​How to Clean the Welding Shoe on an Extrusion Welder

Cleaning the welding shoe of an extrusion welder is an important step when stopping work for the day or any extended period of time. 

1. Extrude until six inches of extrudate comes out of the shoe.
2. Cut a piece of rod about 8 inches long. Insert one end of the rod into the end of the shoe. Move it in a small circle along the edge of the hole of the shoe. Wait 5 seconds.
3. Slowly pull out the rod. The extrudate inside the shoe will come out with it.
4. While wearing a heat-resistant glove, remove the welding shoe holder. 
5. Look behind the welding shoe holder into the back of the shoe. Gently remove any extrudate from the back of the hole in the shoe. Be careful not to cut into the shoe.
6. If any rod pulls out of the back of the shoe and remains on the brass nozzle, cut it off of the nozzle.
7. Brush off any extrudate from the shoe and the nozzle.