Helium ?????

[hotrodder]

You've pretty much nailed it with regards to the higher ionisation energy for helium. It's quite a lot hotter but starting an arc is also more difficult- only really suitable for thicker sections

Gene Mathers 'welding aluminium and it's alloys' goes into a bit more detail including some pics showing the differences in penetration between AC with argon versus DCEN with helium. I posted links to an online copy a while ago

Have you actually been offered proper 'welding grade' helium or just helium? Balloon helium is NOT suitable for welding- contains quite a bit of air to prevent people dieing when doing chipmonk expressions

 

[Omniata]

Ok, np.....

I've got a basic TIG with hf start, I'm planning to weld some brackets together with homemade hinges for a security bar for my garage.
Just to make it shall we say awkward for thieves...

I really want to use TIG as the Helium works out at a quarter of the cost an O/A set will cost me to get this job a few others done

Edit: It's from a balloon stockists but I'm assured in writing that it's classified as "pure / engineering grade" and doesn't contain air, had to fill in an asphyxiation warning when I enquired about pricing and delivery to set up an account...

 

[simon718]

stick welder

 

[Omniata]

I struggle with stick welding as I can't see very well in all the smoke , I have diabetic retinopathy and it makes it almost impossible to see in "cloudy" situations as it throws my eyes way out

 

[madkayaker]

Omniata we have a problem in the girls post that you might be able to answer

 

[simon718]

doesn't sound good mate what sort of thickness will the brackets be?

 

[Omniata]

6mm hopefully, hence why I thought Helium might be good. Get's quite hot so I'd be able to work quickly and get good penetration over a marginally wider area...

The retinopathy's not so bad, had one set of laser treatment so it's been pushed back for now. Got told I was lucky I caught it when I did, could have been blind now otherwise and I'm welding

 

[madkayaker]

sounds bad

 

[Omniata]

Could be, people see it as but as I said treatable, like they say of my diabeties and that's a mess when they get it wrong

Edit: Like I said planning on making some hinges on brackets to wrap around a 2.5m length of box section and lock it firmly in place across my garage door and reinforce the door so it can't be ripped off....

 

[madkayaker]

bodies are hard work

 

[Omniata]

Very, I guess I drew all the "bum" cards

(Getting a little negative guys, do we mind rolling back on the subject??)

 

[madkayaker]

what about makeing a adaptor to fit the portable ballon gas bottles

 

[Omniata]

Already got a Helium regulator, had it for ages and it's still in service, was designed for welding too, all I need is the flowmeter and I can go, hehe...

Hence why an idea of ideal flowrates would be good...

 

[madkayaker]

give it a try it has worked in past probably better out there but why not give it a fly? Or make a big balloon tie a wire to it and you have a great aerial. Or go on Dawinawards.com and do a search for silly things to do

 

[simon718]

check the miller site, i think it might give flow rates for different sizes, have the miller amp calculator cards in the shed but its dark and ill go on me **** if i try to go out there

 

[Omniata]

MK I live on a flight path and your giving me ideas, stoppit!!!

Edit: I was budgeting on around 20 l/min flowrate and reducing the current by 10% or 20%

 

[madkayaker]

there is a good one about helium balloons and lawn chairs (with pellet gun) I can put Christmas lights on it to make it easier to miss?

 

[Omniata]

I remember that one, bad bad man...

 

[madkayaker]

CAA ban