Abes Tig Work

[Abe2]

hey guys got my welder on Saturday and im already in love

the misses is having a very hard time getting me out of the garage

iv done a fair bit of scratch start tig before but a proper tig is so much better

this is what i have done so far

Made this for a 180sx

this is a 180sx intake pipe

it seals good but eh im not that happy with it

and this is a quick r33 intake i made up last night

slowly getting better

hmm what should i attempt tonight??

Edited November 8, 2011 by Abe2

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Not to keen on the twin pipes but the rest looks ok mate how long have you been tiging for?

What welder are u using?

Edited November 9, 2011 by BOOZTJUNKEY

[Daleo]

The best thing to do is just keep welding; practice makes perfect.

I reckon pipe welding is the most difficult thing to do neatly, so just keep at it, you're not contaminating your welds, which is good. Are you purging?

Depending on the finish you like, it might be worth your while to get some pickling paste for cleaning.

I'm not into the polished finish, so pickled, then brown 3M pad gives a nice brushed finish; but to each, his own.

You'll get smoother and neater; the prettiness will come. Good on you for being game enough to show pictures, good luck.

Edited November 9, 2011 by Daleo

[Abe2]

thanks guys

and yeah iv heard about pickling paste i reckon i should get some

sounds like a easy way to clean up some quick welds

and yes more practice is best on the large small pipe i purged

cheers guys ill get more pics up soon

[Bsa]

Pickle paste and scotch bright pads and they will look a million bucks. The secret is to run back over your weld without filler rod will make it nice and smooth also try a small weave to get your nice half moon shape

[Daleo]

Pickle paste and scotch bright pads and they will look a million bucks. The secret is to run back over your weld without filler rod will make it nice and smooth also try a small weave to get your nice half moon shape

If you cut your joints tight enough, you can just fusion weld (no filler) pipework in the first place. Not as strong though.

It never occurred to me to go around again... Isn't that cheating?

I wish I could weld like the contract pipe welders we get in at work; theirs just looks like a robot did it. Still if that was all you did 12 hours a day; you'd want to be pretty good.

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Pickle paste and scotch bright pads and they will look a million bucks. The secret is to run back over your weld without filler rod will make it nice and smooth also try a small weave to get your nice half moon shape

You could also try the "walking the cup " style of welding to help with consistency ;-)

For stuf like intakes and cooler pipes I only do a nice hot fuse but try and roll the pipe so I get in one run ...

It's only a fuse weld but is still a full weld and plenty strong enough for cooler pipes and intakes!

As for going back over the welds I use to think it was cheating also lol but it's not that uncommon of a practice In the last year I have heard heaps of ppl say that's what they do hahaha

Although if it was structual I would do a nice hot root run first make sure u have peno first then go over it if need be

[Bsa]

I fuse as well but in his case to do a run over will make it nice and neat it is cheating but can save a ugly weld but after a while you can just tack 4 points and fuse right around looks wicked when you get it right. I tig almost everyday and when scratch tiging on site the run over can get out the lumps makes it easier to clean.

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Who do u work for Blake ? Are u a subby ?

[Bsa]

Jpb welding at tumbi and do cash work up on the mountain for a mate as well. I used to contract to a place in wallsend but they went broke. So I just went back to wages less stress involved

[sweefu]

What sort of welder are you using mate? I'm buying a welder myself soon, need advice.

[Bsa]

use a eBay ac/dc welder I have one has never let me down they are good for the money but if you want to spend 4 g on one get a lincon they kick ass and have all the things you need. eBay ones do the job just as well iv had mine for 3 years now

[Abe2]

i got the token tools machine

and so far i reckon it is incredible and only about 1500

with 5 YEARS WARRANTY

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Is it Ac also ayvon?

I hit uni tig (Jasic ) Ac fc welder for 1400 through work good lil 200 amp jobbie

[zebra]

How hard is it to pick up a tig and use it with no expirence with one? I had a mig and was rubbish with it. But it was pinched before much use. And I have a stick welder now and I am even more rubbish with that

[gumflapper]

tig welding takes practice as with anything. i think its harder then mig and about the same as stick to learn.

just got to practice as with anything else... the more you do the better you'll eventually get

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Yeah It takes practice and a lil coordination but if you get some one to show you the basics it helps alot

[zebra]

a lil coordination

This may be an issue....I have the shakiest hands this side of Michael J Fox

[BOOZTJUNKEY]

Well This might get awkward lol

[sweefu]

So a cheap no-name Arc welder with a decent duty cycle, then add a TIG attachment would be okay for small jobs? (Exhaust repair, custom plenum etc)