Tig welding tips, questions, equipment, applications, instructions, techniques, tig welding machines, troubleshooting tig welding process
Alumike
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All the welding that I normally do is "saving the day" for someone. I don't build or make anything. I just repair cracked and broken stuff. Here is a high dollar intake manifold. It's for an Olds, so it's already a pricey item and its's been ported.
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Here's the finished job
Here's the finished job
final weld olds 1.jpg (68.14 KiB) Viewed 3267 times
The crack cut out. I usually can play my over the suspect area. The black line is the crack. Now that I can see the ends of it I can finish cleaning.
The crack cut out. I usually can play my over the suspect area. The black line is the crack. Now that I can see the ends of it I can finish cleaning.
grooved out.jpg (71.16 KiB) Viewed 3267 times
Here is the original crack. Cracked across the crossover.
Here is the original crack. Cracked across the crossover.
cracked olds.jpg (49.1 KiB) Viewed 3267 times
Alumike
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Somehow the pics showed in reverse order. Just start at the bottom.
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Just the usual...

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Matt A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

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Matt A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

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Matt A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
TamJeff
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Nice work on the manifold and the bike frame. I have welded a bit of both of those in my day as well. We had a customer who used to either buy kits, or design his own, including a recumbent bike that was really funky looking, in a lawn furniture sort of way.
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Spent 16 hours repairing someone else's previous "repairs".

Never seen anyone destroy the base metal attemping a reair weld, but such was the case in several places...
GEDC1039.JPG
GEDC1039.JPG (180.36 KiB) Viewed 3125 times
Here's what the base metal for one repair looked like with dye penetrant:
GEDC1042.JPG
GEDC1042.JPG (190.38 KiB) Viewed 3125 times
LONG two days...

Steve S
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Hey,

What caused that?
Steve49suzuki
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Hello im a hobby welder these are some bits I welded for my racebike one is a seat subframe one is a Ti exhaust header I modified and one is a flange. I raced the bike at the manx gp at the isle of man. Nothing broke
seat subframe
seat subframe
sub frame 1.jpg (243.15 KiB) Viewed 3013 times
Attachments
flange
flange
flange 1.jpg (71.2 KiB) Viewed 3013 times
header
header
header 1.png (93.94 KiB) Viewed 3013 times
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weldin mike 27 wrote:Hey,

What caused that?
The manifold was 6061-T6, and an unqualified welder attempted to TIG it, using 2% Thoriated, apparently on a transformer machine, too small a diameter, and too much heat. Aluminum should NOT throw sparks as you grind it...

The base metal was full of tungsten spray.

The easiest solution turned out to be, cutting out the entire affected region (in three places), and adding doublers.

My assumption is there was too litle heat to perform the weld, over too long a time, destoying the properties of the T6, and the tungsten spray. This "repair" was doomed from the start.

Steve S
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Fun times. Yet another one to add to the list of "what where these people thinking?"
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Otto Nobedder wrote:
weldin mike 27 wrote:Hey,

What caused that?
The manifold was 6061-T6, and an unqualified welder attempted to TIG it, using 2% Thoriated, apparently on a transformer machine, too small a diameter, and too much heat. Aluminum should NOT throw sparks as you grind it...

The base metal was full of tungsten spray.

The easiest solution turned out to be, cutting out the entire affected region (in three places), and adding doublers.

My assumption is there was too litle heat to perform the weld, over too long a time, destoying the properties of the T6, and the tungsten spray. This "repair" was doomed from the start.

Steve S
Nice job on the repair :)

Funny you should mention tungsten spray. Never heard it called that. :)

I just did it on a piece of scrap this weekend. I was checking to see what a 3/32" 2% lanthanated would tolerate on my transformer machine. At 230 amps balanced AC it basically sprayed the end off. Back to 1/8" tungsten! Lol
Dave J.

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Off to paint...

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Isaac A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

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Isaac A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

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Isaac A by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
Steve49suzuki
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Just sharing a little job ! I did for a mate im no expert remember. Cracked cylinder head. first time I welded it ground it out a bit preheated it and welded it with helium mix and 4047 rod. Cracked right thru weld ! Ground it right out second time and preheated again welded it everything looked ok cracked again on the toe of the weld. welded it a 3rd time this time took the chill of it rather than preheated it welded it and no cracks. Had it pressure tested and might as well welded it with a tea bag leaked every where. Neveragain !! loads of time and gas and rods. But all good fun I guess and valuable experience.
Pictures are wrong way round
steve
Attachments
head 3.jpg
head 3.jpg (75.41 KiB) Viewed 3115 times
head 2.jpg
head 2.jpg (108.4 KiB) Viewed 3115 times
head 1.png
head 1.png (136.49 KiB) Viewed 3115 times
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Steve49suzuki wrote:Hello im a hobby welder these are some bits I welded for my racebike one is a seat subframe one is a Ti exhaust header I modified and one is a flange. I raced the bike at the manx gp at the isle of man. Nothing broke

Nice looking stuff!

