Changing forum names - ***welding SHEETmetal

[Flummo]

There are a number of forums here named "TIG welding sheetmetal", "MIG welding sheetmetal" and other types of joining sheet etc.: http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

Since there are no other places for discussions about joining anything other than sheetmetal, wouldn't it be better to call it "TIG welding", "MIG welding" "gas welding" and so on, so all shapes and forms of metal will get a home for discussions. After all, that's where it ends up anyway... :cool:

[CARS]

Is it because we try to shape the thinnest material we can to do the job?

I can't say I have seen anyone here ask about shaping 1/2" plate and welding it together. :confused:


Not that I care what it's called. I just think the main focus here is sheetmetal. (or at least that is the intended media used)

[Hotrod1932]

Ulf you bring up a good point about the different kinds of welding we can encounter and its something for consideration.

Chris your point is very valid too "thin is in" in the metal shaping world ;)

Might be nice to some how separate the two things. Building E wheels, reinforcing bead rollers, sheers, chassis work, and other such things where welding or reinforcing heavier items is certainly part of the world of metal shaping. The heavier kinds of welding that we need to do from time to time. Thanks for bringing that up, we will see what might be done.

After all this forum belongs to the membership, and if we don't know what you would like, we don't know how to make it better for all of us.

[oldgoaly]

Hi Ulf!
If in doubt about what forum it belongs put it in the chat, one of the moderators can move it if fits another category better. Some people put all their posts in General, but they get lost very quickly in there. A which is better post is hard to place because it covers multiple processes, like many things there is no right or wrong answer. Please post your question and we will find a good spot for it! Take care! tt;)

[Hotrod1932]

Thanks Terry!!! You are definitely the go to guy in helpin us keep the ducks lined up!!

ATTA BOY!!

[oldgoaly]

Ray,
Somethings I have in nice neat order, but most things are randomly organized, only they know where they are at..........:lol:

[CARS]

Might be nice to some how separate the two things. Building E wheels, reinforcing bead rollers, sheers, chassis work, and other such things where welding or reinforcing heavier items is certainly part of the world of metal shaping. The heavier kinds of welding that we need to do from time to time.

Ray, there is enough sub-sections of this group in my honest opinion.

Mig is Mig, Tig is Tig, Oxy is Oxy. No need to over think this. IMHO.

Just let the specific questions happen.

[Flummo]

My thought is that any type of joining or welding metal should fit into those sections. Even if you really only work with thin sheet you just as well might need to work on something bigger to make tools for example.

By the way, it just crossed my mind that there are sections for all common types of welding except MMA. Hardly the first choice for thin sheet, but who knows...

[CARS]

MMA?? Is that stick welding?

[Flummo]

Yes, stick/manual metal arc... or mixed martial arts, but metalmeet might not be the right place for those guys. :D

[Stretch]

My thought is that any type of joining or welding metal should fit into those sections. Even if you really only work with thin sheet you just as well might need to work on something bigger to make tools for example.

By the way, it just crossed my mind that there are sections for all common types of welding except MMA. Hardly the first choice for thin sheet, but who knows...
Sorry I'm nuts enough to arc weld sheet - I'm still learning but this is how far I've got.

I joined weldingweb to get advice. Perhaps I should start a thread here too?

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=72751

[oldgoaly]

I don't know if you can find the small/thin flux coated rods any more, ones I have close to 50 years old(1960's) it is doable. tt;)

[Stretch]

I don't know if you can find the small/thin flux coated rods any more, ones I have close to 50 years old(1960's) it is doable. tt;)
How small were / are they?

I'm struggling to find 1.6mm rods that aren't 6013 rods.

Has anyone ever come across an industrious chap who makes his own rods? => meaning sourcing his own wire and coating them in flux...

[oldgoaly]

1/8" which according to my conversion program = .3175mm, these were used to weld 20ga heat exchangers in gas/oil furnaces. When i worked at the prototype/testing lab in STL. they had the "new guy" weld with these, at 1st they were "a *****" by the second rod it was going good, it was aweful quiet..... They all looked at my welds, consensus "here is our new welder" seem no one could used those old rods make nice welds..... When the ice melts..... I'll take a couple of pics for comparison.
What about flux core mig wire? just a thought, but for the cheap prices of mig supplies (did I really say cheap?) why spend time and money arc welding? Those old arc rods made a appearance 2010 at Joel's welding class, the teacher laughed as he fried a rod, Joel could lay a decent bead but tig/mig is so much easier! Get out the carbon arc! Where's Bambi???? oh that was a fun "debate" years ago but hey! might come in handy sometime!

