Arc Welding Anyone?

[yorkie_chris]

MMA welding can be plenty strong enough and look good too, it's all about surface prep and practice... especiall welding tube.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by SVGrandad

You are more likely to cut the bike into several pieces than stick it to the gate. Tube is not the easiest form to weld to.

'salright, it's an early 80s raleigh, I think it's solid cast iron

[squirrel_hunter]

Right didn't think I'd get a chance this week but I put some other things off just so I could have a quick go. So got a plug from Tesco and out to the garage I went. Wired it up plugged it in. Got a rod in the device. Found a hacked up bottom yoke from a NC23 and thought I'd use this for a practice piece.

The set up...



So aiming the rod at the yoke and with everything connected I hold the mask up to my face and bring the rod down to contact. Nothing. Ok, so I start waving it round a bit. Still nothing. Quick check is everything switched on and plugged in; yep. So a try again. Success; a spark "Its alive!". So I put the tools down switch off and go to look at the results. Yes I had a small burn mark on the metal.

This continued for a little bit longer. The occasional spark but no weld. Until I got it to spark and hold it there for a little longer, and this is what I got...



So I officially welded something. Mask back on I go in for another try, and this time; darkness. I tripped the garage fuse. Probably because I have a halogen spot light and a radio on at the same time. Ok reset the fuse and lets go again.

After a few more trys getting it to spark up and keep it going became slightly easier. So I started moving it around adding weld to the yoke until I had fixed a whole rod to the yoke...



At this point I decided to quit while I was ahead. It was way cool, sparks flying everywhere the smell that hung in the air and the smoke coming off of the yoke. This is fun. I let the yoke cool for a bit and then chipped and scraped some of the loose bits from the weld. Admittedly I reduced the amount of weld on the yoke by about 90%, but at least there was some left on it at the end. So I finished the night with this...



I think for my next try I'll use different metal, get more practice striking up and I might even try joining a couple of pieces. I think its all going to be about practice, practice, practice. Actually, sod it, tomorrow I will fabricate my own bike frame; watch out Spondon here I come!

[yorkie_chris]

Get a scrap bit of 1/8" plate and grind it back to clean metal, it's loads easier!

[SVGrandad]

Hi Squirrel Hunter
Helpful (?) comments on your pictures
Your metal is not clean
It is usually more comfy to have the rod at right angles to the holder
You may need to raise the current a bit
Keep playing!

Holding a decent arc is the hardest bit!

Good effort though

Now lets see what Northwind can do

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

..

Is that a flock of Pidgins I see flying overhead!?!?!!

As other have said, start off with clean metal.

Also that yoke may have been made from all sorts on unknown quantities but the hardest part you had there was that it was probably painted and the fact that it was also cast .......... cast is hard to weld as it has bubbles in it . Go for a nice big bit of freshly ground plate .

Why do I have a pointless need to own a welder now?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Grinch

Why do I have a pointless need to own a welder now?

Want to go halves ???

I'd never use it but would still have one :P