Custom Fighter Welding School

8587 Views 231 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Smoker, 22 d ago

Smoker

Discussion Starter · Jan 24, 2022

May as well get the welding talk out of my build thread.

This will be a good place to organize my welding projects, show my gear, and post my progress.

Have less than a month before I get into 2 open lab classes. Pretty sure I can do whatever I want, which is TIG welding my custom bikes & parts. Need to learn how first, but I should get my projects in order ASAP and develop a plan.

Even if I don't get good enough to do the finish welding, I need to fabricate and tack together the parts. Looking forward to making some progress on the bikes!

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Smoker

Discussion Starter · #81 · Feb 21, 2022

Class starts in a few days. Repeating the Intro class with the "other" instructor.
Not sure what I'll be able to do. Would like to do some O/A brazing and heat coloring. Have a rosebud #2 tip on the way. Less heat than a propane torch.

Will be using the TIG on the other 2 days. Thinking about practicing technique on Friday and having fun on Saturday. Having fun trying TIG brazing, welding stainless, and titanium. Got to get my supplies together.

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Smoker

Discussion Starter · #82 · Feb 24, 2022

Pretty sure the school torch uses #20 size parts. My home torch is a 17, so I don't want to spend more than necessary. Got a Welding City gas lens kit for the 20 torch. Got a Fupa 12 cup, which I can also use with my torch. For TIG brazing.

Also got a couple of small F-clamps and a magnetic grasshopper to keep my stuff grounded to the table.

First welding lab class is tomorrow night. Plan is to practice TIG welding 16g steel and ask for some aluminum coupons and filler rod to try out soon. Plan for Saturday's class is to try TIG brazing or aluminum welding for the first time.

Tonight is the first O/A class with the new instructor. Not sure what to expect, but I doubt we'll be welding tonight.

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Smoker

Discussion Starter · #83 · Feb 25, 2022

Well, I didn't expect any welding tonight. Was home 2 hours early.

New instructor is the polar opposite of the other instructor. This one is super anal, other one is super relaxed. Good news is, they both seem like really good instructors for me.

Not sure exactly what he meant, but when I said I'm mostly interested in TIG welding, he said something like- "We'll get you in a booth."

If I can go straight to the TIG in this class, it would be awesome! We'll see. Next class in one week.

Reactions: 2

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #84 · Feb 26, 2022

Class cancelled tonight.

Just like last semester. Starting a week late.

Same instructor tomorrow morning. Hope he shows.

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #85 · Feb 27, 2022

My expectations were too high. No welding in any classes the first week. Plus, I made a big mistake and left my gear at school. So, won't be firing up the home TIG.

Gonna focus on learning CAD skills for a minute.👍

Reactions: 1

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #86 · Mar 4, 2022

Started welding tonight in the new Intro class (supposed to be O/A). Got right into the TIG booth. Might have to stick to TIG welding steel in this class, but that's okay.

Just getting back to it. Laid down a bunch of small beads, tacks, & fusion welds. Need practice after the 2 week lay off. Got a little better toward the end of the night. Nothing worth showing. Tried the new 1/16" gas lens and stubby cup. Didn't notice much difference vs. a standard collet body. Might try some TIG brazing tomorrow.

Reactions: 1

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #87 · Mar 6, 2022

Tried TIG brazing last night.

Was interesting. I like it because the whole puddle comes from the filler rod. Not supposed to melt the parent metal. So, it feels like good training for the rod hand.

First I tried SilBr filler. This is before cleaning with a brush:

Then I tried some AlBr filler. Not as easy to use. Probably melts easier because of the Al. Nicer color than SilBr. More of a yellow gold, than an orange gold. Didn't get a good pic. AlBr is on the top half.

Definitely want to try more TIG brazing.

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yantosh

· #88 · Mar 6, 2022

never tried it, fancy giving it a go

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #89 · Mar 7, 2022 (Edited)

Last class was a bust. Got my aluminum coupons and rod out. By the time I got set up, the instructor asked me to help someone get started on TIG. Took about 1/2 hour. When I got back to my booth, he asked me to get another person started. Another 1/2 hour gone. He also shut down class over an hour early, but he said he would check my machine settings next class.

Messed around with aluminum a bit, but nothing good happened. Will get back at it next week. Left my gear at school again.

