Hey yall, just wondering what software those of you that work in the engineering side are using. What I use now is buggy all the time and im tired of it. I draw WPS and manage welder qauls for mine company and others. Preferably a software I can buy outright, not a monthly or annual subscription. Th...

I know I'm a little late on this... But I've actually used. Lucas Oil Transmission Stop Slip as my cutting oil for quite a while... Cheap, big bottle with a pointed snout that makes it convenient and it actually works extremely well!!!

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Pilot holes. Start tiny, and slowly graduate to the size you want. The less,material the drill bit is catching, the less torque it takes to spin the bit.

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I don't think it's a welding on DC issue... I think your amperage might just be way too high... Or you got some crazy weird aluminum... Try taking a stainless brush and scrub the crab out of it, acetone wipe it really well.

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7018 would be my choice too. Although I would preheat just to make sure it never cracked again. No need to heat to a certain temp as its not critical, but just enough to get her good and toasty should be enough. I would drill a hole at the ends of the crack though. Then Weld.

I know your pain... My last duty station was in Yuma. HORRIBLE!

Another thing too is that it really depends on where you are located and where you're aluminum comes from. Like for some reason my suppliers aluminum, while decently well priced, always has almost a thin layer of oil on it and requiresa good cleaning before welding. I've tried welding it without cle...

Honestly in my opinion, and keep in mind I really dont have too much experience with it, I feel like carbon arc is a dieing technology. With O/A and even plasma cutters with their own air supply being so prevalent these days, I just see it as not an efficient process at all.

Either leave it bolted in place, pre-stress, pre-heat, or change your weld pattern to something that spreads the heat out more evenly. For example, instead of welding bead after bead after bead right next to eachother and slightly overlapping until you've covered the whole thing, weld a bead, weld 9...

What are you working on with the smaller machine? Cuz I've had a similar issue before and figured out it was my ground... If not that I would check gun consumables and gas flow. Make sure all gas lines to, inside, and from the machine are clean and not kinked. Check gun liner and torch consumables, ...

I replaced my old crazy kit with the Victor Medalist 350. I went with the heavy duty but I honestly would have been fine with the medium duty kit. I absolutely LOVE the handle design and the all around build of this kit. it is really comfortable and easy to work with. I've used to for everything but...

Both would ideally be best. But, if you're planning on just being a fab shop and not typically working with anything other than mild, stainless, or aluminum, I would get the plasma and a good compressor behind it. Can cut anything that will conduct lee trinity unlike a torch where you're limited to ...

I just have some 3 ton normal height jack stands. I think I'm just gonna do the supporting from the rafters idea. Build some rigid and reusable shackles hanging from them and tada!

Hang it from straps if your joists will support. Sounds like it's big enough you could sling it from several spots to spread out the weight. You sir, are a genius... I'll have to make some rigid and reusable mounts going through the ceiling because I don't want to have nasty holes cut through the S...

What I think I'm gonna end up doing is because of how wide the horizontal arms will be and how heavy this thing is gonna be, I'm gonna get it all tacked up then weld one side, have some friends that are helping with other parts of the project flip it over, weld the opposite side and repeat. Weld opp...

What ever you do, post some pics! I like seeing projects that are a work of devotion. That adds a little something extra to it that goes beyond tab A, slot B, wire size X, etc. Will do for sure. Ill probably post some here and then also make a thread in the projects section as well. I can definitel...

Best backup hood there is is just a plain old pipeliner. Usually shade 10. You can get a good one 50ish bucks on amazon. Nothin fancy and you'll have to practice your "head nod" but they're a guarantee to work every time.

Another idea! maybe a 3/32"-1/4" gap with a backing plate??? I figure it can only help so why not? Already have material suitable to cut some backing plates so it won't increase my costs at all?????

Not Otto but. Any time you can round a corner it will reduce stress. Often you will see patch plates with rounded corner, or when you weld windows into a boiler tube you round the corners of the patch to help relieve stress. Never knew this but the more I think about it the more sense it makes. Tha...

Coldman wrote:Don't sweat it. You will be protected by the standard "act of God " exclusion clause.


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HAHAHA!!! Well in the off chance and highly unfortunate event that this big ol' thang ever did come down... I'll make sure to include that with my insurance claim!!!

From a metallurgy standpoint, E70s-6 Mig wire or ER7018 stick (or ER7014, for that matter) will give you both sufficient strength and sufficient ductility to withstand wind stress and it's own weight. From a design standpoint, notching and welding on the bias is the best choice you could have made ...

This is gonna sound somewhat arrogant, but I have more than enough experience and education for a project like this. No offense intended. Everyone here wants only to help, but without knowing your specific qualifications, responses were offered with a fair dose of "please be safe" info. W...

Why not complicate things even more? TIG the thing, but don't make it easy---use an exotic filler rod like Inconel or Hastelloy. You can never be too sure!! Oh, and make sure you get a good back-purge going. :lol: I actually have thought of using this opportunity to practice my Walking The Cup! I t...

Why not complicate things even more? TIG the thing, but don't make it easy---use an exotic filler rod like Inconel or Hastelloy. You can never be too sure!! Oh, and make sure you get a good back-purge going. :lol: I actually have thought of using this opportunity to practice my Walking The Cup! I t...

And I guess I could have clarified a bit better on my original post... I have the stick and MIG experience to do either. And I have the equipment and machinery for welding and/or beveling if I decide to go that route. Along with the experience and education. My curiosity was more along the metallurg...