I use my MIG exclusively for sheet metal work and TIG any critical parts. I
just did some stick welding on a new metal barn frame I just finished and I
use my GAS setup for heating and bending only. You can get what they call
"easy grind" wire for your MIG. I does seem to help some.
Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: <FastmetalBDF@aol.com>
To: <kturk@ala.net>; <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 11:49 AM
Subject: APPLES & ORANGES and hunks of metal
> Keith :
> GAS WELDING IS NOT THE SAME AS BRAZING .
>
> Brazing is a form of soldering, with flux and brass rod ...... it has
its
> place in some things automotive ..... building headers is not one of these
.
> Way back in the distant 50s, before I got an arc welder, I gas welded
> tow bars, bumper brackets, engine hoisting rigs and stands, and everything
> else that needed to be hitched ..... out of sheer necessity ! I have
even
> gas welded 3 / 8 "steel plate successfully ( but would never do it again,
for
> a number of obvious reasons ..... plus the heat hitting my face from that
> largest welding tip would make a hot day on the salt seem like a cool
> breeze by comparison ..... a VERY inappropriate way to weld thicknesses
> like that, even if it stood the test of time ! I do not own a TIG set
up,
> unfortunately, but it is basically gas welding without the shielding gas
> ......
> while I am proud of the headers I gas welded in the early 60s, they do
> not measure up to the excellent TIG welds Doug got on the headers we
> built for Black Radon ..... TIG IS the way to fly on most racecar stuff
!
> I used to even stick weld flanges on headers and exhaust systems
> using 6013 AC rod, and it worked very well ..... but nowadays I would
> utilize MIG ( electronic caulking ! ) on this and many other jobs that I
> formerly handled with stick welding ..... we used MIG when we chopped
> Darrell' s Impala ..... but like Joe from Delaware says ..... it does
produce
> a hard weld bead ! I agree with both Joe' s statements, and those of
> Dave the hayseed ..... stick welding can produce welds with excellent
> penetration, strength, and still look very good, too ..... I have seen
many
> very good cages that were stick welded ( and some awful ones, both
> stick and MIG welded ! ) Most good welding depends on good surface
> preparation, and the welder' s SKILL , of course ..... the old " Practice
> makes Perfect " bit . Those tin side V8 60s did have pretty fair welding,
> but next time you see an unpainted aircraft bellytank, check out the
> full circumference welds on the seams ...... absolute JEWELRY !!!
> ( because machines have steadier " hands " than we do ! )
> Just a few of my thoughts on this, Keith, but remember, next time
> you are BRAZING two pieces of metal together in your shop ......
> you are NOT gas welding !
> Bruce, who learned that while the price was RIGHT, the coat hangers
> from my Mom' s closet did not make the BEST welds .......
> FORTY FIVE years ago !
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