How to Grind and Blend Bronze Welds
Bronze is a soft metal alloy consisting of copper and tin. It's used to create anything from ornamental decorations to auto parts. Sometimes bronze needs to be repaired, which can be done by welding. After you weld bronze, the weld seam will need to be cleaned and sometimes ground down to match the original piece. Grinding and blending a bronze weld seam will give it a more natural appearance in relation to the finished product. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
- Metal grinder
- Fine file
- Stainless steel wire brush
- Shop towels
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Instructions
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Clean the bronze weld with a stainless steel wire brush to remove dirt. Use a shop towel to wipe away any lubricants that may be present.
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Put on the safety goggles and gloves. Determine whether the bronze weld will need to be grinded or filed by the size of the weld.
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Plug in the metal grinder. Begin to grind the bronze weld by sweeping left to right. Continue to sweep along the full length of the weld. Don't push too hard on the grinder or else the weld may become damaged or removed. It's better to grind less than to penetrate too deeply into the weld.
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Use a fine tooth file to blend the edges of the weld with the original material. Apply only enough pressure to shave away at the weld. Applying too much pressure can cause gouges in the weld.
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Wipe away the bronze shavings with a shop towel. Use the wire brush to remove any rough edges. The weld may be left as is or painted if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Look at the size and thickness of the weld before grinding and blending. If you feel uncomfortable about using a metal grinder, the file may be used from start to finish.
It's better to remove too little than too much. Start with slow, low pressure grinds of the weld to get a feel of how deep the weld is.
Don't wear loose clothing while using a metal grinder.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
