Nozzle dip & a contentious neighbor

[peanutjar]

Searched several times and all my searches for "nozzle dip" turned up so many results that the search is basically futile; so here's the question/issue:

I'm using nozzle dip for my Mig gun - a petrolatum formula; can't recall the name right now (it's blue). It does seem to help the wire run better through the gun; after a while when it depletes I can feel the wire "chatter" as it runs through the gun...

SO, YES, it does seem to do what it claims to do. It does make quite a bit of smoke/vapor... which I do my best to get rid of using a draft system + general shop ventilation; plus filter/respirator under the welding hood

HOWEVER, my shop neighbor- across the hall, shared open air space (who is admittedly sensitive to smells - can smell paint being sprayed in an open air bay of another section of the building 100 yards away...) claims that:

1) the smoke is giving him a headache

2) nozzle dip is just a gimmick and doesn't do anything anyhow

3) the "smoke" from it is toxic (it says 'non toxic/ non-flammable on the container)

4) he has welded for years without any nozzle dip, and "I should learn how to weld without it too"

5) he hasn't even changed his Mig tip in 2+ years, and his welds are fine...

Results are results, in my book, and the dip works for me so I don't really care what anybody thinks about whether it works or not. BUT I would like to maintain a good relationship with my neighbor, so I'd love commentary on the relative merits of nozzle dip, specifically:

* Is its use common, rare, almost non-existent?

* Is it, or is it not toxic?

* Is the "smoke" actually smoke (i.e. combustion) or is it vapor?

* What are the health implications (medically known/experienced; not conjectural BS) of breathing burned/vaporized petrolatum - essentially, vaseline.

* Is there a better solution?

Thanks for your thoughtful, concise, on-topic answers!

[MinnesotaDave]

That's not what it does.

What it does is help spatter not stick to the inside of the nozzle - which it does very well and makes the spatter that does stick come off easier.

If you are mig welding with argon/co2 mix, you don't need it. I use it when I run 100% co2 since it spatters a little more.

[M J D]

Once you burn it off its gone, smell wise. There is a white ceramic based stuff that doesn't smoke and lasts longer.

[WyoRoy]

I'm using nozzle dip for my Mig gun - a petrolatum formula; can't recall the name right now (it's blue). It does seem to help the wire run better through the gun; after a while when it depletes I can feel the wire "chatter" as it runs through the gun...

Chatter? Have you a properly sized liner and nozzle installed? The dip wasn't designed to aid in wire travel through your mig gun other than to keep slag buildup at bay.

[OPUS FERRO]

peanutjar

MIG Dip/Spatter Spray is often over-used.

This is a reprint from 11-11-14.

I take a different approach to nozzle hygiene.

I have a Miller D60 Dual feeder on a XMT 300.
I run .024 and .030 Hard Wire in one gun, and .035 and .045
Dual Shield in the other - without daily Spatter Spray or Dip.

I have had a 12oz. can of Jokisch LB-100W for over 15 years, it's
1/3 full, and still has pressure. It is only used for initial coating
of new contact tips and nozzles.

You can ‘season’ a tip and nozzle just like a cast-iron kettle, and
they will last for years.

Easy as changing an inside dual:

begin with a new contact tip & nozzle – spray both – then:
carefully run stringers until the gun is hot,
immerse in Mig Dip,
hang the gun so it drains and cools [until the Dip congeals],

repeat the: weld to heat, dip, hang, cool cycle several times.

The exercise is to heat the gun, not actually weld, so use clean
metal, and angle the gun to optimize gas coverage.

Also key to longevity: is the ongoing treatment of the gun, the
cleansing mode of the nozzle, and a tight insulator.

Great care should be taken not to mar the OEM finish of the nozzle.
Any nick or abrasion is a foot-hold for spatter to stick. I only tap
the nozzle at it base, and I use a chop-stick to swab the inside.

With patience and technique - nozzle frustration is manageable.


Opus

[CEP]

Your problem is, you are using the wrong gun. I would go for years, and years, and years without ever seeing a can of nozzle dip or spray.

[shovelon]

I'm using nozzle dip for my Mig gun - a petrolatum formula; can't recall the name right now (it's blue). It does seem to help the wire run better through the gun; after a while when it depletes I can feel the wire "chatter" as it runs through the gun...

