Metal Sculpture Advice

[rhubarb7]

Been having a play for the last couple of weeks, but I'm struggling a tad mainly because I've only got a gasless mig welder..

I know it has its limits, but I've owned it for over 10 years, been used mainly for repairs on cars, as I'm a Mobile Mechanic..

Anyway, I made some metal flowers, which came out ok, and also made a paperweight out of steel nuts..

Tried and failed at making a nut and bolt man..

So, suggestions please, do I need to buy a gas welding kit..Would that be most suitable for what I'm trying to do?

Also would it be ok using Propane instead of Acetylene, because I think I'd struggle to get an account for using it at home in the garage?

 

[Bigjoe]

Are you looking to gas weld or just braze/heating & bending etc as you cant weld steel with oxy-propane...i think there is an alternative to acetylene now,propylene or something similar.

Some of the "No rental" suppliers in the list also can supply oxygen and acetylene,might be worth a look.


Joe

 

[rhubarb7]

Are you looking to gas weld or just braze/heating & bending etc as you cant weld steel with oxy-propane...i think there is an alternative to acetylene now,propylene or something similar.

Some of the "No rental" suppliers in the list also can supply oxygen and acetylene,might be worth a look.


Joe

With a gas welding kit I'd be looking at doing all I can with it..heating/cutting/brazing and welding..

I read on here that HSS hire shops do a rental scheme now..

Just wondering if gas is the way to go, to do delicate stuff, and/or invest in a better Mig welder?

 

[JayRS4]

You say delicate stuff, at times you will find that gas is anything but delicate if your not careful. What about a small DC tig?

It really depends exactly what route you want to take with your sculpture, if you want to go into the larger stuff like chunko then I think a bigger/better mig is on the cards. Small fiddly stuff then maybe a tig. Dont get me wrong, gas is great and very versitile, but it just mihgt not be right for what you want to do.

For all the things youve listed oxy/mapp or oxy/propane would be fine, just youd be brazing and not welding. At least youd have the kit for cutting and bending then.


Quite a contradictory answer really

 

[rhubarb7]

You say delicate stuff, at times you will find that gas is anything but delicate if your not careful. What about a small DC tig?

It really depends exactly what route you want to take with your sculpture, if you want to go into the larger stuff like chunko then I think a bigger/better mig is on the cards. Small fiddly stuff then maybe a tig. Dont get me wrong, gas is great and very versitile, but it just mihgt not be right for what you want to do.

For all the things youve listed oxy/mapp or oxy/propane would be fine, just youd be brazing and not welding. At least youd have the kit for cutting and bending then.


Quite a contradictory answer really

Lot to think of innit

I do admire Chunkos work, and would like to attend one of his training days one day..That would be really useful cos I could then see exactly what is possible with different bits of kit..

I think trying to make a small nut and bolt man as a 3rd time project was a tad optimistic.

Spotted this a couple of weeks back, very cheap, but obviously Chinese..
Never tried Tig, so this would be ok for smaller stuff?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200446264836&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[chunkolini]

I would reccomend Mig every time, if you get one that be turned down low you can do most stuff. I bought a decent Tig welder and hardly ever used and ended up flogging it on.

Nut and bolt men? thay woudl be goodprojects to start on, cheap and easily sourced components, and a quick result, also easy to discard if they go wrong.

My first projects were based on old pushbike sprockets, chain and 6mm bar.

And you can scale them up as you progress, just degrease the chain thoroughly as it can a bit nasty when you are welding on it, and never rty to weld O ring chains.


The small dino was mig welded, you can even weld the clips on for the head with practice and a quick trigger finger.

These puppies basically paid for all of my kit.

Go for it, kill kill kill

Chunko'.

 

[rhubarb7]

Thanks for the advice Chunko..I shall save up for a better mig welder and keep practicing in the meantime..