Welding Tips and Tricks

Kym,
Wurth will have suppliers in Adelaide if you want that solvent.
BTW, hot enough for you yet?
Its a pleasent 29 C over here in godzone

ex framie wrote:Kym,
Wurth will have suppliers in Adelaide if you want that solvent.
BTW, hot enough for you yet?
Its a pleasent 29 C over here in godzone

Cheers, yeah I'm a bit connected with the Wurth stuff as I use it for my bikes...Wurth do heaps of decent stuff.

Hot? Here? Nah, it was only 43 degrees this morning by 11am. Might get a bit warm later. I grew up in country SA so 'hot' for me starts at more like 45!


Kym

Oh yeah. It was 45 here this morning. .... 45 F

Poland308 wrote:Oh yeah. It was 45 here this morning. .... 45 F

I just converted that, and I'll take 45C over 45F any day!



Kym

As I type this, it's 37* F here.
37* C is normal body temperature.

I'm not converting it to Kelvin...

Steve S

I love seeing the diversity of welding projects and skill that other members display and I'm looking forward to there being a time when I have sufficient skill to feel confident in producing something useful. Until then I am working on building confidence and technique by running beads and trying different things.

I thought I'd give Jody's alternating hands steel drill a go..





Material is hot rolled mild steel, 5mm (3/16") thick, 140 amps, 2.4mm (3/32") ER70S-6 filler, 3/32" 1.5% Lanthanated tungsten, about 8lpm gas flow..

Whilst these beads are not perfect I am starting to see some improvement which is good.

Nice work Flo!


Kym

Starting to look more cocistant. Welding with your other hand can feel a bit weird at first. If I'm running 3/32 rod I back down the amps a bit to like 115-125 I feel like I can control the edges of my bead better.

Thanks Kym.

Yes it certainly does Josh but I kind of like the challenge! I also tried to tie in my welds like you suggested but that was on a different piece of metal. That air cooled 26 torch I'm using gets pretty hot after running a number of beads above 140 amps. I can definitely see the attraction of a water cooled torch!

Flo

Water cooled is good gear in the shop situation but if you're working in the field it's not practical. It's good to get used to the 26 torch.
My 26 does not get too hot in my hand at 160a. I use a ck flex head.

Coldman wrote:Water cooled is good gear in the shop situation but if you're working in the field it's not practical. It's good to get used to the 26 torch.
My 26 does not get too hot in my hand at 160a. I use a ck flex head.

Hi Coldman,

I put a flex head on the standard ergo style torch that came with my machine. I'm not a fan of the torch in general as it is big and cumbersome and the leads are not particularly flexible. I can see that a decent lead with a smaller handle would probably go alright. I also swapped out the standard collet body for a gas lens and that has been a good move.

I think the reason why I feel the torch getting hot is because the handle is so big and bulky I grip it closer to the head for it to feel comfortable for me. Kym suggested that I should replace the handle although I haven't yet gotten around to it.

As I am only a hobbyist the vast majority of my welding will be in a shop setting so a water cooled torch would be good but getting used to the 26 is a matter of necessity at the moment as it all I have.

Flo

Since metal roses seem to be something of a standard on these boards, and because my beautiful young wife has had a couple lousy days lately, I decided it was time to start making up some of these myself, firstly as a 'cheer up' gift.

No trick at all to welding them, just some patience needed in the fabrication. I get the feeling my first batch of these won't be my last.


Kym

Nice work Kym! I guess the plasma cutter came in handy?

OzFlo wrote:Nice work Kym! I guess the plasma cutter came in handy?

Thanks Flo. Yep, you guessed right. I made an MDF template for the basic petal shape and I just blast out a number of the petal 'discs', after which its all about grinding finished shapes, bending petals and just doing it by feel. Easy.

Considering cutting out a bulk batch of the petals and continuing to make the roses whenever I get a moment to perhaps give away as gifts now and then. Just have to refine the process a little.


Kym

Nice looking rose , Mosquito !

subwayrocket wrote:Nice looking rose , Mosquito !

Thanks Sub. It was certainly well received by my wife.


Kym

kym
you can also try coloring them with a torch if they
are mild steel.
craig

motox wrote:kym
you can also try coloring them with a torch if they
are mild steel.
craig

Thanks Craig. Yeah, the lower petals took on some nice hues...I just let things happen naturally but yes, in future I think I will try deliberately colouring the steel with torch heat. I can see more of these being created for ornaments and what have you...hopefully I'll get better at them as I go and eventually be able to create something really nice.


Kym

kym
sorry failed to say how nice the flower is!
craig

Thanks Craig!


Kym

Nice work Kym!

Looks like someones on a promise.
Nice work Kym.

A couple of etch and bend tests. 3/16 5052 AL, 3/32 5356 wire, Pulse MIG

Made a new platform section for a piece of equipment, 304 frame, alum diamond plate.

rick
got to love alum diamond plate!
craig