3mm Al/Al & LCS weld exemplars. Part1

[Sparkey]

Hum, yes...i can get a tad excited when i see nice welds!
(i'm probably the only person suffering from that strange illness)
But i truly believe that welding is an art on it's own and if it's done properly it will amaze you, send shivers down your spine just like if you were looking at an amazing painting or listen to some good music....
errr...i hope i make sense to anyone...

 

[runnach]

Hum, yes...i can get a tad excited when i see nice welds!
(i'm probably the only person suffering from that strange illness)
But i truly believe that welding is an art on it's own and if it's done properly it will amaze you, send shivers down your spine just like if you were looking at an amazing painting or listen to some good music....
errr...i hope i make sense to anyone...

Em em em G, you really do need to pull extractor fan a tad closer, tis the fumes that must be sending shivers doon yer spine

 

[runnach]

I was just being nosey re. pt2 Runnach, pt1 brought back memories of doing coupons like those you posted and then having to do the destructive testing myself (lazy bloody instructers!). Lap welds were macroed, fillets and open corners subjected to both a nick break and macro, butts were just bent. Given the simplicity of the tests and the amount they reveal thought it might be useful for the forum. As you say getting good macro pics might be a challenge. Don't know how easy it is come by nital these days but battery acid highlights the fusion zone reasonably well- probably not good enough for pics though. Can't even remember the reagents for Al or stainless beyond them containing some of the nastier acids

I have Hydrochloric Acid & Nitric Acid available for macro etching, also DPI & MPI which are simple to use and interpret. My lads have just completed a unit where they did destructive: Corner nick break & root bend test. Macro too, but I reckon they will be well rusted for interpretation potential. I'll take a look to see may be of use pic wise?

I also have the lads do the cutting and bashing, 16x laddies is a lot of bashing for one guy!! Plus it keeps them out off trouble. Fillets are a bu**er for destructive tests, specially on 6mm, they always jump out the vice, even when vice is well horsed up!!

Cheers............

 

[Sparkey]

Em em em G, you really do need to pull extractor fan a tad closer, tis the fumes that must be sending shivers doon yer spine

Huh?? extractor fan??? waz that????

 

[hotrodder]

I have Hydrochloric Acid & Nitric Acid available for macro etching, also DPI & MPI which are simple to use and interpret. My lads have just completed a unit where they did destructive: Corner nick break & root bend test. Macro too, but I reckon they will be well rusted for interpretation potential. I'll take a look to see may be of use pic wise?

I reckon quite a few people would find it interesting- tells you far more infomation than a BFH test. DPI does photograph well, i've got some good (bad) examples of a stainless manifold i'll post up later. Might have a little play with some battery acid at the end of play tomorrow to see if i can capture any detail- definately won't show as much detail as the proper reagents though

I also have the lads do the cutting and bashing, 16x laddies is a lot of bashing for one guy!! Plus it keeps them out off trouble. Fillets are a bu**er for destructive tests, specially on 6mm, they always jump out the vice, even when vice is well horsed up!!

Cheers............

Good point! Note to self: College clear outs are a good source for used kit but avoid their used vices

 

[simon718]

beautiful work runnach, i can only hope that some day im 10% as skilled as that, getting a dc tig soon so will have a go at the same only in mild steel, could be interesting

 

[runnach]

Huh?? extractor fan??? waz that????

Ok, take a hairdryer to work and, reverse the motor

 

[runnach]

beautiful work runnach, i can only hope that some day im 10% as skilled as that, getting a dc tig soon so will have a go at the same only in mild steel, could be interesting

What make of plant you purchasing Simon? Steel is the easiest way to go for a newbie tigger, make sure your comfy and with a good bit of practice you will get there, better still, try to arrange if possible a college evening course, less frustrating mate...................

Cheers..........

 

[Seano]

a college evening course, less frustrating mate...................

Cheers..........

say's who runnach, first night back last wed........looked like I never touched a tig in me life.....frustrating or what...... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sean.

 

[simon718]

What make of plant you purchasing Simon? Steel is the easiest way to go for a newbie tigger, make sure your comfy and with a good bit of practice you will get there, better still, try to arrange if possible a college evening course, less frustrating mate...................

Cheers..........

For the moment, unfortunatly (reasonably) cheap and cheerful, as its all i can afford, i've sussed out a seller on ebay selling a little 200amp unit, with good feedback and plenty sold, all i can afford at the moment, would love one of the all bells and whistles lorch machines but funds just won't allow at the moment.

with regards to evening courses, i am going to enquire at the local tech i think the courses start in september, however my uncle is a fabricator with plenty of tig experience so i have him to call on for advice and tuition, hopefully with his help the learning curve won't be tooo bad (famous last words)

 

[madkayaker]

looking good nice even bead

 

[runnach]

say's who runnach, first night back last wed........looked like I never touched a tig in me life.....frustrating or what...... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sean.

We can all have our pigeon moments Sean, even with the best possible support, there seems to be those evenings when nothing goes as planned, not what you want to hear mate, a case of shaking off the holiday cobwebs and getting back into the swing of things, next week deffo back on the ball.

Cheers..........

 

[runnach]

For the moment, unfortunatly (reasonably) cheap and cheerful, as its all i can afford, i've sussed out a seller on ebay selling a little 200amp unit, with good feedback and plenty sold, all i can afford at the moment, would love one of the all bells and whistles lorch machines but funds just won't allow at the moment.

with regards to evening courses, i am going to enquire at the local tech i think the courses start in september, however my uncle is a fabricator with plenty of tig experience so i have him to call on for advice and tuition, hopefully with his help the learning curve won't be tooo bad (famous last words)

Handy having an uncle to turn to with a good welding background Simon, I'm sure he will see you ok when you start out! Sept is a long way off, I'd imagine you will be gagging to get up and running well before Sept!

Regarding tig purchase, I have no idea the make or spec you are looking at? but from recently having laid a few beads using Lorch Dc plant 1st then yesterday Ac/Dc plant, they are both pretty sweet plants to use (courtesy of Mr Drains and Matt) for my 2p worth and, can understand money may be an issue, I'd hold off (if you can) and save a little more for a decent bit off kit with good backup service.

Whatever way you decide to go, you will enjoy the new challenge

Cheers............

 

[simon718]

cant rememeber the make and don't have a link to hand (if i go on ebay to get it i'll end up buying something ) seller offers a years warranty return to themselves, no fancy controls, but its HF start

Have to get a decent mask at the same time (currently using a cheapie, which id rather not) and have figured i'd be better getting something that will last me a lifetime (or atleast a good few years) so that puts a reasonable dent in the funds

thanks for the advice, i'm sure i will enjoy the new challenge greatly but will probably do my head in for a bit until the satisfaction kicks in

 

[Bigjoe]

Ok all here we go....be gentle! first play with AC Tig

We have bead on plate and an open corner,ignore the first lumpy bit as i was wobbling all over the place, not great pics im afraid as the camera was playing silly buggers!

 

[matt1978]

Looking good Joe, especially for first attempts at Alu. Nice one!

 

[Bigjoe]

Thanks Matt,ill try and take some clearer pics tomorrow,kicking the camera down the garden might help! and i had the guidance of Runnach (I owe that man a drink!)

Joe