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That air arc gouging job that turned into a 4 hour mess | Boilermakers - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

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the_jessica•4mo ago

That air arc gouging job that turned into a 4 hour mess

I had to do a simple gouging repair on a 2 inch fillet weld down at the Port of Tacoma last Wednesday. Figured it would be maybe 45 minutes tops, but the compressed air line kept freezing up every 10 minutes. Took me over 4 hours to finish because I kept stopping to thaw the lines. Has anyone else dealt with moisture freezing in their air lines during winter jobs?

4 comments

4 Comments

beng514mo ago

Simple gouging repair" and it turned into a 4 hour mess? Sounds like you just need a better setup. I've done plenty of winter work and never had that much trouble. You probably just need a dryer or a water separator on your compressor line. Or maybe your hose is old and cracked letting moisture in. Honestly, 45 minutes to gouge out a 2 inch fillet is pretty optimistic anyway, sounds like you were already pushing it.

laura_wilson4mo ago

That 45 minute estimate sounds like pure wishful thinking for sure. You're right about the air setup being a big factor. A good dryer on the compressor line makes a world of difference, especially when it's cold out. I've seen guys fight with moisture all day and never figure out why their carbon keeps popping. It's not just the hose either, the tank itself can collect water if you don't drain it regular. Honestly, even with perfect equipment, gouging in winter is slower because your hands get cold and you have to take more breaks. The whole job probably would have taken at least an hour and a half no matter what.