O/A Welding Question

[yomax4]

I agree. Oxyfuel is not the best when welding two dissimilar thicknesses of steel. At least not for those of us who don't have loads of experience.

A cheapo wire feeder or stick machine would do the job in a few minutes.

Agreed, I would only do it if it's the only option I had. A few tacks with the mig and a nice bead would be the norm. Gas welding is 19th century but it looks like someone is still doing it. I like it all.

 

[IslandTractor]

Agreed, I would only do it if it's the only option I had. A few tacks with the mig and a nice bead would be the norm. Gas welding is 19th century but it looks like someone is still doing it. I like it all.

I find gas welding much more satisfying and like to use it for sheet metal where it gives much greater control than mig or stick but it clearly is slower.

 

[Furu]

Are you determined to gas weld it and avoiding arc welding? or just don't have an arc welder? IMHO.. your task would be a couple minute job with an arc welder..etc..

soundguy

I don't have nor do I have access to arc or MIG. Maybe some day but I have been watching out for an old AC/DC tombstone but have not found one yet.

I have seen a lot of MIG that just does not get the penetration on thick material. If I go for the fish-scale look with OA I don't get the necessary penetration when working thick material.

 

[Willl]

TF, I'm in the 98446 area, if ya want and it's not a large project, bring it by.

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't have nor do I have access to arc or MIG. Maybe some day but I have been watching out for an old AC/DC tombstone but have not found one yet.

I have seen a lot of MIG that just does not get the penetration on thick material. If I go for the fish-scale look with OA I don't get the necessary penetration when working thick material.

Even a $99 HF fluxcore machine could stick your two pieces together. It cannot penetrate more than 1/8 inch but if the smaller piece is that thickness or less there is no benefit to greater penetration on the thicker piece.

 

[cowski]

why don't you braze it ? it is easier than welding.

 

[IslandTractor]

why don't you braze it ? it is easier than welding.

T joint with tube to base metal is not ideal for brazing but you are right it could be done. I guess it depends on how strong the joint needs to be.

 

[Soundguy]

Even a $99 HF fluxcore machine could stick your two pieces together. It cannot penetrate more than 1/8 inch but if the smaller piece is that thickness or less there is no benefit to greater penetration on the thicker piece.

northern tools has a 140$ stick arc welder.. 200a I think. probably low dutty cycle like 10% at that range.. but around 100A should be fine.

good and cheap.. make jobs liek that pay forthemselves fast in gas cost alone pretty soon. acetylene here is sky high..

soundguy

 

[deereman75]

northern tools has a 140$ stick arc welder.. 200a I think. probably low dutty cycle like 10% at that range.. but around 100A should be fine.

good and cheap.. make jobs liek that pay forthemselves fast in gas cost alone pretty soon. acetylene here is sky high..

soundguy

I would first take a look at craigslist. I got my tombstone, a nice pipeliner helmet, a pound of 6013 rods, an extended stinger cable, and a bernard shortstub electrode holder, for $125 or $150. About the same as the northern, but will last a lot longer, and comes with some nice extras.

 

[Soundguy]

i would look there too.. but I believe he said he couldn't find anything used.. so just kicked out the idea of that low end / limited use one. for jobs like this.. it's cheap and will burn rods. a good used tombstone IMHO.. would be my choice too though.

soundguy