[dmc1]

I have a few 1/16" (1.6mm) 6013 rods. These were bought a few years ago at Canadian Tire, and are probably still easily available. Other than trying them out on 20G with little success, I haven't used them. At the rate they burn up, I think it would be an expensive way to weld thin sheet steel.

But as for for Terry's question "Why spend time and money arc welding?", well, a 230V buzz box is pretty cheap, especially used, and you can do pretty decent welds on material as thick as you're ever likely to use in a home shop. And no purchase, rental, refills or any other hassles with gas tanks. Plug it in and your ready to weld. But I'd agree, not the way to go for thin stuff.

Dave Cameron

[jlrussell4]

1/16" electrodes are available. Most are 6013 which is a lower penetrating rod. This is what you would want for thin sheet metal. 6010 and 7018 are a deeper penetrating rod that will be good on heavier material. There are a lot of reasons why arc welding is the preferd method of welding in construction. One is the amount of penetration on thicker steel. I don't own a mig, so on most stuff over 3/16" I just turn the knobs on the tig welder and arc weld.

For what it's worth, the instructor at the local VoTech makes his students learn to arc weld before they can move on to mig or tig.

[Stretch]

My reasons why I'm trying to do it the hard way.

1) Most people say it can't be done. So there's a challenge right there!

2) I like the simplicity coupled with the necessity to be skillful to use it. It is more like an art than just someone who operates it.

3) In tight spaces I reckon you've got a better chance of stuffing a rod in there rather than a bulky gun or a torch and a filler rod.

4) I think it is a way way cheaper way of welding than any other process at the moment. A decent MIG welder (new in Europe) will cost about the same as entry level TIG at the moment. Then you have to mess about with gas and wire and ??? Even bargain basement prices for MIG you're still spending more than arc in my opinion.

5) My biggest problem with MIG – and this is unfair to the process – is that it can be used by any monkey. I'm sick and tired of seeing inches of MIG wire left on car bodies. It seems to me to be an unsympathetic welding process predominantly used by botchers.

6) I've decided to learn a skill rather than get from A to B as quickly as possible.






(Rant over!)




So if I have some arc welding questions - where should I post them? In the TIG section?

[oldgoaly]

Army,
Wait till ya burn some rod up! 1st thing is can your arc box go that low? doah was it dc positive it worked best on? second, it isn't like a larger rod, you really need to move quicker as the rod gets shorter. here is a link, they look to be available, http://www.weldingrods.com/#!mild-steel (http://www.weldingrods.com/#%21mild-steel) those 930 rods sound like a miracle rod..... My welder is a 1975 Sear Craftsman ac/dc still have it. As far as what section to put it in, maybe we can modify the name of one to contain arc and other forms of welding.
A 20$ roll of wire and a big tank of CO2, wonder how far you can weld, then compare arc welding costs for the same length..... Army you in charge of this comparison!:D
Heck if you want to try it out come on over and use mine! sorry I don't have that old tank for a welding contest..... How I made beer money! hehehe

[larry mullen]

I have tried to weld 19ga. with 1/16 6013 several years ago. I was uable to lay down a bead without blowing holes. There is a specialty rod available for thin sheet?:confused:
Larry

[Stretch]

Well here are some pictures of what I can do so far...

...don't forget I'm still learning!


@Moderators - If this is an inappropriate place to be doing this please say and I'll start a new thread elsewhere

This is 1mm mild sheet sheet (I don't know the exact specs it was all I could get!)

http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=87921&stc=1&d=1326465615

I'm getting a bit of a problem when I start - apparently I need to pre-heat the joint by striking an arc ahead and then going back... If it ever stops raining I'll get out and practice some more.

http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=87931&stc=1&d=1326465964

Here's the underside showing the penetration

http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=87941&stc=1&d=1326466090

All done on a more modern machine that has them there fancy MOSFET amplifiers - I can also repeat this with an old fashioned machine too but the rod has a greater tendancy to stick. To overcome this I found it is useful to lay some beads on a bit of scrap before moving to the work piece - get the rod nice and hot - so that messes up the cost of weld per mm ratio a bit!

@oldgoaly

Thanks for the link - that is absolutely fantastic. It looks like I will have to stop by just to say thanks sometime! However, I'll probably have to wait until the ghost of Freddy Laker makes his move to force down those airline prices...