat the metal involves using electricity. This is why, when you watch someone doing arc welding, you will see sparks flying all over the place.
In relation to that, there are some instances when the metal you need to weld gets wet. It could be due to rainwater or something similar to that. Whatever the case may be, the point is that the metal is wet. So, if that is the case, can you still weld wet metal?
Theoretically, yes, you can weld wet metal because there are some techniques that will allow you to weld wet metal. But there are also some welding techniques that will make it very difficult or even impossible to weld wet metal. Nevertheless, what you need to know is that there is even something we call underwater welding, which is often used when constructing structures that need to be underwater, such as bridge foundations and underwater pipelines. But the type of welding used in underwater welding is an entirely different skill and trade that needs to be learned.
However, when we are talking about regular welding, it still is possible to weld wet metal even though we all know that water and electricity generally do not go well together. And we are talking about this both in the legal and technical way, as welding wet metal or even under wet conditions (such as when it’s raining) can be done. Still, there are some things that you need to know when it comes to welding wet metal or when welding in the rain.
Before we get there, let’s look at the legal side first. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it is not illegal to weld wet metal or to weld in rainy conditions. Looking at 29 CFR 1926.351, 1926.354, and 1926.406(c), which basically entail the standards of using electric welding equipment, there is nothing that says that it is illegal to weld in the rain. Nevertheless, the OSHA still recognizes welding wet metal or in rainy conditions as a hazard.
Even if welding wet metal or in rainy conditions is legal, you still need to know that there are some problems in relation to welding wet metal. First of all, when you weld wet metal, it doesn’t matter because the heat produced by the arc will simply cause the moisture on the metal to evaporate. However, this may have an effect on the metal.
Steel melts at 2720 degrees F. Meanwhile, water boils at 212 degrees F or around 100 degrees C, and that means that the heat you are applying on the metal when you are welding gets sucked by the water. This can cause a quenching effect that will make the weld brittle because of how the water on the wet areas of the metal is simply sucking a good part of the heat you are applying to melt the metal.
Then there is also the fact that water isn’t exactly pure. When you evaporate the water on the wet metal, what happens is that it will leave behind trace materials or residue that may end up contaminating the weld and affect its overall structural integrity. That means that you might not have a perfectly sound weld after welding wet metal.
Simply put, it might not be a good idea to weld under wet conditions even though it is very possible for you to do so. That is why there are some experts that would wait until the conditions get dry enough before welding.
Is It Safe To Weld Wet Metal?
So, while we did discuss the fact that you can weld wet metal, one of the things that you still need to look at is the safety risk involved with welding wet metal. Welding itself is already dangerous. That said, how safe is it to weld wet metal?
The first thing you need to know here is that welding wet metal or welding under wet conditions can increase the chances of getting electrocuted. Water and electricity never go well together, and that means that there is a good chance of getting zapped when you are welding something that is wet. That is why welding wet metal or under wet conditions isn’t always the safest thing to do.
How To Weld Wet Metal Safely?
Now that you know that it isn’t safe to weld wet metal even though it is possible and completely legal, here are some of the safety precautions to take before welding wet metal:
- Make sure that the metal and the surrounding areas are as dry as possible. Even sweat can be more than enough to be a safety risk. And it is better to always wear something that is waterproof so that you will be able to increase the chances of welding under safe conditions.
- Always see to it that your ground clamp and weld leads are in the best condition possible. That is because doing so will minimize the chances of becoming part of an electrical circuit, as electricity can easily pass through this circuit and that the wear and tear on the ground clamp and the weld leads can expose you to becoming part of this circuit.
- When it is raining, try to weld under a cover so that you will be protecting yourself, the metal, and your equipment from the rain. This allows the entire workplace to stay dry while you are welding.
- Place a rubber mat on the workspace to reduce the chances of electrocution while you are welding.
- If possible, weld while someone is there to watch over you. Doing so will allow you to have someone to take care of you or to perform any emergency measures in case something goes wrong while you are welding wet metal.
