What is a self-etching primer? Self-etching primer, also known as a pre-primer, is an anti-adhesion coating that can be applied to steel before painting.

The goal of the primer is to create a chemical bond between the paint and metal so that when it’s time for repair, you can remove the old paint without having to grind down through the original metal surface.

This blog post will answer your questions about whether or not you can weld through self-etching primer!

Can You Weld Through Self-Etching Primer?

Yes, you can. But only with the correct equipment. You can weld through self-etching primer if you have a welding machine that is capable of achieving high penetration and a wire electrode suitable for welding on galvanized steel or stainless steel without pre-cleaning.

How To Weld Through Self-Etching Primer?

Here are a few tips:

1) Make sure the welding machine is properly grounded and in good working order

This will reduce the chances of your welder sparking when it comes in contact with self-etching primer all over the metal surface.

2) Use the right electrodes.

Using a welding electrode that is not made to work with self-etching primer will just exacerbate your problem because it won’t have the strength or durability needed for this type of application.

Also, keep in mind that using too much heat can cause distortion and warping, leading to cracks, leaks, and other problems down the road.

If you’re not sure which electrodes are made for self-etching primer or any other type of application, be sure to contact your supplier before welding so they can help steer you in the right direction.

3) Clean the metal thoroughly before welding.

In order to get a strong bond between layers of self-etching primer or any other type of primer, you need a clean surface so more of the product can adhere to your metal and provide maximum protection from corrosion and rusting.

So be sure to use an industrial cleaner that is designed for this purpose before welding.

Using these tips will allow you to join metals together more efficiently without causing issues or problems that can cause leaks and other headaches down the road.

By taking all of this into consideration, it should be much easier for you to ensure your metal is protected from rusting and corrosion while giving yourself a better chance of achieving optimal results when welding.

4) Reduce heat input.

When welding through self-etching primer, it’s important to use a lower amperage and voltage setting on your machine in order to prevent the product from melting too quickly before the weld is complete.

If you do this, you can minimize distortion and warping, which will help give you a stronger bond between layers of metal when joining them together with self-etching primer or any other type of industrial adhesive.

Using more heat than necessary for this type of application will only cause problems down the road because it won’t allow enough time for all layers to join properly, leading to leaks, cracks, rusting, etc.

5) Use a slower speed.

When welding through self-etching primer, it’s also a good idea to use a slower travel speed because the higher speeds make it more difficult for heat from your machine to dissipate throughout each layer of metal.

This can cause either or both layers to become too hot and melt the product before you have a chance to finish what you are doing, decreasing its effectiveness as an industrial adhesive.

So if possible, always try using lower settings on your welder to reduce distortion and warping while strengthening bonds between metals when joining them together with self-etching primer or any other type of industrial adhesive designed for protection against protection corrosion and rusting.

By following these tips, you should be able (and willing) to weld through self-etching primer and achieve the results you expect without having to worry about issues or problems that can cause leaks and other headaches down the road. Checking our post about cutting with a mig welder and how to wire 3 phase welder.