weld electrical conduit?

[hadley]

Anybody ever weld electrical conduit? Was just wandering if it was possible. I have a 220v hobart mig and for a project conduit would be just about right if its weldable. Thanks.

 

[jon f mn]

It's steel so it can be welded, but
it's both very thin and galvanised so
it's tough do.

 

[TJ in KY]

Conduit is galvanized. Be careful of the fumes on
any galvanized material. Weld outdoors or with
good ventilation.

 

[Dusty MI]

I weld it with my Mig. I usually pinch the end down to flat.

Dusty

 

[Stephen Newell]

If you can adjust the welder down low enough not to burn it up then it could be done. Not that it should be done. The fumes emitting from welding galvanized are especially hazardous. I don't think you could find a professional welder that would even consider welding galvanized. I think you would have to have an air supplied respirator to do it.

 

[moresmoke]

I've come across some that wasn't steel.
Some sort of white metal, it would just
melt when heated up.

 

[teddy52food]

I have welded heavier strap iron to it with my arc welder. 6011 x 1/8 inch at 70 amps.

 

[JGayman]

Can you grind the galvanize coating off in the area to be welded?

 

[Steve@Advance]

It will weld, but it's not going to be easy or pretty.

Some thin wall steel tubing would be a better choice.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Theoretically it can be done, but I've never been able to weld thin steel without burning holes. Can't weld exhaust pipe tubing either.

 

[DoubleO7]

(quoted from post at 10:53:54 09/03/18) I've come across some that wasn't steel.
Some sort of white metal, it would just
melt when heated up.

Are you thinking of the fittings melting?
A lot of the fittings are pot metal.
They do make aluminum conduit, but kinda rare for mainstream use.

Clean the coating off for a better weld and also to reduce the fumes coming from the galvan coating.
a tiny little desk fan is good enough to blow the fumes away from you. Not to strong or it will blow the mig shielding gas away too.

 

[kcm.MN]

This is where a flux-core wire feed welder works well. Use good ventilation outside.

Also, what diameter conduit?? The larger the conduit, generally the thicker the metal.

As others mentioned, the fittings are usually not steel - cannot be welded.

 

[Mark-Ia]

You might try swedgeing(expanding) 1 end of the conduit so it will slide over the other one.

 

[Jimmydog]

Vinegar will take that galvanizing off there easy peasy.
JD

 

[jeffcat]

Go on U'tube and watch the How It's Done for bicycle frames. They are
not welded but are soldered.

 

[westga]

Another way is carbon arch. You'll need a
dc machine for stick welding. With some
practice you can make some neat welds.the
weld will not be watertight if that
matters. Carbon arch uses bronze filler
rod.

 

[dr sportster]

EMT is galvanized outside and Teflon coated inside so it will be pretty smelly .

 

[Hobo,NC]

I have welded plenty of it... Its my go to poor boys flat bar (once you beat it flat)... A cart I built in this link...



http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1034639&highlight=cart

 

[timcasbolt]

I built a handrail for my front steps from conduit. Worked fine.

 

[Texasmark1]

Yeah. Where I worked any new work or modifications to support new business required new parts. Hence dumpsters were full of ?". I had a deluxe topper
on my P/U with Jalousie c(rank out) Windows, roof opening, and paneled interior. Made fold up beds for both sides (like pipe lawn chairs are made) and put
a rack on the top for my John boat so that I could load and unload it by myself. Welded with 6011 and Miller 130 AC welder. I had just bought the welder
and was learning to weld......took awhile and things weren't all that pretty but I got it glued together.

Had I done it today, if stick, it would be on DC with my AC/DC (which I didn't have at the time) and the rod would have been 3/32 7018......but my preferred
method now that I have one is a Gas MIG. Much cleaner job and few if any burn throughs.

 

[FLOLDFORD]

I don't know how many feet of EMT I welded back when I was building airboat metal works. First set I built I brazed together but that was time consuming. Bought a Hobart
mig and never brazed anouther piece. The trick was using 027 wire and a good fit. I have two stones for my bench grinder shaped to cope 1/2" and 3/4" tubing and that
makes all the differance.

 

[redtom]

I built a tractor show canopy for a silver poly tarp. Welded the corner pieces with 1/16" 6013 and my airco AC buzz box. Worked pretty good.

 

[Stephen Newell]

Yes but the heat from the grinder will create the same fumes you would get welding on it.

 

[Areo]

I've welded several projects of 1/2, 3/4 and 1" EMT. 3/32 6013 rod.
The key to pre-fit things so there are no large gaps. Takes a little finesse.
Keep a circulating fan going.

Areo

 

[Fawteen]

Welded up from EMT sweep 90's

Don't remember for sure but I think I used my MIG welder.

 

[Dick L]

Lots of it. I make all my gates for the miniature horse lots out of one inch and three quarter conduit with a wire welder. I use flux core wire. Some of them below. I never seem to make two alike.