Are you putting nozzle dip on your wire. That is wrong. Years ago I was using that "Weld-Aid" wire lube as I was too lazy to blow out my liner. Only way to keep the wire from sticking was to use more of that crap. Finally got fed up and put in a new liner and ran it dry. Blew it out at every wire change.

Yes nozzle dip is smoky, stinky, and overall obnoxious, but it does reduce spatter buildup on the tip and nozzle. I hate it at it too makes me nauseous. I also use the ceramic spray coating on alum and steel mig guns which last hours.

Be a good neighbor and work on a solution.

[Sandy]

As mentioned, nozzle dip and/or spray isn't intended to 'lube' anything just keep spatter from sticking. I have a cheap spray I use on new tips, tip size swaps and screw ups. It smells like cod fish being deep fried for awhile. I suppose that could give someone a headache, if so that same person couldn't go into a fish 'n chips place or a greasy spoon resteraunt without gettin a headache.

Here's the real problem. It starts at birth. When a baby is 1st born it cries,, and those cries get it rewarded by a warm cuddly mother, then it cries more,, gets a warm teat in its mouth. Who wouldn't cry if that happened every time. That baby soon learns that the more and the longer it cries, the more and more it gets its way. It learns to manipulate any body and every body by incessant crying. Then one day it becomes an adult, a welder and has a booth across the hall, very experienced at crying ---- see where I'm going with this?

[welderj]

I have a can of nozzle spray in the shop all the time, but the only thing I use it for is on my band saw blade and flap discs when working aluminum as it's the best thing for keeping the aluminum from gumming them up.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Iain P]

While I have never used nozzel dip before I will say that I know it doesn't luberacate the wire. I've never used nozzel dip because spatter build up has never been a huge issue. I'd try to figure out what is causing so much spatter before investing in nozzel dip.

[TimmyTIG]

I would imagine when you dip a hot nozzle in that stuff that some of it finds its way inside the tip and reduces chatter until it burns away. We are having lots of trouble with wire chattering in the tip since we switched over to Hobart H4 Megafil. Once that tip gets hot the wire starts hanging up until eventually you get a bird nest if you keep going. We never had any trouble with the Kobelco wire we used to use. We've tried using .052 tips on .045 wire, doesn't really help.
I think I'm gonna try some of that dip. Even though I never have liked it, it shouldn't matter now that i have the fresh air hood.

Are you using Hobart H4, peanutjar?

I would tell your neighbor across the way to pound sand. If he's that sensitive to smells, he's in the wrong profession.


You can google that stuff and find an MSDS online.

[12345678910]

Some folks use pam cooking spray as nozzle spray.

How can he complain about that ?

[mla2ofus]

The nozzle dip helps for awhile. I finally just got so I clamp a 1/2" drill bit in the vise and when the nozzle gets a lot of buildup in it, I take it off and run the bit thru it to clear it.
Mike

[Tim9]

I can't say much about your nozzle dip....But your neighbor of the shared space needs to get used to it and keep quiet...or move to his own building.

Its a shared space...and that's the way it is IMO. Kind of like living in an apartment complex and complaining that the neighbor who works the night shift is waking you up when he goes to work at 2 AM.

[doojus]

Some folks use pam cooking spray as nozzle spray.

How can he complain about that ?

I use Pam.... Jody says Vaseline works too...

[mla2ofus]

Hand him a nice new white hanky to wipe away all the tears.
Mike

[OPUS FERRO]

mla2ofus

Are you on 'Hooper Water' again!


Opus

[skyboltone]

I use Pam.... Jody says Vaseline works too...

Jody? Jody Grinder? I haven't heard about him for ever.

[mla2ofus]

mla2ofus

Are you on 'Hooper Water' again!


Opus

Nope, haven't had any for years, LOL!!
Mike

[shovelon]

So am I reading this right? The noxxle dip is wicking into the tip for lubrication? And that is helping the feeding? I think the problem lies in the fact that the tip is getting sticky because of the noxxle dip when it gels. Perhaps that and the combination of junk wire could be happening. I found that other than Linlcoln and Esab steel wire, I would have lackluster feeding.

[farmshop]

used to use nozzle dip till I figured out that I didn't need it. I just use a 1/2 lag bolt to clean the nozzle.