Search found 3093 matches

by cj737
Fri Jun 14, 2024 5:10 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Quenching after welding/flame straightening
Replies: 2
Views: 74

Re: Quenching after welding/flame straightening

;) Quenching steels with water can cause an increase in brittleness. It can also cause rapid contraction of the metals and embed stress into the joints, which can lead to cracking of the welds. I wouldn’t do it. For aluminum, it’s less of an issue due to ductility of the metal. But it’s still not a ...
by cj737
Thu Jun 13, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Dealing with heat deformation
Replies: 2
Views: 81

Re: Dealing with heat deformation

If you only weld one side of a tube and distortion occurs (expected) then you can use flame heat to straighten it.

While heating, move the tube beyond straight then let it spring back. This will take some trial and error. But with a bit of effort you can get it very, very close.
by cj737
Thu Jun 13, 2024 10:00 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Stainless steel cup size
Replies: 6
Views: 132

Re: Stainless steel cup size

Tweake those rods are 10mm diameter for scale.
by cj737
Thu Jun 13, 2024 12:20 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Stainless steel cup size
Replies: 6
Views: 132

Re: Stainless steel cup size

From those pics, you're doing fine. Yes, welding round tube takes a ton of time especially when the diameter is small because you can only weld a dab or 3 then you have to re-position. Real production pros chase around the circumference or use a positioner to roll the material while they hold still ...
by cj737
Thu Jun 13, 2024 12:15 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Aluminum thickness/ how much amperage
Replies: 13
Views: 667

Re: Aluminum thickness/ how much amperage

My question for aluminum welding is, how much heat do you need if you just want to close up a hole in a machined aluminum part? That depends entirely upon the thickness of the material, the size/diameter of the hole, etc. Is it a blind hole of 6MM into a 30MM part? Is it a 2mm hole drilled through ...
by cj737
Mon Jun 10, 2024 9:24 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Cracks in aluminum
Replies: 3
Views: 215

Re: Cracks in aluminum

It is not uncommon for tacks to crack. Aluminum tacks are fragile and they usually are on the surface and not deeply penetrating. 5356 as a filler is known to crack when it cools if it’s under stress. It’s called “hot short cracking”. I’m guessing you are using differing fillers due to sizes you hav...
by cj737
Sun Jun 09, 2024 6:02 pm
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Miracle ear hearing AIDS Interfere with welder.
Replies: 5
Views: 183

Re: Miracle ear hearing AIDS Interfere with welder.

I’d think your aids are Bluetooth enabled, not WiFi. But who knows, maybe WiFi also? If that were the case your aids would constantly be polling for a connection and eat their battery life up. Welding with AC the frequency is so low compared to WiFi and Bluetooth, I’d be surprised if there was overl...
by cj737
Sun Jun 09, 2024 6:43 am
Forum: Welding Forum General Shop Talk
Topic: Miracle ear hearing AIDS Interfere with welder.
Replies: 5
Views: 183

Re: Miracle ear hearing AIDS Interfere with welder.

tweake wrote: Sat Jun 08, 2024 9:06 pm highly unlikely that wifi signals are interfering with the welder.
+1
by cj737
Thu Jun 06, 2024 7:41 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Tig Newbie Help
Replies: 19
Views: 2346

Re: Tig Newbie Help

That PrimeWeld can’t be beat for the money. I’ve got a buddy I taught to TIG weld 4 years ago for his small business. He bought it, uses it daily, 50 months without missing a heartbeat. I recently bought their water cooler for one of my TIG boxes. Works great, bit loud fan, but sure can’t complain a...
by cj737
Wed Jun 05, 2024 10:18 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod
Replies: 11
Views: 347

Re: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod

but i also use high pulse rates at times as it helps keep the weld small, more focused, less penetration (less blow through). it also requires more amps which is really handy on machines that do not do low amps well, especially with foot pedal. The pulse rate being faster or slower really isn’t the...
by cj737
Wed Jun 05, 2024 8:07 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod
Replies: 11
Views: 347

Re: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod

Jody sells Furick clear cups (#12 would be my choice for stainless) and the extra light might really help you get when using a clear cup. CFH up to 30 with a #12. Be sure to clean inside the tubing before welding it. And if the tube will be “closed” from the weld, you want a vent hole somewhere whil...
by cj737
Wed Jun 05, 2024 3:47 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod
Replies: 11
Views: 347

Re: Welding stainless tubing to stainless rod

Two thoughts: 1. If the solid rod is the "handle" and you have notched the end to intersect the tubing, then the thickness of that solid bar is very thin at the intersection and should be easier to weld to the tubing. You "might" be using too much amperage if its blowing out on y...
by cj737
Mon Jun 03, 2024 11:27 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: Calculating tubing length
Replies: 5
Views: 369

Re: Calculating tubing length

i would also make some cheaters up. ie bend up some corners and have all the locations marked on them for where it fits in the bending tools, so you know how much length to leave on the pipe, starting position etc. it also helps as a sanity checker when bending, something to compare to. The softwar...
by cj737
Mon Jun 03, 2024 2:26 pm
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: Calculating tubing length
Replies: 5
Views: 369

