A longtime metal recycling customer called JADCO saying he was having an issue for the first time welding our JADCO QT-PLUS ^®.
This was a surprise since QT-PLUS  is designed to be easy to weld.

He explained “the welding arc was nearly uncontrolled…it is dancing all over the place.”

I said, “It sounds like you have magnetized the steel plate.”

When I arrived, we looked at the bin he was working on to show me how the arc danced all over. It was obvious it wouldn’t allow for a good structural weldment where it was needed.

Scrap yards use high powered electromagnets to pick up scrap that remains after car bodies have run through the shredder. With the power on, the steel scrap literally jumps up to the magnet. When the power is turned off, the scrap falls into the railroad cars or semi-trailers going to foundries or steel mills to be turned into new steel. Read Common Questions About Scrap Magnet.

When asked if they unloaded the semi load of wear plate with the electromagnet, he said he didn’t think they did. After checking they verified it had indeed been unloaded with the mobile magnet.

He was confused because they frequently unload mild steel plates and tubing, and have not had any issues in the past.

Why Did The QT-PLUS Become So Magnetized?

Mild steel does not contain any alloying elements such as Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Boron, etc.  As a result, mild steel does not remain overly magnetic.

QT-PLUS on the other hand has high levels of Nickel Chromium and Molybdenum.  Heat treating steel containing these alloys; make the steel wear plate hard through-out the thickness of the steel.  It is also the same alloying elements which can become very magnetic when lifted with an electromagnet.

What If My Wear Plate Is Already Magnetized?

How Can I Weld It?

There is still hope.

What you have to do is negate the magnetized area. 

Loop the cable attached to your ground clamp several times around the area to be welded.  This sets up a different magnetic field and reduces the residual effect on the steel.

In this case the area was on the vertical side, with the box mostly assembled. How can you have the ground cable loops stay in the required area? He tacked a couple bolts above and slightly to the sides of the plate. Using them like a coat hook, we hung the ground cable loops, so they were able to offset the magnetic field and allow the weld to be completed.

So Again…NEVER USE MAGNETS TO MOVE WEAR RESISTANT STEEL

For over the last 40 years JADCO has focused exclusively on delivering consistent, longer equipment life for our customers.

Now you understand why we are able to deliver better results to our customers. We think differently by strictly focusing to improve your current results.

Allow us to help you today by calling 724.452.5252, or email info@jadcomfg.com.
We will schedule a meeting with one of our local wear plate specialists at a time that best fits your schedule.

Remember, the only thing you have to lose by not working with JADCO, are your profits.