34PKUP
Well-known member
Thank you for keeping the weirdness going
acetylene vs. propane
- Thread starter ford35lh
- Start date
How do you handle the distortion from the heat of gas welding sheet metal?
rotorwrench
Well-known member
I handle it the same way a fellow with a TIG torch does. It's not rocket science. You can get distortion with a TIG torch too. You don't weld sheet metal in a continuous bead. You tack the whole line first then you jump around on the seam filling in between the tacks to allow for cooling in the panel. If it shrinks too much you stretch it a bit with hammer & dolly. If it's stretched too much you shrink it a bit with the torch. If nothing else, a person just has to stop if it's getting too hot and come back later. Metal always distorts when it's hot. Let it cool so you can see where it goes then. Body files will find the high and low spots. Your hand will find an oil canning stretch spot.
Some folks call working steel an art. To me its just work. It takes patience and a person has to learn to recognize how steel reacts when you apply heat to it. An electric torch applies just as much heat as a gas torch. The only difference it the electric torch does it faster. That means you have to work faster. There is more of a chance to make mistakes when you have to work fast. The more you do it the better you get at it. You pick up the time saving tricks by trial and error just knowing how it's going to react.
blucar
Well-known member
A few years ago I was in need of a pair of good tail light assembly's. The assembly's have an inner and outer bucket that is very prone to rust out. I had several assembly's that were badly rusted out in one or more areas. I cut the "buckets" apart to harvest the good pieces. Cutting/trimming and fitting the pieces together, then gas welding the parts together, I came up with a complete set of inner/outer buckets. After a little grinding and painting I had a perfect set of tail light assemblies.
A friend of mine that is a certified professional welder happened to see the tail lights sitting on my work bench before they were installed, he asked me where I had found new tail light assembly's. I told him I made them from eight or ten rusted out buckets which I gas welded together.
My friend was amazed, stating that he could not do that if his life depended on it.
I have to agree with the statement, "that gas welding is an art"...
A friend of mine that is a certified professional welder happened to see the tail lights sitting on my work bench before they were installed, he asked me where I had found new tail light assembly's. I told him I made them from eight or ten rusted out buckets which I gas welded together.
My friend was amazed, stating that he could not do that if his life depended on it.
I have to agree with the statement, "that gas welding is an art"...
skidmarks
Well-known member
Gap in the joint, tip size, pressure of gas, how clean it is. Filler wire size. Lens shade. Lots of practice.
It all takes time , some are better then others. Most people give up because they think its just like spreading butter.
You will always end up working it with a hammer and dolly.
Problem with mig welding is that its a hard weld and you cant work it much without cracking. Bondo will fix that
cmbrucew
Well-known member
A real craftsman told me in 1967 that a man who wears glasses can never become a good welder. I though he was full of it. After over 40 years I believe him. If you cannot see well you cannot weld perfectly. Clean work pieces, filler material, and immediate work area, with good light and position give you the best chance to do good welding.
Another advantage is years of varied experience. The more experience you have the better job you can do by listening, and feeling while welding out of hand, with poor lighting, and less than clean parts and conditions.
Welding is different in the shop, and in the field. But men often get moved back and forth. That experience makes both a better welder.
Bruce
Another advantage is years of varied experience. The more experience you have the better job you can do by listening, and feeling while welding out of hand, with poor lighting, and less than clean parts and conditions.
Welding is different in the shop, and in the field. But men often get moved back and forth. That experience makes both a better welder.
Bruce
Tinker
Well-known member
Tinker
Well-known member
That's been an issue for me lately. Good light and a better helmet helps a lot. I'd always express getting a very nice helmet, good light or better, and a lot of time practicing. I also play guitar, been playing since I was 17. I get better the more I practice, but at some point you just have to be born to play guitar. Wonder how junior brown or Brian Stenzer is so good. Practice and talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eosj3MUD2WE
But the king... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iGXP_UBog4
Most of those stacked nickel tig photos you see are really a series of spot welds. But some of them pro guys can layout some dimes. 10 yrs and still trying.
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skidmarks
Well-known member
Alot of that perfect stacked nickles also has to do with modern machine with slope control , pulse setting, hot starts. Put a modern machine pro on a old off on start heliarc welder and see how he does.
Same goes for pipe welders , 6010 or 5p+ standing on your head vrs sitting in the a/c
Same goes for pipe welders , 6010 or 5p+ standing on your head vrs sitting in the a/c
rotorwrench
Well-known member
When I gas weld I use a dark wrap around pull down face shield so that I can use my bifocals or my readers when I have contacts in. I've been myopic since I was a kid so I just had to adapt to see well. When I electric weld I use an auto darkening helmet. I melt a face shield now and then and have gone through several auto darkening type helmets but a person has to see to be able to weld for sure.
Some of the best helicopter pilots I've met also play the fiddle. I played piano when I was a kid but I don't have time to practice any more. I played trumpet for a while too but most folks don't like it when you try to practice that. It's hard to play quietly.
Some of the best helicopter pilots I've met also play the fiddle. I played piano when I was a kid but I don't have time to practice any more. I played trumpet for a while too but most folks don't like it when you try to practice that. It's hard to play quietly.
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tubman
Well-known member
I was nearsighted all of my life. About 15 years ago, I had cataract surgery in both eyes. I am now slightly far-sighted. After the surgery, I found I could not see to weld. I talked to a friend who was a professional welder, and he put me on to magnifying lenses for welding helmets. You can get them in different powers and select the best one like buying "cheaters" at the drugstore. I can see to weld now; the only problem is I sometimes forget to take off my regular "cheaters". Like in life, double cheating doesn't work very well.