The what I welded today (/whenever) thread (pics please) - Page 16

aeroplain · Thu Jul 17, 2014 10:15 pm

I know you weren't saying my technique sucked, I was.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement.

Kent

aeroplain · Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:50 pm

The weave is underneath.

Mikechallgren · Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:28 am

Here is one of my airplanes made from welding wire.

Mikechallgren · Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:35 am

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Here are some progress photos of my wire model desktop sculptures...

79jasper · Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:49 am

Oops. Didn't see this was the tig section. Lol

newschoppafowah · Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:07 am

Mikechallgren,

That is very neat stuff. Time consuming, precise and an excellent finished product. Hats off.

Run down a bit about how you do it, if you would. Forming the wire, size of the O/A tip, anything you want to share.

WW2 aircraft is a big interest of mine, got me through 3 years of history without having to write about anything that bored me.

Post up more of your work, I'd love to see an F6 Hellcat or a Dauntless. The Shiden Kai was an interesting plane too, but that's obviously on the other team

rick9345 · Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:09 am

That is nice
the gallery shows your ability
Like to see more

RichardH · Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:40 am

newschoppafowah wrote:Mikechallgren,

That is very neat stuff. Time consuming, precise and an excellent finished product. Hats off.

Run down a bit about how you do it, if you would. Forming the wire, size of the O/A tip, anything you want to share.

Ditto. More info, please! I'm very interested to hear how you form the parts, and your technique for welding them.

I've done two wireframe projects, and had good success with fusion welds down to 1/16" with ER70S2 rod, but 0.045" had a high failure rate (it's got a very narrow range between plastic and liquid, and getting a joint without it balling up is tough). I had better luck at that gauge with a springy piano wire alloy; however, it became very brittle after welding. When I got into TIG, I never expected to be pulse welding at 6-7 amps to control the heat!

Cheers,
Richard

zank · Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:51 pm

Matt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

jcw · Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:22 am

zank wrote:
Matt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

Matt S by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

Awesome as usual!!!

Sick of working while sick this week. Got off work today and wanted to practice on something other than tube. Remembered pics of metal dice and decided to try it. After dinner after a couple hours of cutting, grinding and welding. Not perfect, too tired to be perfect.

3" +/- cube with 1/8" CRS plate
1/16" 2% lanth
1/16 filler rod
75 amps with foot pedal

Superiorwelding · Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:26 am

Jcw,
Looks fine for what it is. Are you going to smooth the welds out? I have seen some that way and they were nice. Of course so do the ones with the welds. I have always wanted to do a set out of SS and alum but never have....yet.
-Jonathan

jcw · Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:32 am

Thanks. No. just wanted to practice. Also, my welds are a little concave so I'd have to build up a little more if I wanted to sand and round the edges.

JDIGGS82 · Wed Aug 13, 2014 1:14 am

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: IMG_20140812_152443.jpg (48.45 KiB) Viewed 2104 times

: IMG_20140812_152443.jpg (48.45 KiB) Viewed 2104 times

some practice today left a slight root opening was at 175 amps about 3/4 pedal and kinda rested the cup on the back endge and kinda walked/wiggled side to side and laid the wire in the snafu towards the one end was a not so smooth restart after i ran out of filler going to really try to walk the cover tomorrow am if i can get a chance

Wed Aug 13, 2014 7:42 pm

Okay, no welds to present in this picture, but I wasn't able to include all the equipment in one shot, and I'm the only one working on this particular job...

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Too much going on...

Steve S

Rick_H · Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:29 am

Some 316L Sanitary Pipe... This run is only around 80ft total

TamJeff · Thu Aug 14, 2014 12:51 pm

Another weird leaning post/seat. It flips, it folds, it stores stuff. Tedious bits of engineering/fitting, at any rate. The back rest is removable and the seat itself will flip all the way onto the steering wheel so that they can take a nap on the 'bunk' cushion. They are out gator hunting on this boat all night sometimes so they take turns snoozing.

Poling platform for the same boat. Gee, can you fit anything else on the back there, buddy?

GreinTime · Thu Aug 14, 2014 1:28 pm

He could probably fit a bigger gator. I don't see any on there...

zank · Thu Aug 14, 2014 4:34 pm

Finally welded my first aluminum frame today.

A hot knife thru buttah. by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

AL001 by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:32 pm

Nicely done, Zank!

Nice, having a rotabroach to fit it...

I think I saw two spots where the "swell" of the puddle made you "just" brush your tungsten... A hint of "smoke" outside the weld zone.

And a tiny "crater" in a close-out.

If this is your first aluminum frame, I think it's more than outstanding!

Steve S

TRACKRANGER · Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:15 pm

Nice job Zank, I wonder would you care to share your machine settings, tungsten and filler rod size?

zank · Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:51 pm

Thanks, fellas!

Steve, yeah, I'm still too close with the tungsten. I am so used to keeping such a tight arc with steel and titanium. And I still need a lot of practice on my stops.

Ranger, I am using a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175. I have it set on 175

I used 3/32" 2% lanthanated tungsten ground to a point. It makes a nice rounded tip the first time I light up. I use a gas lens and #8 cup running at 15 CFH.
This material is 7005 series aluminum and I use 3/32" 5183 filler rod (5356 would be fine too). The head tube is 0.150" (3.8 mm) wall. The threaded shell is 0.160" (4 mm) wall. The three main tubes are between 0.052" and 0.080" (1.3 mm - 2 mm) wall depending on the tube and location.
I did a little pre heat. But the heavy wall parts are small enough that they heat up fast.

TamJeff · Fri Aug 15, 2014 4:08 am

Probably shouldn't post this here because it's not likely an acceptable way to do it. I don't have a lot of time to be cutting bevels, or running multiple buildup passes, or straightening out cupped or gull winged plates after the fact. This was 1/2"x12" aluminum plate. It needed to finish out at 15.25"x17". It's backer plates for cracked transom bracket for two 300hp outboard motors. They really didn't even need to be welded IMO but that's what they asked for. Welds need to be flush at any rate.

Started off with a 3/8" gap, no bevel. Cut edge to cut edge, leaving the factory edges exposed for obvious reasons. 3/8" because I want to fit an 1/8" balled pure tungsten well down in it with wiggle room to wiggle-weave the heat around onto each side. And welded on both sides of the plate instead of blind root. This helps counter distortion, with minimal bracing, or heat loss from clamping it down to steel or aluminum. On this thickness material, I will make it 3/32" oversize to allow for shrinkage. To keep that minimum predictable and effective, I will use 3/8" aluminum rod as chocks. Notice that they get more of, and closer together as it gets towards the end. They should have to be 'tapped' in with a hammer.

They came out square/flat and on the money measurement wise. Time was 1hr and 15 mins start to finish. All the stops/starts are from letting the cables cool while welding a full 250 amps on a 250 amp machine. I just pause momentarily to allow the water in the cables exchange with cooler water.

The hot side, doesn't need as many stop/starts.

rick9345 · Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:33 am

Good example of more planning, less work, nice results
Could some experience be showing in final picture?

kn3rf · Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:27 am

An angle piece of for motorcycle exhaust linkpipe.

TamJeff · Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:40 pm

rick9345 wrote:Good example of more planning, less work, nice results
Could some experience be showing in final picture?

No foot pedal. Snap switch on the torch only. I was just glad they were done. I didn't get ahold of the project until right before it was time for me to leave. I am glad I don't have to do it today, though.