1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

Hey, spoolgun works well

But it's definitely gotta be thick stuff.

I vote recording multiple small sessions on the build, and just compiling them together in a video walk-through of the camper.

 

I've used a spool gun like twice, was okay I guess, but I really liked using a push-pull it was like using my muscle memory for MIG but with quality, penetration, and adjustability of TIG. Shame the thing costs like 12k

 

Oh for sure. I've only ever used one push pull setup and feeding was stupid reliable compared to my own spoolgun

TIG aluminum loooks soooo good though, can't wait to see it. I can't TIG aluminum for shit other than making a cube

 

If you can make a cube you can make anything

 

Open corners are the easiest thing to TIG with aluminum. That and butt joints.

But the thing with aluminum is proper heat control, speed, and filler.

Aluminum heat soaks like a mother fucker, but you need quite a bit of heat to penetrate that oxidized surface. Thing is, that heat is higher than what's required to fuse aluminum alone.

So you need a high enough heat to penetrate that layer, but fast enough speed to run through and not blow a hole a few inches down the weld because the aluminum got too hot.

 

@time623

You asked about charging for work, and doing side jobs from home.

You should take up TIG welding. There's always a market for doing stainless and aluminum, especially for vehicle-related stuff. Anything from hot or cold pipes, headers, and more.

And you don't need a heavy duty table fixture either since that stuff is all light work. Just need a means of holding stuff down.

Highly recommend it for quick and easy money.

 

I’d have some work for ya @time623, just let me know when the doors open!

 

man post some build plans so I can "reserve judgement"

 

Reserve away my friend, my lack of public information doesn't stop @Blackdawg from voicing his disapproval

It really isn't super extravagant, the most interesting part really isn't the camper IMHO, it's the fuel tank and battery box plan. Plus having no factory fuel tank leaves room for a future 4 link

 

man I sold my old TIG (super cheap LOTOS) to get the Primeweld machine, and that was a killer upgrade, adding water cooled torch made using it a lot of fun.

I've used the very expensive miller machines, and for most materials and thicknesses for automotive there's very little real world difference to the much more expensive machines imo

 

but those are the parts I'm also doing and want to compare notes lol

 

Fair, what size tank did you decide on anyway. I wanted to say goodbye to the factory tank and measured for the 42g suburban tank

 

24 gal fuel tank under way...

 

I actually learned on a PrimeWeld 225X funny enough.

Then at my last fab job I used a Miller Dynasty and in my limited experience, I couldn't tell a difference at all. Well aside from the fact that the Dynasty had a lot more power, but we were doing 16 gauge and 18 gauge stainless so it wasn't needed.

 

yeah with the new digitally controlled inverter machines, the ability to mess with the fancy settings got a ton cheaper.

 

Ya unless you’re bouncing off the duty cycle on thicker stuff the prime weld can do just as well

 

I like your surgebox thingy. Interesting thing I noticed about the stock tank, if you were at 100% load (no fuel returning from the regulator) you can drain your factory surge (assuming the fuel level is below the top of it) with a 340lph pump pretty fast ad find yourself in a bad situation...

 

Except some old timers will refuse to believe this.

"IT'S RED OR BLUE FOR LIFE"

Shit, we had a handful of Miller 255 Multimatics down for a bit as we waited for new boards from Miller because they weren't communicating with the TIG pedal at all. Yet the Eastwood TIG200 and PrimeWeld TIG welders ran non-stop without issue.

As much as I am a Miller fan, I'll gladly run the cheaper machines all day everyday.

 

yeah I took a pretty hard look at the OEM tank, for the tank length its a reasonable solution...
I'm running weighted flappers in there and only open up high to the surge section. I'm also only running a 255LPH as I don't plan to go above ~450wheel and won't run e85

 

I'm still looking to upgrade my plasma to a primeweld unit. I forgot to hit them up when I was in NY late last year.