I bought it at Airgas, I would assume their prices are the same at all their stores.

You don't need the braided cover for your application, so you could take it off. I'm not sure that helps in this case because the fit is still poor. The braid is only needed to allow the bellows to meet a pressure rating, but you're not applying any pressure.

I just paid $55+tax at my local place.

If you're talking about lay wire to make the tack, that won't work because the filler just balls up and melts away with aluminum. But you do have to use filler to tack with. Even with two pieces that fit perfectly it's tough to tack aluminum without filler. I always use a smaller filler diameter tha...

The obvious is keep the torch more directed on the heavier material and walk it over to the thin. I also tack somewhere other than the edge, like maybe move an inch in from the end. That gives the thin material a little better ability to handle the heat. And if your machine can pulse, that might als...

Used AHPs show up on Craig's list every few weeks around here, some are really good buys. Buying used would be a good way to figure out what you really need and still recover your investment. I've never used one, but it seems like the cheapest way to find out if you really have a use for it.

Here's one that happens to be on Craigslist in my area for $1200. I'd check ebay and craigslist in your area and price comparably.

I found E3 good for DC on both transformer and inverter machines, not as good for AC on inverter machines. I had problems with it running wide, gray beads on AC. Could have been the nut behind the torch, but I had better performance with 2% lanthanated.

Arclight Ironworks wrote:see sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 of the DGP Tungsten GuideBook to understand the homogeneity/distribution

Good reference, now I know why some tungstens are so much more expensive than others.

Aluminum melts around 1200F, and silicon bronze melts around 1800F. So no, it won't work.

I asked one of the physicists at work about this, here is his explanation for the observed electrode emissions. "The lanthanum/thorium in the electrode is not only inside the tungsten but evenly distributed, i.e. there is some on the surface/close to the surface. The alpha particles will knock ...

Now I am home, I just put some 2% Thoriated tungstens on test and they are reading around 10 times background (around 1uS/hr)! Wow, I'm quite surprised at that number. I was thinking maybe they were inadvertently creating a tungsten isotope somewhere in the production process, but that would result...

Neither thoriated nor lanthanated should emit measurable radiation when they're in the form of an electrode because the tungsten absorbs the alpha emissions. It's only when you grind the thoriated and the thorium is released that it becomes a problem. Normal Lanthanum that you dig up is not radioact...

The specific circumstance here is that the lack of oxygen means it's an effect that also happens and continues to metals (like alu) that normally 'skin over' and protect themselves so it can be a pretty sneaky effect. Can usually be designed out as long as the designer makes sure there's no spots w...

If you look at the galvanic tables you will see that any two metals will corrode through galvanic corrosion. The farther apart they are on the chart means they will corrode faster. Humidity in the air above 50% is enough to get the process started. Rain and snow melt contribute even more. Especiall...

Key point here is that for crevice corrosion like this to start the trapped water needs to get into an stagnant and oxygen depleted state to start the reaction as (combined with naturally dissolved salts) it's what generates the galvanic cell. The lack of oxygen also prevents the alu from (re)formi...

True, but a secondary problem can occur where water (condensation, seepage) gets between the plastic and the aluminium and gets trapped shutting sections off from oxygen. The outer portions still remain exposed to oxygen and this sets up a kind of galvanic internal 'cell'. This then sets off a crev...

Put a heavy garbage bag over the aluminum before you pour the concrete. As long as the bag doesn't rip during the pour, the aluminum will never be exposed to the chemistry of the concrete. The point where the aluminum enters the concrete will be a problem because if you just cut the bag flush with t...

As far as I know you have to use some kind of flux when oxy/fuel welding stainless. Not sure what filler rod would be meant for stainless, but normal oxy rod is R45 and it does not have the anti-oxidizers in it that tig filler does. So you can use it in a pinch for carbon steel, but it will not be n...

Are you saying that you welded with a water cooled torch with the water turned off?

Arno wrote:As you grind out the part, do a spark-test on the clean base material at the same time to see if it's perhaps a high(er) carbon material.

Arno, what book is that chart from?

I'd create an LLC to protect your personal assets. We did that with our horse barn, I think it cost about $3K including all the waivers, recording the change to the deed, etc. That way if someone sues and wins, they can only take the things in the LLC. I have no idea what welding insurance costs, bu...

I'd let them soak in a container of naval jelly. Muriatic acid would also work but it really accelerates future rusting and it's dangerous. Do the whole glove and eye protection thing and either wear the right vapor mask or make sure the wind's blowing away from you. If you were doing this on someth...

You didn't mention what shade# you have set, I would use #9 for something like that. That might help you see better. Is there a reason you need to weld this without filler? What you did looks great, but I'm not sure you'll ever get rid of that slight undercut unless the fit up is absolutely perfect,...