For all you n00b MIG welders out there that are frustrated while you're learning... Just know some folks get welding jobs which includes a paycheck even with this quality and possibly retain it for over a year ;) :D (Please don't be this welder) This is 4 sets of headers from Hedman made in the same...

For all you n00b MIG welders out there that are frustrated while you're learning... Just know some folks get welding jobs which includes a paycheck even with this quality and possibly retain it for over a year ;) :D (Please don't be this welder) This is 4 sets of headers from Hedman made in the same...

Well the 4th set finally arrived and the verdict is.... They suck too so 4 for 4 Hedman has failed the welds on. The first 3 sets were made in 2022 likely by the same person and def the same shop in CA. The 4th set was made in 2023 in the same shop and I'd swear it's the same person still with 1 mor...

Got my 3rd set of replacements and guess what? They LEAK too! :D At least it's "better" than before.... Summit is really cool and they're replacing these too. They've agreed that if the 4th set is bad, I can fix whatever I want, and they're reimbursing me $150 for the work. They'll even ju...

I ended up having my friend zap the inside w/ the MIG since the experience/bragging rights weren't worth it to use my TIG and Summit is replacing these. They'll get back the 1st failed set, and we'll see from this 2nd failed set and the 3rd new, new set which one is better and they'll get the other ...

It's been a while :D ;) I need advice on welding these new stainless steel exhaust headers to FIX the poorly done welds from Hedman. I just have a TIG but if I truly have to, I can get to a MIG. I'd prefer to do this myself for my own ego stroking and I don't like asking to use other folks equipment...

I'd agree with Dave!

I remember my AL sauce bein pretty thick n juicy for the first month. A lil too watered down for my flavor... Plenty of pepper and salt with a side of some aged mayonnaise-yellowish stuff. Steel was more like a well done steak over the coals. I also learned eating a good meal before you get into a w...

Thank you Oscar! Out of all the people, your appreciation probably means the most since you're pretty cut n dry when it comes to your opinions which I've always appreciated and respected. No sugar with you, just the meat n taters

Here's a shot almost 1 year later after a few light trails and still figuring the suspension out. Welds are still holding with no cracks tho, that's all that matters

It's almost 1 year since I did this and it's still holding up with no cracks! I feel less scared to share these original weld photos now :D I get to do some more welding today too... To the original point, this was my third real weld project and a life critical weld project at that. It's held strong...

I can get a few more since I don't mind the critique :) It's done so there really isn't much goin back either. I can identify a lot of issues all around but it was all the skills ya'll taught me to see where I failed and how I could improve as I went along/future. I've learned enough and seen enough...

I joined a few years ago and had tons of questions and thoughts. Ya'll were there to support me and I think I paid some of the support forward with other replies to other n00bs in my boots at the time :) So it's been a long time but I'm not a pro welder nor have many welding projects. I'm currently ...

So thinkin about this a bit more, I want to expand on my question... it really depends on the thickness and penetration. But for a poor man's example, I'd say a fine point for thick, deep penetration, and a fairly flat end for more fine work? Basically exactly opposite of what I'd expect from drawin...

This has been bothering me since I read this post.... So most of my failures with Al has been due to too deep of penetration. Most of my welds were very wide and made arc control difficult where I'd have to start out real heavy on the pedal then taper off to almost nothing on the pedal for a good co...

ArcLight and Oscar! SOLID advice! If there was an upvote I'd do that but I'll "waste" a post for say THANK YOU!

That sounds like a pretty good idea! I know I'll need to mock setup the axle shafts with the diff but I know it won't be accurate nor would I have an easy way to keep things aligned if I do get em aligned. I think your idea will help a lot to keep things in place as I begin the tacks then beads. Tha...

For clarity, that's not my truck, that's just the example of what the TTB looks like. Mine looks a LOT cleaner (because I've replaced more parts) than this person's. This just happened to be the only pic with the axle part clean and still underneath the truck ;) I also didn't do some ridiculous lift...

I've tore down the front axles before so I'm pretty familiar with that and yes in this case I get to tear down both wheels past the spindles down to the knuckles to get the axle shafts out of the diff. From there it's just unbolting the carrier housing and dropping it which should be it's own level ...

YES!!!! I mean, you can't go wrong if you have full manual control right???? But still the crux is I have to drop the pumpkin, pull the diff, and bench weld it. I guess what I can gather out of all this is I just get to set it up on the bench, slide in the axles to ensure maximum possible alignment,...

I'd have to purchase a mini spool, and then I'd have to remove the ring gear to keep my ratio. If I just weld what's there then I purchase nothing and I retain everything :) Oh yeah, I also haven't welded anything in a bit and never welded anything functional with Stick really and this can't hurt me...

Yes I did search! Normally this concept is simple because you weld it in place. In my case I have to remove the front differential because it's a Dana 44 IFS (TTB) on an 87 Bronco. I know how to use it once the job is done; one wheel locked WHEN you want 4x4, and both wheels locked while sucking it ...

I'm glad it's working for you! Definitely not a solid $300 grinder, but you can put that $290 into more filler and Tungsten
Once/if you do become a pro welder then maybe it might just be time to upgrade but I wouldn't be surprised if this tool is still functional by then

I gave one to a guy that runs a fab shop for heavy iron furniture and he's in love. He says it's saved him a lot of time grinding so it's actually increasing his production ability. So he's running a fab shop and grinding frequently with an ABS plastic tungsten grinder attachment and couldn't be mor...

It has a groove to set the rod into I was just dickin around with it and it fell of track and got caught up. Honestly I never cut off the tips but after doing it the other day, I see the benefit. Kinda like a fresh slate real fast rather than polishing a turd, almost literally. 3D printing in genera...