Grinding Inside Tight Angles

[Ben]

I've got a welding project going involving tight angles as shown in the stock photo below. What is the best tool to use to grind on the interior corner to clean up the welds? My angle grinder obviously won't fit. I tried my Dremel with a grinding head, but that was useless. Is a die grinder the tool to use?

[zxcvbob]

A smaller angle grinder, or a die grinder. 

[HeroHog]

Why would you grind that weld? Hit it with a wire brush wheel and carry on!

[zxcvbob]

Why would you grind that weld? Hit it with a wire brush wheel and carry on!

That's a stock photo.  His must look like *expletive deleted*it or he wouldn't be asking 😂  (no offense intended, my welds suck too)

[Kingcreek]

Assuming the weld is functional, how. Important is it to clean up the weld?
I’ve left more than a few ugly but functional welding projects.

[RocketMan]

That's a stock photo.  His must look like *expletive deleted*it or he wouldn't be asking 😂  (no offense intended, my welds suck too)

Agreed.  That doesn't look like Idaho potato growing dirt.  As far as cleaning up the weld, wrap it in detcord and blow the crap off it.

[Ben]

Yes, all my welds suck, I'm a grinder, not a welder, especially with verticals. But I can't really get the wire brush on my angle grinder in there either. I'm trying to clean it up for painting.

[zxcvbob]

You can always wire brush it by hand

[K Frame]

Use a bastard file, you bastard!

Maybe that will make you concentrate on cleaning up your welds!

[Boomhauer]

Die grinder and attachments

Just remember face shield and those shards a burr bit throw are attracted to your eyes.

[Ben]

Die grinder and attachments

Just remember face shield and those shards a burr bit throw are attracted to your eyes.

I am super paranoid about my eyes these days. Safety glasses or face shield, depending, for everything from lawnmowing to grinding. Or even this morning hauling thorny Russian olive branches to the burn pile. I actually just had a new pair of Z87+ transition glasses delivered last week, with progressive lens down to +2.5 for the reader portion, so I can stop switching from clear to shaded, or regular to reading safety glasses. I just keep these on the whole time I'm doing whatever I'm doing.

[dogmush]

If I can't reach it with my 4.5" angle grinder i might hit it with a chipping hammer/brush.  If those won't fit, it doesn't get ground.

In my experience a die grinder doesn't have the torque for grinding.  Cutting, yess, but grinding,  meh.  If you must, a carbide burr in a die grinder will do the job.

Hamer brush combo: https://a.co/d/dPUB9AO

Carbide burr set: https://www.empireabrasives.com/10-piece-tungsten-carbide-burr-set-double-cut-1-4-shank/


FWIW there's nothing in that pic I couldn't hit with a 4.5" grinder

[HeroHog]

Get one of those slightly oversized toothbrush wire brushes. That might do the job.

https://www.amazon.com/Ekrnlyi-Pack-Small-Wire-Brush/dp/B0DG5SXVWM

https://www.amazon.com/Deal%E3%80%91OriGlam-Cleaner-Cleaning-Welding-Suitable/dp/B0754556QP

[dogmush]

Guys, grinding boogered weld and brushing flux off are two very different things.  A wire brush does not remove steel.

[Kingcreek]

Guys, grinding boogered weld and brushing flux off are two very different things.  A wire brush does not remove steel.

Agreed but welding slag is really easy to remove.

[Boomhauer]

I understood this to be a “grinder and paint will make me the welder I ain’t” assignment

[Ben]

I understood this to be a “grinder and paint will make me the welder I ain’t” assignment

I need to write that on my helmet. 

[Hawkmoon]