Re: Calculating tubing length

The easiest way is to calculate lengths based upon the centerline of the tubing. Then add/subtract for the tubing diameter. There are reasonably priced software packages available for calculating bending tubes of many shapes. It will provide you exact lengths based upon material, bend radius, and sp...
by cj737
Fri May 31, 2024 11:11 am
Forum: Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
Topic: Mig welding Tip or Trick needed
Replies: 4
Views: 6172

Re: Mig welding Tip or Trick needed

A preheat seldom hurts on aluminum or mild steel. I’d avoid it with stainless or other exotic alloys.
by cj737
Mon May 27, 2024 11:28 am
Forum: Metal Cutting
Topic: Notching stainless steel
Replies: 2
Views: 612

Re: Notching stainless steel

A hole saw works pretty well. I use an annular cutter in my Mag drill with a jig. Also when it really matters, I use my mill and my jig and a roughing mill (but that’s a luxury most don’t have). Starret makes some decent hole saws and use LOTS of cutting fluid to prevent dulling and cooking the stai...
by cj737
Mon May 27, 2024 7:42 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Aluminum thickness/ how much amperage
Replies: 13
Views: 667

Re: Aluminum thickness/ how much amperage

You don’t need 300 amps. You DO NEED to preheat that material because 180 amps can weld it, but it will take all you’ve got to get it to puddle. Crank the Hz as high as it will go, set your Balance to 72-75, and heat the material with propane, MAPP, or Oxy/Ac. Then give it a good whack with the full...
by cj737
Wed May 15, 2024 7:31 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Tig Newbie Help
Replies: 19
Views: 2346

Re: Tig Newbie Help

Tweake - see if you can watch this: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1091139382314841 Don’t know if you have access to Facebook videos, but Chris has some absolutely novel insights on aluminum welding. He does often revert to Helium mixtures, but his evidence for higher frequency has some legit de...
by cj737
Wed May 15, 2024 12:28 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Tig Newbie Help
Replies: 19
Views: 2346

Re: Tig Newbie Help

Tweake - see if you can watch this: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1091139382314841 Don’t know if you have access to Facebook videos, but Chris has some absolutely novel insights on aluminum welding. He does often revert to Helium mixtures, but his evidence for higher frequency has some legit dec...
by cj737
Tue May 14, 2024 7:12 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Tig Newbie Help
Replies: 19
Views: 2346

Re: Tig Newbie Help

also crank up the Freq to as high as your machine will go. as low as you can go. higher the freq the less heat (due to more off time). i've just come in from welding some stainless and i use high freq pulse to increase my amp settings as my cheap machine doesn't do low amps very well. also on clean...
by cj737
Mon May 13, 2024 7:47 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Sequence of welding for 90 degrees
Replies: 2
Views: 708

Re: Sequence of welding for 90 degrees

Clamp the dog piss out of it using squares. I prefer to tack midway on the outside for all 4 corners. Then I tack the inside corners, middle of the tubing. Take your time. One outside seam fully welded. Opposite outside, fully welded. Then I move to inside of the two unwelded seams. Do the opposite ...
by cj737
Mon May 13, 2024 7:42 pm
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: Tig Newbie Help
Replies: 19
Views: 2346

Re: Tig Newbie Help

In addition to changing the AC balance, also crank up the Freq to as high as your machine will go. Prior to a preheat, use a clean stainless brush and brush the edges of the stock and the surface where the lap joint will lay. The stainless helps cut through the oxide layer so the TIG arc gets into t...
by cj737
Tue Apr 30, 2024 2:58 pm
Forum: Member Introductions
Topic: Well I finally got to use my new welder,,,,
Replies: 1
Views: 2844

Re: Well I finally got to use my new welder,,,,

One thing that can help is changing the filler wire you choose. ER70 I’m exhaust applications becomes pretty brittle. Experiment with 312 even if it’s carbon-carbon. 312 is more ductile and less prone to cracking. And above all else, clean the ever-loving bejeezus out of the area inside and out. Con...
by cj737
Tue Apr 30, 2024 6:13 am
Forum: Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
Topic: new to tig stainless
Replies: 26
Views: 4534

Re: new to tig stainless

Don’t do a second pass. If the weld is fully penetrated through to the inside, you’re perfectly fine for strength. Stainless welds are very, very strong. I have made lots of stainless headers, mid-pipes, even welded up the exhaust manifolds and up/Y pipe on my diesel and never used filler. They are ...
by cj737
Sun Apr 28, 2024 6:53 am
Forum: Member Introductions
Topic: New guy saying hi.
Replies: 45
Views: 12300

Re: New guy saying hi.

When I weld sheet that is that thin, I place a tack about 1/2” from the end. Then as I weld to the end, the tack allows me to pick up some “extra” material and I know to begin backing down on my amps. An extra dab of filler at the end with a progressive pedal tapering seems to work for me. Realize t...