Hey Jody - a comment/suggestion on your tig videos:

The rate that you feed the filler rod is very difficult, if not impossible, to see. I'm wondering if you run the rod quickly thru a knurling tool it might impress a pattern that we could see as you feed.

Thanks!

Thanks guys. I'm going to try these techniques and see how straight I can keep the top rail. These will be 1" square aluminum tubing.

Hey, long time lurker here, and this is my first post in a long time. I'm needing some wisdom ! While this isn't my boat (I wish!), it shows exactly the railing I need to make for a customer. I've tried welding similar things before, and heat distortion made the main rail bend in toward the braces (...

Thanks for all the advice guys!

OK, 4" welds. Should I start in the middle and back step towards each end, or just start at one end and back step along the whole length?

By skipping I meant to say back stepping. Hmmmm ...... Back stepping, not sure I know what that is. I can do MIG, and I understand the idea about starting in the center of a long welded joint to reduce stresses. Ok, I did some research on what back stepping is. As I understand it, I start the weld ...

Coldman wrote:By skipping I meant to say back stepping.

Hmmmm ...... Back stepping, not sure I know what that is.

I can do MIG, and I understand the idea about starting in the center of a long welded joint to reduce stresses.

What are your plans for the inside support structure? Do you have a sketch of your plan you could post? Calling this a 'boat is a travisty, but it's the easiest to imagine. Think of this as more of a floating 'box'. vertical transom, almost vertical sides, and a slanted bow. It will have 2" x ...

So - first post here at the forum, and I need some help with a welding project. I'm building a boat ... actually a barge. 10' long, 6' wide, and 2' high. Material is 5052 .125 aluminum. Purpose is to use this as a duck hunting blind. It will be towed into position - won't have it's own propulsion. W...