Lots of parts fabbed in the garage

jid2 · Dec 13, 2008, 08:20 PM

asdfasdf128 · Dec 13, 2008, 08:28 PM

Sweet!

1lancer · Dec 14, 2008, 09:20 AM

good work...man

Evoryder · Dec 14, 2008, 09:27 AM

nice fab work...the welds, um.

dave_evolvix · Dec 14, 2008, 09:30 AM

Threads like this really show me how badly I need to learn how to weld. Where do most people learn these things? Are night classes offered on this sort of thing?

jid2 · Dec 14, 2008, 10:21 AM

I'm a mechanical engineer, and I really enjoy building my parts instead of buying them. But I have zero formal training in fab work, I've just taught myself.

I'm really not much of a welder, but I like to do it.

dave_evolvix · Dec 14, 2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jid2

I'm a mechanical engineer, and I really enjoy building my parts instead of buying them. But I have zero formal training in fab work, I've just taught myself.

I'm really not much of a welder, but I like to do it.

I know that formal training might be overkill, but I don't know anyone who welds. If I did I'd make them teach my a little something. But I'm not going to buy an expensive Mig welder and just start fooling around. Seems like it isn't as intuitive as a bandsaw. Hah.

BTW: Sorry for the OT. But you don't see much on this forum about DIY welding/fabrication.

Fathouse · Dec 14, 2008, 03:00 PM

Big props on making stuff yourself. What kind of welder do you use?

Just a couple notes to help you improve, if you are getting those thick flanges hot enough to glow like that its getting to hot. What kind of amp settings are you using? On the tube to flange stuff I weld a small section around the base then rotate around as not to get everything to hot.

Also, if you do not have a gas lense on the torch, get one. You will love it first time you weld SS with it.

Fathouse

Psquared · Dec 14, 2008, 03:03 PM

man that's sick! I bet everyone on here wished we had all those tools in our garages! A lift too, and you're all set!

Mulholland0132 · Dec 14, 2008, 03:14 PM

looking good.

jid2 · Dec 14, 2008, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fathouse

Big props on making stuff yourself. What kind of welder do you use?

Just a couple notes to help you improve, if you are getting those thick flanges hot enough to glow like that its getting to hot. What kind of amp settings are you using? On the tube to flange stuff I weld a small section around the base then rotate around as not to get everything to hot.

Also, if you do not have a gas lense on the torch, get one. You will love it first time you weld SS with it.

Fathouse

It's a Thermal Arc Arcmaster 185 - so basically a 185 amp inverter machine. You can see it in the background of one of the pictures.

I need to find an experienced welder to give me some pointers for sure. I can get stuff put together, but I'd like to clean things up for sure.

I think I used 90 amps for the stainless flanges, pulsed, with a background of around 40. I have a gas lense that I've fooled with, I'll have to try it some more.

RAbishi · Dec 14, 2008, 06:25 PM

I have seen your fab work in your build thread and its very nice. I like your little welding table, I need to make one like it.

Are you using a wood saw to cut that aluminum tubing?

Fathouse · Dec 14, 2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jid2

It's a Thermal Arc Arcmaster 185 - so basically a 185 amp inverter machine. You can see it in the background of one of the pictures.

I need to find an experienced welder to give me some pointers for sure. I can get stuff put together, but I'd like to clean things up for sure.

I think I used 90 amps for the stainless flanges, pulsed, with a background of around 40. I have a gas lense that I've fooled with, I'll have to try it some more.

Nice, I have a HTP inveratig 201. I love the inverter machines. I do not like to use the pluser, I prefer my foot. Def keep the gas lense on there when welding the SS. It gives much better gas coverage, and when you figure out the heat perfect you will get that pretty SS coloring. What is your regulator set at?

Fathouse

Q@EvoPowerMods · Dec 14, 2008, 10:06 PM

Your Aluminum TIGing looks pretty good, you def have an eye for Fab work. I think you know you have way too much heat on your Steainless TIGing. Try some fusing without filler rod on some stainless, especially the tubes. Make a little better butt joint on your SStubes and you can fuse away with lower heat. Also as you probably know clean your base metal so that shielding gas can do it's work..awesome start..keep at it, that catch can looks Tyte !

jid2 · Dec 15, 2008, 06:58 AM

For most of the stainless butt joints I just fused and didn't add filler - only when I needed to fill a gap. For the fillets I had to add material. On the stainlesss flanges I felt that I needed the 90 amps to get the thick flange material flowing. Next time I'll try it with fewer amps though. Thanks for the comments.

Overall if the joints are tight I do OK. I really struggled with the thin walled aluminum of the IC pipes. The butt-joints on them are lame-o, as well as the fillets for the BOV etc - they look like squirted toothpaste because I ad to go back and reflow them a bunch to make them solid.