Don’t Risk Weld Failure by Using the Wrong Dam Material
Unlike water-based materials that leak or slip from position, HFT’s weld purge film doesn’t contain water but is water-soluble. After being used to produce quality welds on tubes and pipes, the film dissolves and washes away.
Posted: May 15, 2020
Because Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT (Burry Port, UK) doesn’t recommend do-it-yourself dams made out of inappropriate materials, the company developed a low-cost film that achieves purging for oxide-free, zero-color welds on a variety of tube and pipe sizes.
“Weld purging can be challenging as well as expensive, so many welders construct their own dams to cut costs,” says HFT Chairman Ron Sewell. “However, homemade dams made from foam, sponge, or paper often leak or slip from position, flooding the welding zone with air.”
“Our water-soluble weld purge film is great for when mechanical purging devices can’t be retrieved,” he continues. “Unlike paper and sponge products, the film doesn’t contain water. Therefore, it creates an impermeable barrier that can be easily washed away without leaving any residue.”
The film comes as kit with a safety knife and adhesive. Once fixed into position, it produces an impenetrable purge barrier that washes away during hydrostatic testing of the pipe or by normal wash-out and dissolves without a trace. The film saves money by minimizing gas usage, dramatically reducing purge time, and eliminating the need to clean or replace a failed weld.
