From: "Charlie England" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 19:57:22 -0600
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I'm probably best qualified to answer, since I can barely weld. :-)

Can you solder? If yes, then find someone with a TIG setup you can play 
with. The action is at least a little like soldering (I am pretty good 
with a soldering iron). If you can solder, you can learn to do pretty 
well with steel & stainless using a TIG.

'Stick' and arc are the same thing. The cheapest versions are 
AC-to-the-electrode 'crackerbox' welders. I've got one that's probably 
30 years old and it works fine for welding farm equipment. Better ones 
will put DC on the electrode. DC TIG machines will do DC arc welding, as 
long as you get an electrode holder in addition to the TIG torch. The 
models like Bobby & I have mentioned will do 'all of the above', and more.

Charlie


On 2/2/2016 7:00 PM, David Leonard wrote:
> Oh man, if gas is the easiest to learn then I am in big big trouble.
> I once watched a set of videos on gas welding 4130 then spent a day
> practicing.  I never so much as joined to molicules of iron.  Someone
> told me that gas was the hardest and I should try his MIG machine.
> After 4 hours of practice I got enough wire tacked down to be able to
> limp the opject into a professional, who gave me a discount because it
> was the best laugh he had in a long time.  In fairness I was outside
> in windy conditions, but weld integrity was the least of my concerns.
>
> I am pretty sure I will never be good enough to actually trust any of
> my welds and anything of significance will have to go to my guy after
> I tack it.  So thank you every one for the great opinions and leads to
> get me going.  I guess I should also rephrase my question.  What is
> the easiest system to learn to do acceptable tack welds?  When you say
> 'stick welding' is that the same as some of the machines I see labeled
> as 'arc'?  I think that Lynn is right (he always is) that I should go
> take a class.
>
> BTW, I cant spraypaint either.
>
> Thanks again
> David Leonard
>
> On 2/2/16, kenpowell <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:
>> I have to agree with Lynn here (no surprise) - o xy-acetylene is the easiest
>> to master. I have an old Lincoln 225 AC stick machine that actually works
>> pretty good with an easy-to-use 6013 rod. I also have a Hobart 140 mig that
>> I have just never been able to conquer - I end up firing up the o
>> xy-acetylene if the weld matters. Lastly, I love my o xy-acetylene torches.
>> You can create the puddle and control it with either hand speed or flame
>> distance from the puddle. Very easy to learn and to use. The biggest
>> downside is welding gets to be really HOT in the summer months! I still want
>> a set of torches from the Tinman: https://www.tinmantech.com/
>>
>> Ken Powell
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> From: "Lehanover" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
>> To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 1:46:02 PM
>> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations
>>
>> Try to take a course at a local trade school. Best option. I have gas
>> (Oxyacetylene) and a 600 amp Hobart
>> TIG machine. I only use Argon as a shielding gas. I sold my wire welder
>> years ago. Good for building trailers tacking on quarter panels and similar.
>> I like gas welding. Slow and easy. Also brazing and shaping and bending
>> steel parts. Gas welding is the most versatile of all forms. My mother could
>> weld aluminum with paste flux and blue glasses.
>> Wire feeders are difficult to master when starting from scratch. If it runs
>> on 110 volts it is just about a toy welder. Thin steels nearly horizontal
>> only. Takes lots of practice to even get some spot welds going. A stick
>> welder is actually easier to learn the basics on. Use match tip 6013 sticks
>> and build your first trailer.
>> The key is to get an instructor to teach you the many welding systems and
>> how each has its good and bad points. The end game is a big TIG machine
>> where any metal, any thickness can be done. The same machine will also do
>> stick welding AC or DC. Straight or reverse polarity. And the most critical
>> aircraft work.
>> The heat is controlled by a foot pedal and it is a joy to use. Much welding
>> training on the Internet.
>> Lynn E. Hanover
>> In a message dated 2/2/2016 2:06:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> flyrotary@lancaironline.net writes:
>>
>>
>> I have a number of small welding projects around the home and hangar
>> that are starting to accumulate. I am thinking about getting one of
>> those $100 welders from Harbor Freight but I have almost no welding
>> experience. There is plenty of info on the web but I thought I would
>> put the question to my rotary friends.
>>
>> Given that I just want to be able to do occasional projects around the
>> home and airplane, what type of welding equipment would be best for me
>> and what do you consider the minimum power level that is acceptable?
>> I will skip the desire to do anything with aluminum. I am thinking
>> that Arc or Flux Core would be easiest. I tried to weld with
>> auto-feed MIG and I just couldn't keep up with the wire. Also, most of
>> the airplane projects are too difficult to keep any gas bubble in
>> place.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> David Leonard
>>
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>>
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