For sure I haven't been adjusting my argon flow precisely. Just been cranking it up around 20, or so. Will start adjusting it properly next time.

taglicious

· #90 · Mar 10, 2022

SMOKER!!! Lovin it!!! Chin up doggie dog... keep it up, they may have an instructor slot opening for you.😉 I have been in a couple situations where my classes were paid for if I 'volunteered my time'...

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #91 · Mar 11, 2022

Passed by the instructor last night who was talking to someone else.

He said- "Oh, hey- this is the project list." I took a quick glance, but didn't get a copy. Looked like the usual stuff. Butt weld, lap weld, corner weld, etc.

Thought I might get away with doing whatever I want, but I guess not. It's okay. Was planning on this kind of practice anyway (in this class).

Want Friday night to be aluminum night. Will do my best tonight. Last try with aluminum was short and went nowhere. Will try to get a pic if that. Going from DC to AC is quite dramatic. It's so much louder, it sounds like a bolt of lightning is going through the torch!

Only used my 1/16" gas lens a few times. Last night I noticed a small blob on the screen. No idea when it happened. Rushed out to Airgas first thing this morning to grab a couple more.

Need to watch another welding video before I get ready to go.

Don't even have a minute to worry about cancer.🛠

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XxGRYMMxX

· #92 · Mar 11, 2022

did you talk mto the new teacher and explain that youre learning for your own use and not for a credit? My welding teacher cut me loose when I told him I didnt care about getting any specific certification and wasnt counting on the course credit for anything, that all i really wanted was some pointers and time/place to practice. we talked a bit and he gave me advice and such, but I was free after that to do what i wanted.

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taglicious

· #93 · Mar 12, 2022

https://youtube.com/c/paulbrodie

Reactions: 1

Smoker

Discussion Starter · #94 · Mar 12, 2022

Yeah, new instructor knows what's up. He just needs to teach things his way. He's cool for letting me TIG in the O/A class.

The first time I tried welding aluminum, I was short on time and nothing good happened. Looked like this:

Tonight, I did the puddle-starting exercise (like in the video), then a few fusion welds. Then started messing around with filler rod. Using 4043. No idea what the school coupons are. Might have done a couple of coupons after the photos. It was a good night. Did it on my own. Instructor was busy with the other class.

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taglicious

· #95 · Mar 12, 2022

Niiiice!

ToadofToadHall

· #96 · Mar 15, 2022

Hey Smoker decided i need to get on with welding my sub frame tonight. For my second welding job.. that was a whole new level of awkward! welding the castings was a nightmare for contamination and porosity... it wont be pretty on the onside but as long as i doesnt crack when I'm riding

Automotive tire Musician Gas Stool Machine

I'll be happy ....

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taglicious

· #97 · Mar 16, 2022

Yo! @ToadofToadHall i lol those panaracers need replaced. And what are you running those mavics on... is that a 180 rotor i see?! 🤪

Reactions: 1

bonehead

· #98 · Mar 16, 2022

Smoker said:
Yeah, new instructor knows what's up. He just needs to teach things his way. He's cool for letting me TIG in the O/A class.

The first time I tried welding aluminum, I was short on time and nothing good happened. Looked like this:

Tonight, I did the puddle-starting exercise (like in the video), then a few fusion welds. Then started messing around with filler rod. Using 4043. No idea what the school coupons are. Might have done a couple of coupons after the photos. It was a good night. Did it on my own. Instructor was busy with the other class.

Good to see your still kicking

https://www.youtube.com/c/6061com/videos

Check it out, makes it look sooo easy, great skill and funny as fuck to boot

Reactions: 2

ToadofToadHall

· #99 · Mar 16, 2022

taglicious said:
Yo! @ToadofToadHall i lol those panaracers need replaced. And what are you running those mavics on... is that a 180 rotor i see?! 🤪

Ha! Good spot. Fully floating 180 from memory! They're off my my old 26" Winter ride MTB that's currently waiting for me to weld up cracks in the swingarm... Love the Panaracers tho' bit old school but theyre a great all rounder and half the price of the Schwalbe's on the posh rig....

Reactions: 2

ToadofToadHall

· #100 · Mar 16, 2022

Does anyone know if heating Ally castings with a butane gas torch before welding would help reduce the porosity and contamination? I've already had the paint stripped, wire brushed with a stainless brush and surface cleaned everything with isopropanol ?? Would acetone be a better option for final clean ??

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