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Welding machines are built tough. They’re tested against high temperatures and made to survive industrial environments. So what maniacal little critter brings these metal behemoths’ to their knees more than any other problem? Dirt. Yeah, dirt. Dirt particles are much like babies. One of them you can handle. Two, sure why not? Three, things are getting a little crazy. But 50,000 and suddenly you’re rocking yourself back and forth in the fetal position.
So, how exactly does dirt destroy a welding machine? Many of the major problems have to do with overheating. Most welding machines use a fan to cool their internal components. As dirt builds up in a welding machine, it can block off airflow. Dirt can also pile up around the machine’s electrical components, causing a layer of insulation around the part. Both these things can result in major overheating problems, significantly shortening the life of your welding machine. Dirt can also cause friction between the mechanical parts of a welding machine, such as in the driver rolls.
So how do you deal with dirt? The best way is to prevent it from entering your machine in the first place. So what? Lock my welding machine up in its room and don’t allow it to date until it’s 40? Sure, or get it some high-quality protection. Welding protective covers are more than just fancy tablecloths to make equipment look good. They’re specifically engineered to protect your machine from harmful materials such as dust, dirt, moisture and other damaging substances.
When purchasing a welding machine cover, the thing to remember is that if the cover doesn’t fit right; it’s not going to do any good. For this reason, it’s best to get a protective cover that was specifically made for your particular machine.
