Welding Tips and Tricks

Just for the fun of it ... ENJOY http://youtu.be/jkL_rgQFA0c

Here is a video I made showing how to make a steel rose ... Enjoy ... http://youtu.be/2N01D3rbgwA

I thoroughly enjoyed the "rose" video.

The MC video was good, as well, but I find the rose more challenging an idea.

That metal formed easily with hand tools. 28 Ga.? I might attempt that myself.

Steve S.

Steve, I use 22 ga. it seems to work the best ... if you go 28 ga. it will form easier but will get bend out of shape to easy also I like the 22ga. because it is much more forgiving if you lag a little to long ... not as likely to melt away ... but then, you are probably a much better welder than I am so you could get away with it w/o any problem.
Winky

Thanks, but I wouldn't make any wagers on the issue. Even 22 Ga. is challenging. I've not welded thinner than 16 ga. in a long time.

I assumed a very light gauge from the ease it appeared to form with, but since much of the footage is accelerated, that is hard to judge.

Nice work, no matter the material.

Steve S.

The 22 ga shapes pretty easy so long as you have it secured well in a vise and have two good pairs of needle nose pliers ... I use 1/8" cold rolled round stock for the stem peen one end and tapper the other to make it easy to get through the sheet metal ... my welding table has a hole drilled so I can just drop it threw and make my first weld ... I usually use my Lincoln mig welder but I'm trying to get more seat time in with my new powertig ... The mig is faster, easier and more cost effective (less gas) but the TIG is more fun to use.

I usually paint them when I'm done but I think I may start heat coloring them as well ... I love the iridescent effect you get with heat ...I've always used oxy acetylene for heat but I think I may start experimenting with long arc.

Once you make one you'll be hooked ... I've made hundreds and they sell well at shows.

Have fun with it Steve!

Winky

Here is a video of something I'm sure every member of this forum has made before but I'm having so much fun making videos of me playing with fire that I posted it on youtube to give the noobs a quick easy project just about anyone can do ... it's a bending fork for a 1/2" hardy ... perhaps I should start a new thread but why clutter things up with a fresh thread when I've already established this one. lol

http://youtu.be/-gfH-O1KlSA

Nice work. It's fun watching others have fun sometimes.

Thanks ... I agree it is fun to watch others have fun. Working with steel is something I really enjoy ... maybe it's because it gives me an opportunity to get creative with something I used to get in trouble for playing with when I was a kid ...lol.