The Welding Thread for Landy projects

I am a bit busy now finishing off end of year OU assignments and with work so can't get out to the workshop, another couple of weeks and I will have time to crack on again with much more spare time.
Love seeing what others are doing in fabrication

Just got myself a new toy,


Need to get an argon bottle now

So, I got my tig set up and running today, haven't got any filler rod yet but gave it a quick go

I will finally get around to picking up a cylinder over the next week or so to allow me to play with the toy I bought a couple of months ago now

steve24v said:

Just got myself a new toy,
View attachment 261323

Need to get an argon bottle now

Click to expand...

Steve, can I ask where from and how much?
Been talking myself into getting a tig over the last few weeks.

Got it from rapid welding (supplier we use at my workplace), I paid £1850 for it as my boss put it through the business. Comes with everything like foot pedal, decent torch, some consumables and flow meter/guage to get you going.
As it comes from America you just need to change the plug for a 32amp plug if you want it to run full power (I just put an adaptor on just to try it).
Cheers
Steve

steve24v said:

Got it from rapid welding (supplier we use at my workplace), I paid £1850 for it as my boss put it through the business. Comes with everything like foot pedal, decent torch, some consumables and flow meter/guage to get you going.
As it comes from America you just need to change the plug for a 32amp plug if you want it to run full power (I just put an adaptor on just to try it).
Cheers
Steve

Click to expand...

Thanks Steve, nice as that is it is out of my price range, and most likely my skill range!

Check your tips!

I was reluctant to get it to be honest, i wouldnt have paid full price thats for sure. Didn't want one with the digital display panel, I prefer the analogue controls as I find it easier to setup.
Take a look at jasic ac/dc tig sets, I've never used one personally but an old colleague of mine said they weld nice.
Don't get one any less than a £1000 as they will be 5hite.

lynall said:

Check your tips!

View attachment 262226

Click to expand...

Loads of life left in that tip, just get thicker wire

steve24v said:

I was reluctant to get it to be honest, i wouldnt have paid full price thats for sure. Didn't want one with the digital display panel, I prefer the analogue controls as I find it easier to setup.
Take a look at jasic ac/dc tig sets, I've never used one personally but an old colleague of mine said they weld nice.
Don't get one any less than a £1000 as they will be 5hite.

Click to expand...

Tbh a few people have said the same to me, ie under a grand will be pants.
I can sort of justify one as I have been asked to build a boats stainless exhaust, plus you know what its like, make one and others see it.

I think the cheaper ones will do the odd jobs now and then but probably won't last very long plus they will be more hassle setting up to get a decent weld. The set I have is easy to set up (has blue marks on all the dials as a starting point then you adjust to suit)
You could take a look at your local welding suppliers if they do refurbished second hand machines. Might be lucky in getting a decent machine for half the price. My boss has bought second hand machines which we use all day everyday

steve24v said:

I think the cheaper ones will do the odd jobs now and then but probably won't last very long plus they will be more hassle setting up to get a decent weld. The set I have is easy to set up (has blue marks on all the dials as a starting point then you adjust to suit)
You could take a look at your local welding suppliers if they do refurbished second hand machines. Might be lucky in getting a decent machine for half the price. My boss has bought second hand machines which we use all day everyday

Click to expand...

Would you mind posting a pic of you settings for the “practice” you did thanks.

J

Basically had the dials on the blue markers and set the amps between 100 - 120 with pulse on. Material is 3mm Ali without filler wire

Just had a quick go at welding a test piece of stainless for the exhaust I will be making (will update on my build thread), need a proper bench to work on instead of the garden chairs lol. Still, didn't turn out to bad

Oh lordy, the states of some stuff.

Understand everyone needs too learn, but bugger me.

I'm (was) coded welder for Alstom, generally borrow a nice little jobby off my mate. Last time I borrowed it, my god the settings were well off.
One of them things you get a 'feeling' for.
Set it up and the numbnuts who had previously borrowed it, had clearly had the wire speed down, and burning the tip. So instead of turning it up, in infinite wisdom of stupidity, they'd just cranked the rollers down.

Some people should not be near a welding set.

Reminds me of my college years, when a stuck up arse teacher from secondry school, came in on open night saw me, and pretty much demanded '5minutes to learn how to weld.'
He promptly got told to sod off.

steve24v said:

Just had a quick go at welding a test piece of stainless for the exhaust I will be making (will update on my build thread), need a proper bench to work on instead of the garden chairs lol. Still, didn't turn out to badView attachment 262647

Click to expand...

On pipe, the easiest and quickest jig is 2bits of angle, and some fatbar feet.

If you put them on a flat surface, you'll get it aligned. And the pipe will stay put.

If stainless to stop rusting, bit of alu tape over them will help.

Used to have loads of trays when doing steel. From tiny 20x20 right up to channel for big stuff.

Sir Mowhawk said:

If stainless to stop rusting, bit of alu tape over them will help.

Click to expand...

l
Bloke at work said about this tape, have you ever used solar flux or sif flux for stainless pipe to stop it oxidising inside?

There are loads of 'quick' fixes for it. But best to just stop contamination before it starts. Roll of tape is a few quid. And will stay on there for ages.

When I was an app we used to put it o everything from vices to mollies.

Sir Mowhawk said:

Some people should not be near a welding set

Click to expand...

just some?

I must have worked with more than my fair share of them

Rich.