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-6307-Variable-Detailing-Sander/dp/B072Q2FTLY/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._i4IXu8uLr-BVF-5xnqBjJeKZG9VcmSdnmVFihmxdV990r_NegcjDpSUR7otiSiNzpGXSzWC_XbLeXDy-wOQPjB81Q6ZPv9f-HxIJxuadsUf500ydTBC8Vc7ST28f8b4bj9RVeHoTKorgbW0Tygve9gg0VKRb8kfhYM2qrDWNkjm8d-xcnTC2jkJrEmRTLjeCYnYiM_S4gVr0yt27Va_sUmB-clxDhQmzVka8ynS48UtL3kdO1Eu6oV5QglyuolYhf4XgAlAt6pjd6tApHRy-6DeBnjAai1jkNnBDLAik5ezXd0uJpAY9Tztx32yOZRAWOQJu9Hkr0xFWhcanxfdYkIe_nWbWcrskqezt3n0wkcwDSni9suDguYaYrhMewomoAoDOUD7lnOivmTs5--FyZJo1UXTrsYItUqCGmKx_Ne2w6N1aQoyOBpBg9-Ws3Qj.qqZjOIn1vF2dTrBd1VvrWT73sNfYwCtroYhlCMMRZI0&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini%2Bbelt%2Bsander&qid=1741492250&sr=8-6&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/NuoDunco-Pneumatic-Include-Aluminium-Polishing/dp/B0CN6L9PVQ/ref=sr_1_39?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._i4IXu8uLr-BVF-5xnqBjJeKZG9VcmSdnmVFihmxdV990r_NegcjDpSUR7otiSiNzpGXSzWC_XbLeXDy-wOQPjB81Q6ZPv9f-HxIJxuadsUf500ydTBC8Vc7ST28f8b4bj9RVeHoTKorgbW0Tygve9gg0VKRb8kfhYM2qrDWNkjm8d-xcnTC2jkJrEmRTLjeCYnYiM_S4gVr0yt27Va_sUmB-clxDhQmzVka8ynS48UtL3kdO1Eu6oV5QglyuolYhf4XgAlAt6pjd6tApHRy-6DeBnjAai1jkNnBDLAik5ezXd0uJpAY9Tztx32yOZRAWOQJu9Hkr0xFWhcanxfdYkIe_nWbWcrskqezt3n0wkcwDSni9suDguYaYrhMewomoAoDOUD7lnOivmTs5--FyZJo1UXTrsYItUqCGmKx_Ne2w6N1aQoyOBpBg9-Ws3Qj.qqZjOIn1vF2dTrBd1VvrWT73sNfYwCtroYhlCMMRZI0&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini+belt+sander&qid=1741492250&sr=8-39

[bedlamite]

I understood this to be a “grinder and paint will make me the welder I ain’t” assignment

You'd think AvE would have that on a sticker by now.

Maybe 4 1/2 angle grinder with a 1/16 cutoff wheel?

[zxcvbob]

What welding rods are you using? 

6011s are impossible for me to get a pretty weld with, but they can be used in all positions and even on dirty steel.  6013 are a lot easier but don't penetrate as deep (that can be good on thin stock)  I think you can use 6013 and 7014 for vertical welding if you weld up.  7018 is better, but it's a low hydrogen rod and they are a pain in the ass to store properly.

I'm going from memory here and it's been 20 years since I've welded anything, so you should verify this info before you trust any of it :D

[Hawkmoon]

Conveniently, AvE just reviewed one of these gizmos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLunhMBhAiU

[Ben]

What welding rods are you using? 

None. I'm such a crappy welder that my welds look like crap with flux core MIG.

[Boomhauer]

I’ve done some very good work with a flux core mig but the stars have to align just right. Ever consider upgrading to true MIG? And your welder may very well be capable of doing so!

[230RN]

Would it have been easier to grind it flush and pretty if you had welded from the other side?

Harbor Freight has a little hand grinder like a Dremel Tool for less than ten bucks.  The beauty of that is the kit comes with an incredible array of little grinding, polishing, and drilling tools for it.  Surely one of those would be suitable for removing the ugly if you're patient.

I liked that saying about paint.  Can be modified for a lot of things.

Then there's the old question:  "You want it strong, or you want it pretty?"

[Ben]

I’ve done some very good work with a flux core mig but the stars have to align just right. Ever consider upgrading to true MIG? And your welder may very well be capable of doing so!

You mean with gas? I have a Hobart 140, so it came with all the stuff, but I just haven't bought a tank. One of my big issues is that I end up only needing to weld something maybe 3-4 times a year, so I always seem to be starting fresh. My welds start out crappy, then by the last weld of the project, they improve to poor. 

Most of the stuff I do is farm related, so it doesn't have to be pretty, plus most of it doesn't involve tight interior angles. The welds on the utility trailer I found busted and buried in brush when I moved here and welded back together look almost adequate because of the easy to get to, mostly horizontal surfaces. This current project (target stands) is my first project where I wanted it to look good but also had difficult (for me) angles and tight working space.

I also have a little ESAB stick welder, but have hardly touched it. What I really need to do is practice a lot more and a lot more frequently.