Anything welding

That's my helper prepping by the way. Not me.

 

TIG welding is kind of fun! Last week I was working with the welders on a new machine I recently designed. Trying to exploit any design issues and find places I can make layout easier. I forgot to tab a couple parts and now I realize why they like tabs so much. I also hired 2 new welders and had to buy another new Dynasty 350.

 

So i did some farm repair stuff and things. I did two down hill passes on this gap thats close to 1/2" at the edge. About 3/16" tube and 1/4" bar for a brace on some spray booms. Its rusty and dirty and i didnt clean it super well, but i figure the metal will break before the weld does anyway. I think it turned out ok, i just set the welder for 3/16, but i didnt no if, when welding two different thicknesses, if u split the difference or go with the thinner and hold longeron the thick or set for thick and hold shorter on the thin. Just wonderin for future reference what most of yall do for that.

 

Its the opposite of welding, but you guys would know..

Will a 10 Amp sawzall be enough for cutting exhaust tubes (with the proper blade of course)?

Like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-10-Amp-Reciprocating-Saw-RJ185V/204601267?N=5yc1vZc2h7

 

The blade is the most important part of a sawzall.

 

^^ What he said. Plus, it's just exhaust tubes. Not like 1/4" wall DOM or something.

Another non-welding question for you guys. What's up with the differences between the air compressor hose couplers? 'Industrial', 'automotive', etc. Is one better than the others??

 

Aren't the industrial usually 3/8" and the automotive and homeowner grade ones 1/4"? I don't know. I bought an industrial hose once and it was 3/8". Didn't work for my compressor setup.

 

Yes a sawzall will work, get a metal blade and it'll cut through easy.

In regards to air fittings.http://www.homemetalshopclub.org/news/aug03/coupler_plugs.jpg

 

it's in regards to the style of fitting. We use industrial at my shop. They also go by letter. So industrial in fitting type M. Now the obvious part is you cant plug an M fitting into an automotive fitting.

 

I'm no expert but I believe for material that's similar (within 1/8'' of each other) set it for the thicker material and stay on the thicker material and wash the puddle to the thinner material side.

I have a question, when my relentless DIY kit gets here (it'll be here in ~4 weeks hopefully) what is the best way to weld the 1'' recovery points to the bumper (I believe it's all 3/16'')?
Preheat the recovery points with a torch and then weld or just turn the machine up and get a good puddle to wash onto the thinner material?

If things go as planned I'll be able to MIG it at home with a Miller 211, if I have to weld it at school I'll MIG it with a Miller 304.

 

Multiple passes on the recovery points

 

Won't clutter up this thread with all the progress pics, but here is the end result of the bed rack I finished up this weekend

 

Best blades I think go with the Milwaukee torch blades those things last and they cut through mostly anything

 

Ok. thanks.

Finished my FCAW test plates today, passed 2G,3G, and 4G on the first try,they haven't been graded yet but I didn't see any imperfections and my teacher didn't point any out.
Unless he has me move to TIG tomorrow I want to make a test plate for either MIG or FCAW open butt and bend test that.

 

You should take the test a few times IMO. Don't just pass it and go on to the next one. Take your time and really focus on what's going on with the weld puddle and weld. Don't try to rush through it all

 

lol had to try some Texas tig welding today to fill a big gap

 

Nice. Ran a couple cover passes over that I hope?

 

Yup that's exactly what I used. I have the cordless Ryobi sawzall and it went thru like butta

 

For sure but had to do this to fill the huge gap. Just welding up a structure to put a chainfall on to pull some baskets in an air heater at the outage I'm currently working. Its all gonna get cut out after we change baskets anyway.

 

I thought that was a picture of the light hoops on your bumper.