Ornate Ironwork

[Davek0974]

Hi all, been a while but here goes...

Aside from my model engineering which consumes most of my spare time i have decided to have a go at some ornate scrollwork.

My question is, how to get the best weld in a short space?

The scrolls are only welded at the contact point so i am looking at lengths of around 5-10mm, barely a fat tack weld. Its on 13x3mm hot rolled steel, edge-on so i have about a 6mm width to join.

I need a tidy joint but i seem to have trouble getting a good joit without melting or going over each side.

I have a sip migmate pro 170(dont laugh) and co2 gas with 0.6mm en440 wire

It seems i either get a thin surface weld on lower settings or a great fat lump on higher settings, i am quite ok on a long run though but this work has no long runs.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[English Steve]

Hi Dave,

I have a Cebora Turbo 130 which I use for the same thing - scroll work and hanging baskets etc. I find I get good results with it turned right up on max, and as you say basically put in a good tack (from both sides) on the edges where they touch. I then take off any ugly bits on the linisher.
One I did earlier here. I also drill holes and puddle weld through where possible. These can either be linished off flat, or left as a feature (after some practice you can make the welds look like rivet heads).
Either way, painting makes it look reasonable

Steve

 

[Davek0974]

Ahh, 'tis good

So i'm not far off as it is, i'll try the drill and weld method too.

Nice web site, are you doing ornamental for a living or sideline/hobby?

Dave

 

[English Steve]

It's a 'paying hobby' at the mo. I've just recently started on the website, and as you can see i'm no photographer. Thanks for the positive comments, it's good to know things are going in the right direction.

For the drill and puddle weld method, I generally use a 6mm dia hole which I find gives a good joint.

Steve

 

[Davek0974]

Sounds like we're both just about the same then although i'm just getting going.

Who's scroll forming stuff did you plump for, or are they all hand formed?

Dave

 

[English Steve]

I went for the lower cost Metal Craft stuff. Can't remember the model of the scroll former, but it's the one with the starting handle and a two-piece former. I also have the bend/punch/roll tool which gets a lot of use.
I missed a complete set-up on E-Blag last year, but I guess we've all been there!

I am shortly going on a Blacksmiths refresher course near Exeter. I took an anvil in part-payment for a recent job and hope to be able to start forming some heavier stuff. I did a fair bit with anvil and forge as an apprentice, but haven't really done much in the last 20 or so years so feel I need a refresher

 

[Davek0974]

Amazing, exactly what i have, roller, former, twister.

I'm more into machining myself you can see my stuff here

http://www.davekearley.co.uk

Building a traction engine at present. The ornate stuff is hopefully going to help raise funds by doing stuff i enjoy i.e. working with metal, getting fed up with the day job, not getting any younger, usual stuff blah blah blah

Dave

 

[English Steve]

Nice machine shop Dave - I'm jealous.

 

[Bigjoe]

Some very nice toys there Dave,and some nice projects also!

Im also very jealous

Joe

 

[lexi]

Excellent all round blog mate. What`s a rotary inverter and where do you get one?

Alex

 

[Davek0974]

Excellent all round blog mate. What`s a rotary inverter and where do you get one?

Alex

Thanks,

A rotary converter changes 240v single phase into 415v three phase, a 3hp unit was about £400, i got mine from Boost Converters Ltd, simply google rotary converters, lots out there.

Dave

 

[Weldingartisan]

Dave,
Very impressed with your Tessla gismo, is there a practical application for this or is just for visual effects ie a boys toy? W/A

 

[Davek0974]

Dave,
Very impressed with your Tessla gismo, is there a practical application for this or is just for visual effects ie a boys toy? W/A

Nah! its purely educational/recreational/bloody good fun

He was a brilliant man, a visionary in fact and influenced our modern day lives massively. He died alone and pennyless.

Dave