I know nothing about that race, but from the monoshock with the external reservior, I'm assuming there's some "terrain" involved? When you need a shock like that, and you don't break anything, you done good. :D

Steve S
Steve49suzuki
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Hello Steve s
Basically it's the same coarse as the Isle of Man Tt. The Tt is for professionals and the Manx gp is for amateurs. It's 38 miles a lap on public roads and you do 4 laps. The Tt is at the end of May and Manx end of August. It's definitely a test of man and machine. That bike was a kawasaki er 650. I also ran a triumph 675. :shock:

Steve
awill4wd
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Not my work but my friends where I work after hours.
He is putting this.

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Into this.

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Chev LSX/LS7, 427 cubes, steel block, twin turbos but take note of the mirror image turbo's, only one place in the world you can buy mirror image turbos.
1952 Ford Mercury pillarless coupe.
And it all fits in without having to have a bonnet scoop.
Still a long way to go but it's well on the way.
Regards Andrew from Oz.
We are Tig welders, gravity doesn't worry us.
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Oh, what a ripper project.
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My project needs a coat of paint and some new wheels.
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34 Chev.JPG
34 Chev.JPG (73.16 KiB) Viewed 2968 times
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WerkSpace wrote:My project needs a coat of paint and some new wheels.
Nah, it'll buff out. 8-)
Go break something, then you can weld it back the right way.

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GreinTime
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Big Fat Cup Holder 1 by GreinTime3592, on Flickr

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BFCH2 by GreinTime3592, on Flickr

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Big Fat Cup in BFCH by GreinTime3592, on Flickr

This is the cupholder that Braehill (my father) and myself made. It's a mix of aluminum. The strap around the cup is 6061-T6, but other than that, who knows! It was a spur of the moment thing, because I was pi$$ed that I had to try and walk with my walker down the hallway, or around the house. I haven't welded since probably September, as I lost my left lower leg due to a firearms accident at the beginning of October. This was the first time I had welded since, so some of them are a little shaky.
I didn't realize how much I used my left leg while welding until I welded some steel (and burnt through my helmet), and almost fell off of the stool about 30 times because I had no way to stabilize after I had moved my walker. It was especially difficult when doing a cover pass on 2" Sch. 80 in 6G. I had to cheat and turn the pipe in the little fixture that I was holding it in :/ You don't think about how much that would throw you off until you don't have one to use!
#oneleggedproblems
-=Sam=-
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Welcome, GreinTime,

Your dad told me some of what happened to you. While I can't pretend to know how this affects you, I can tell you from my experience with workers of all kinds in all crafts, you will improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Steve S
jwmacawful
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i'm glad to hear you're up and around after your accident!! nice cup holder.
ajlskater1
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20131119_185811.jpg
20131119_185811.jpg (77.12 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
20131119_185811.jpg
20131119_185811.jpg (77.12 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
Got to do a little gravy tig brazing last night. Had 700 of these frames to do last night. Nothing fancy just 18 ga cold rolled steel and a 2 inch seam corner to corner.
20131119_185837.jpg
20131119_185837.jpg (101.53 KiB) Viewed 2849 times
coldman
  • coldman

My job today was to fabricate a refrigeration bypass regulator assembly around an existing motorised expansion valve. The existing pipe is 1-1/2" sched 40 and the bypass to be from 1/2" sched 40. I need to pump out the existing line and make safe prior to tie in. (full of 250psi ammonia).
This is the concept.
This is the concept.
P0.jpg (6.03 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
Root passes done. 80amps 3/32" ER70S-4 wire & 2% Lanthanated electrode. Gapped with 3/32" wire and 35 degre bevel no land,
Root passes done. 80amps 3/32" ER70S-4 wire & 2% Lanthanated electrode. Gapped with 3/32" wire and 35 degre bevel no land,
P1.jpg (7.5 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
Fitting up theaded sockets. Butts capped with 1/16" ER70S-2 wire at 70 amps.
Fitting up theaded sockets. Butts capped with 1/16" ER70S-2 wire at 70 amps.
P2.jpg (8.75 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
coldman
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This next photo is the coping of the ends for 1-1/2" pipe
P3.jpg
P3.jpg (8.33 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
Completed assembly ready for tie in.
Completed assembly ready for tie in.
P4.jpg (6.5 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
Assembly tied in to main 1-1/2" line and in service. Sorry for wierd angle but it was a tight t squeeze to get it all in the shot. I used a CK Flexlok torch to help me get around to tie ins gecause of access restrictions.
Assembly tied in to main 1-1/2" line and in service. Sorry for wierd angle but it was a tight t squeeze to get it all in the shot. I used a CK Flexlok torch to help me get around to tie ins gecause of access restrictions.
P5.jpg (7.44 KiB) Viewed 2794 times
ajlskater1
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Very easy little aluminum chasis on friday. .062 5052 al the only thing that is critical us all the welds must be fully penetrated because they get ground, used 1/16 5356 filler for color matching and strength. Have 700 to do welld about 200 per day so should be done on wednesday.
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20131127_235127.jpg
20131127_235127.jpg (88.35 KiB) Viewed 2769 times
20131127_235113.jpg
20131127_235113.jpg (91.17 KiB) Viewed 2769 times
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