- Darker membranes definitely absorb more heat, so overheating can happen quicker than you'd expect.
- Helped my neighbor weld charcoal-colored TPO last year, and we had to constantly tweak the heat gun settings—way lower than the recommended range.
- Even then, we still got a few spots that nearly melted through before we caught it.
- Makes me wonder if manufacturers factor in color differences enough when giving welding guidelines...
- Also curious if anyone's tried using infrared thermometers to monitor surface temps during welding—would that help keep things consistent?
I've never tried an infrared thermometer myself, but honestly, I wonder how practical it'd be in real-world conditions. Last summer, I helped my brother-in-law weld some darker gray TPO on his garage roof, and we had similar issues. The recommended heat settings were way off—had to dial it down quite a bit, and even then, we got a couple of close calls with melting. Makes me skeptical about how much manufacturers really test their guidelines across different colors and conditions.
But back to the infrared thermometer idea... wouldn't the surface temp fluctuate too quickly to get consistent readings? Seems like you'd spend half your time aiming the thing instead of welding. Maybe someone who's actually tried it could chime in on whether it's worth the hassle or just another distraction.
I've messed around with infrared thermometers a bit, and honestly, they're not as finicky as you'd think. Sure, the surface temp can jump around, but if you keep a steady hand and check periodically rather than constantly, you get a decent ballpark. Still, I agree it's not exactly seamless—you're definitely pausing more than usual. Makes me wonder though, is there a better way to gauge temp consistency without relying solely on manufacturer specs or gadgets?
I've tried infrared thermometers too, and yeah, they're decent enough. But honestly, after a while, I just started relying more on feel and visual cues. When the TPO starts getting that slight sheen and feels tacky but not overly melted, that's usually my sweet spot. Not exactly scientific, but it's worked for me without constantly pausing to check temps...
I've been skeptical about relying purely on feel, especially since I'm pretty new to this whole roofing thing. Infrared thermometers seemed like a good idea at first, but honestly, I found them a bit finicky—too sensitive to distance and angle. Still, going entirely by touch and sheen feels a bit risky to me...maybe it's just my lack of experience talking. Guess I'll have to develop that sixth sense you're talking about eventually, huh? Until then, I'll probably stick with the thermometer as training wheels.
