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loggerboot85 wrote:loggerboot85 here,

I am a "newbie" to welding. I have been welding off and on for twenty years, mostly SMAW and a little GMAW. BUT, never had any formal instruction. Presently, working on certification through our local tech school here in central PA and really like it a bunch.

I am always up for learning something new from the folks that have professional experience.

Looking forward to good info and new ideas, thanks!
Welcome! Where in central PA? Harrisburg? State College? I worked a couple contracts near Lancaster for a great outfit out of Mt. Joy, called Herr & Sacco.

Steve S
KP161
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Fat Bob wrote:
KP161 wrote:
Fat Bob wrote: Some of the M/C forums I'm on
hey Fat Bob, would that happen to be either Club Chopper or v-twin??
What's this Club Chopper you speak of :?:

Just kidding KP161, yea it's me, how are things up North? :P You're right about building/modding bikes and welding going hand-in-hand. I decided to learn a few years ago to do my own work instead of bugging my friends to stick something together for me. 8-)
:)

the weather is probably about the same as in Colorado, damn winter lol.

my build is at a stand-still for now, working on getting the garage re-framed to strengthen it up (and need a large replenishment of funds...it is NOT a cheap hobby lol)....but once the warmer weather comes i can get the 230v run out there and start learning how to mig
i did some "bronzing/brazing" and some stick a # of years ago but me thinks it's gonna be a whole new world of learning, which is why i'm here...suck up as much info as i can before even laying wire to metal.
I have a 2 month old brand new Lincoln 180 dual and a full tank of gas just itching for a first run

good call on a newbie section....let's the guys that have been here a while know who they're dealing with and their level (or lack thereof) experience :)
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You can always send that Lincoln my way. I'll keep the dust cleaned out of it for you. :mrgreen:

Hang in there on the shop (garage) work. When I built mine (by myself) it took several months to complete but having an insulated heated (wood stove) place in the winter makes it all worth it.

Now if I could just get wood to cut and split itself... :roll:
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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That's why wood is such efficient heat... It warms you three times.

Cutting it, splitting it, and burning it.

Almost forgot-- emptying the ashes!

Gas and electric only do it twice. Warm when you use it, HOT when you get the bill... :lol:
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Otto Nobedder wrote:... It warms you three times.

Cutting it, splitting it, and burning it.
Four times today. Heading out to cut some BIG trees, my 32" saw won't reach across them and "loading" them is going to be a real PITA...not looking forward to this day. Wish I had a Bobcat...
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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KP161
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i heard you guys are gonna get hit pretty bad....stay safe!!!
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KP161 wrote:i heard you guys are gonna get hit pretty bad....stay safe!!!
Thanks! Man I hate to say it but "I hope we get it good". It's been way to dry here this winter. :( They're getting it good right now in Denver but hasn't started here yet, (I'm in Pueblo about 100 miles south). Just WIND and clouds.
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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Colt45GTO
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i also run a forum and i left out the newbie or n00b section....i think? new comers usually say so in their first post. i do also like to keep folk up to date on how i am getting on.
cyclhed
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Hey welders! I'm a noob to the forum. I've been visiting WTT for around a year, maybe a little less, and really enjoy Jody's videos. They have helped me a lot with learning TIG welding.

I am building a motorcycle frame now, a Harley chopper frame type. It's the second frame for me. The first one I welded up with a MIG, a Lincoln 155, but for the second one I wanted to TIG weld it. I bought a Miller Syncrowave 200 a few years ago and after moving across the country, finally got my shop set up again and started practicing. For the frame I'm using 1.25" .120 wall CREW round tube which is not DOM or cromo, just mild steel. I have a JD2 bender and I've been using a tube mitre program to make patterns for cutting the copes. Anyway, welding round tube with coped fit ups at angles less than 90 degrees are difficult for me with the TIG and I would love to see some topics on this kind of thing, or videos from the master! I have really liked the bicycle frame vids and I have found some other videos where Jody has discussed this type of welding of coped round tube jobs.

weldin mike 27 wrote:Welcome to both the Newbos.

Good to have you guys , To the custom bikers, This i an area we havent covered yet on the forum.. more topics we can cram in the better I say.

Mick
Frame tubing bent and coped in jig fixture
Frame tubing bent and coped in jig fixture
IMG-20130218-01027.jpg (111.68 KiB) Viewed 2959 times
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Hey,

Welcome to the forum, All jodys' videos are in the video archive of the main site as well as youtube,

Mick
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Welcome cyclhed! Always good to have someone with shared interests around. Image

"welding round tube with coped fit ups at angles less than 90 degrees are difficult" One way to "get in there" that works well is to build an aluminium foil argon dam behind the area your welding so you can extend your tungsten enough to reach the joint. That and I use a #4 or #5 cup with 3/32 electrode. <read, think cheap, small and steal the Ole' Lady's tin foil> :mrgreen: Just don't wrap the foil to tight against the weld joint, leave kind of a bowl to hold the gas...tin foil vaporizes really fast with a tig arc, don't ask how I know. :oops: Another option would be to use a gas lens but I don't have one for my torch, maybe some day...I want to try one of these; http://www.usaweld.com/TIG-Pyrex-Cups-Kits-s/67.htm

It looks like your frame is coming along nicely. What "Grade" CREW are you using for your frame, 1018, 1020? DOM is over rated and $$$ for a bike frame IMHO.
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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cyclhed
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Thanks Fat Bob. One of my favorite videos is this one where Jody shows the tin foil method: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-4130.html
I know the video is for 4130, but the joints are what I'm focusing on there.
I've been practicing on some 40 degree joints. Yesterday I tried a 1/16 electrode, #7 cup, 140A, 15CFH, 1.3 PPS with both 5/32 and 1/16 ER70S2 filler rods. I worked pretty good and I got a fairly decent looking weld. The 1/16 rod had some undercut. The problem with these joints is the different type joints around the tube so I need to adjust for that. That seems to be where I'm either too hot or not hot enough. I think the key is to adjust properly for the different conditions when I get to them.
The tubing I have is probably 1018, but I don't know for sure. I bought it 8 or 9 years ago in Atlanta when I lived there.
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Hey cyclhed,

How you doing on the frame build? Motor and tranny mounting plates in yet? :?:

When I did mine I did it at a buddies machine shop. He has all the benders, welders and adjustable jigs a guy could ever hope for. ;) He was the one that taught me the foil trick originally...just wish I had remembered to take pictures at the stage you are. :( It was raining when I was ready to bring it home (110 miles South of Denver) so gave it a shot of black rattle paint to keep the rust off. It's come a long way since then but still not done,,, are they ever "done"? :twisted:

How it looked a week latter after getting it home ...
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Like you said, a 1/6 electrode is a little to small for the wall thickness and amps required to build a bike frame. As I recall we were using a 3/32...
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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