The only other thing i forgot to mention is that i need them bolted down while i weld them...

I suppose i could make a jig to flip them over and only weld the insides...

Thats how this fits now... But this is an air intake manifold... Same principles...

I just dont like how much of a gap was in the fitup... Im purchasing the flanges as stock parts. I would be much happier if I had the flanges cut to my specs... But that almost doubles the cost... haha...

Welds are hard to take photos of! Looks good to my eye... but when i take a photo the welds look way shittier... Im still not quite happy with the steadiness of my hand... need one or two more modelos before starting... Also with that 'slip' fit, the tube sliding into the flange, i dont think my bac...

Ive just been dipping. Havent tried out the laywire technique yet. So i got my stainless flanges in last night... spent some time prepping and setting up my back purge... But another variable changed. I ordered my flanges and they only size they have in stainless is a little bigger than the flanges ...

The flanges are mild steel and i have them bolted to a mock up head to keep them flat. I think the trickiest part is getting enough heat in the weld before the aluminum head sucks it all out... I have some stainless flanges coming, so ill post up some photos when i can weld some stainless to stainle...

How many start/stops do you guys usually have when freehanding a smaller tube like this? I weld alot of tubing and have to weld 1.5-1.75" tubes in like 4 sections... If i had a rotary or something i could get it in one shot... I think if i really reached i could get it in 2 or 3... Thought abou...

Yeah I still have to spend some time adjusting and playing with settings... gotta wrap my head around it all... Spent some more time welding with the setup i have. I have a small gas lens on my torch, but i have medium and large pyrex cups in the mail... I also ordered some SS flanges and 308 rod......

Thanks for the responses... Thats interesting that changing the pps doesnt reduce the heat intake of the metal... So its almost like the duty and background need to be set almost to the type of heat you want for the metal your welding... I spent the day on friday just making these single manifolds.....

Hey guys... been lurking a while reading up on welders to buy. I finally bit the bullet and got an HTP Invertig 221. I wired it up and got started the other night. After two passes at the most basic settings, I was welding better than ever. I have been welding Stainless, mild, and 4130 with my Mille...