Abes Tig Work

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Nah mate not plenums u need an Ac -HF( alternating current -high frequency) capable welder although a lil dc inverter will tig as long as it can it can run gas aswell U could go mild and stainless

[Craved]

Uni-MIG AC/DC200 for $1400 from Hare and forbes is doing me well.

frequency and pulse adjustments, so good value

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Yeah cris that's the same I got its a pearler ;-)

Did u go button start or pedal?

[Craved]

i didnt get the foot pedal, dont really need it as mine came with the adjuster on the torch itself. obviously can only use it on 4T setting though which i never really used much before this machine

[Mick_o]

The correct term is actually called walking the ceramic which is pretty tricky to learn but once u have the technique its a piece of piss im a pressure welder by trade but have had heaps of experience in the food industry purge welding stainless steel tube installing steam pipes on boilers etc your pipe fitting is quite neat mate what u using to cut the pipe? me='BOOZTJUNKEY' timestamp='1320962225' post='6104531']

You could also try the "walking the cup " style of welding to help with consistency ;-)

For stuf like intakes and cooler pipes I only do a nice hot fuse but try and roll the pipe so I get in one run ...

It's only a fuse weld but is still a full weld and plenty strong enough for cooler pipes and intakes!

As for going back over the welds I use to think it was cheating also lol but it's not that uncommon of a practice In the last year I have heard heaps of ppl say that's what they do hahaha

Although if it was structual I would do a nice hot root run first make sure u have peno first then go over it if need be

[Mick_o]

If you are only welding exhausts and light stuff the duty cycle wont really be too much of a drama and if u r learning somethin cheap to get ya hand in and a few tips from somebody who can weld will be fine mate :-)

So a cheap no-name Arc welder with a decent duty cycle, then add a TIG attachment would be okay for small jobs? (Exhaust repair, custom plenum etc)

[Mick_o]

Running over welds is actually not good practice because putting too much heat into your material will create imbrittlement which causes the grain of the material to shrink and basically crystalize and in extreme conditions will crack right beside the weld

[Bsa]

I agree but for things that won't need to work that hard like cooler piping and intakes it will be fine. for doing manifolds and plenums a hot nice weld is essential or it will crack distortion is the biggest problem leaning to controll that can be tricky

[Abe2]

yeah agreed i think it will be a while before i try any manifolds

so i have done a little more alloy work no as well made a pencil holder that i have on my desk now

although its not Great what so ever im starting to get the nack of alloy welding

its quite different to stainless steel

i have now made ANOTHER set of pig pipes

and also working on a couple more intakes

im waiting for my bender to come in though before i do inter cooler piping as i want to get more rounded corners

not a great shot but they did come out just like the guy wanted

sounded good too

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

What Are u doing the cuts with mate ?

This set is good mate coming along nicely

[Abe2]

drop saw

then cleaning the ruff edges with a die grinder

they awesome for value got mine from bunnings for like 230?

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Your drop saw?? That's not bad for a decent drop saw

I got my self a hitachi drop saw I love it paid for itself a few times now hahahah what's next on the fabrication list mate ??

[Bsa]

What type of bender you getting

[Bsa]

Alloy donuts and a chain cutter quick easy and neat

[Abe2]

ok so a update

Got my bender last night and it is somewhat

TERRIBLE it does not bend as much as it deforms it i will try to upload some photo's tonight

form what i have heard one of the the tricks is fill the tube with sand before you bend your work

can anyone shed any light on this ( maybe someone that has also just bought a bender thinking you can bend things only to find that you cant )

and next project will be inter cooler piping for the everyday car going to work on making a predator style sort of set up

Also attempting to make a roll cage this weekend for a mates drift car BUT this bender is making me have second thoughts

i might end up buying a main hoop and doing the rest

it sure will be a packed full weekend

[Craved]

please dont use a bottle jack pipe bender on a roll cage.

need to use a bender with proper dies that follow the bend - like what the dude from engineered to slide

also, what sized tungsten are you using? looks like a 2.4? if you want a finer weld then get the collet etc for a 1.6 tungsten

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Yeah mate u can fill it with sand mate it will stop the creasing of the pipe what bender did u get ? Post up pics buddy

[Abe2]

don't worry craved i have VERY QUICKLY found that just like welding there is somewhat of an art on bending also

i think what i am most likely going to do is get a guy to do my main hoop as explained in my above post

and on the way home im going to go get some sand and give it a crack i will post pics up of everything tonight

Edited November 15, 2011 by Abe2

[Bsa]

Sand is a pain in the ass you will never get a nice bend will still flatten out a little and you will struggle to get more then 35 degrees with out pipe damage. Buy round donuts can get any angle you want then or a proper bender one that rolles the pipe not crushes and hope it turns out for the best im not trying to be a rude basted I'm just telling you my experiences

[zebra]

please dont use a bottle jack pipe bender on a roll cage.

This

Please dont

Will never pass CAMS scrutineering