- Thread starter MattH
- Start date
MattH
Member
- Messages
- 4,524
- Location
- Cornwall
Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Go with what you like best mate. For stuff like that Id prefer the infill to be flush with it but that's just me. Above is a small SS rail I made for a balcony door. It was a customer design to be fair but that sort of thing would fit the bill for your gate I think.
Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Ha if the wife says it's right you should no better than to disagree especially when design is concerned.FYI the wife agrees with you! Which probably means you are wrong
Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
The butt joints on the face side I would weld hot and use travel speed and filling to keep control over the pool. This will give you a flatter weld and much improve the appearance of leaving it as welded.
Below is a quick butt joint ive just done on 1mm -1mm
65amps on the torch switch and flew down it. I put a decent tack on the end to run into as I was using a switch but you can taper off with your foot pedal if things become a bit fluent.
The even penetration on the back side shows it's pretty sound all the way. I used 4043 for this as I like the wetting it offers for joints I wish to keep cap height down.
Below is a quick butt joint ive just done on 1mm -1mm
65amps on the torch switch and flew down it. I put a decent tack on the end to run into as I was using a switch but you can taper off with your foot pedal if things become a bit fluent.
The even penetration on the back side shows it's pretty sound all the way. I used 4043 for this as I like the wetting it offers for joints I wish to keep cap height down.
MattH
Member
- Messages
- 4,524
- Location
- Cornwall
That's good advice, I will do a bit more practice before putting the gates together. One thing I'm guilty of is shying away from the power. I think it's a Mig thing where to much heat ends in disaster really quickly. I've got to get used to how much more control there is with Tig.
So, practice with more heat and control it with speed and filler aiming for a flatter weld. Will do.
So, practice with more heat and control it with speed and filler aiming for a flatter weld. Will do.
Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Well that's just something I'd do for that particular thing. I'm certainly not saying a flat weld is the only way to go because reinforcement (providing it's smoothly transitioned) and not excessive is a good thing for aiding that welds strength. In this case the strength isn't that crucial it just needs to be a durable tidy rail. I presume your leaving it as welded, and the front facing butt joints would look nicer if they were quite flush with the gate. So yes a touch more heat to spread and flatten it off but pick up the speed and fill to keep that pool under control if you wish to do it like that.
Richard.
Member
- Messages
- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Which produces very sound welds. I tend to get best results running hot with Alu and going at speed. I use my filling as a form of chilling down the pool more than most because of the currents I run so I give it a good fist full when it needs it.
