First time Welding

[subarub4]

So I have a exhaust I want to put on my car, one thing I need is some steel rods in order to do the hangers.. What can I use to bend them with?

Also my late father did welding but I was too young at the time to learn it.. but how hard is it going to be?

 

[69f100]

depending on the thickness of the bar, you could use a vice and channel locks (dont recomend it from experience) but it gets the job done. as for welding pipe, not to bad. make sure the whole area is cleaned up and oil free. tack weld first, and then finish weld. im not great at it, but tubing is not to bad. hope it helps

 

[mrobins297aaa]

if you have good vision your half way there

 

[rodm1]

http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?3-Welding-Discussions

 

[subarub4]

Thanks for the links

 

[muibubbles]

i cut the hangers off some old exhaust i was throwing away... bring a sawzall and check out a junk yard

 

[subarub4]

i cut the hangers off some old exhaust i was throwing away... bring a sawzall and check out a junk yard

i was going to ask about this but I was not sure if that was possible

 

[gnx547]

There are also videos on youtube

 

[subarub4]

picked up the 90 amp tonight

 

[91bronc300]

picked up the 90 amp tonight

I wish you luck learning on a marginal welder. But, you do what you have to. Practice a bunch of **** and lap welds on scrap before you do your exhaust.

 

[Jzytaruk]

welding thinwall exhaust with stick is a horrible experience.. a small mig is all you need, alot of exhaust shops use them...

If you have a propane torch, a vise and a hammer, you can heat up the rod and bend it. Or get a peice of tube and slide it over the rod and bend it near the vise jaws..

 

[IDASHO]

For a first time welder, exhaust tubing is about the WORST choice to learn with.

Unless you picked up a good welder, you will have one hell of a time finding the happy medium between burn-thru and bird **** welds.

Im a decent welder myself, but I still hate exhaust tubing. Especially aluminumized. Good stainless systems are a bit better, but it takes some serious care in dialing in the machine, as well as the user.

 

[subarub4]

Hopefully all goes well

what would you suggest my wire speed be?

 

[Vicegrip]

Hopefully all goes well

what would you suggest my wire speed be?

Read the directions that came with the welder. Set to the recommendations given for the metal type and thickness. Base line recommended settings work well 99% of the time.

Clean the metal of all rust and funk. Remove any coatings in the direct weld area with a power knotted rope wire wheel or elbow grease and sand paper. Take the time to read the instructions and practice on some same type metal scrap first. If you don't have scrap and start out on the keeper parts you will likely only end up with some scrap to practice on.

 

[subarub4]

well I ordered the muffler and I picked up 3/8" 36" round steel rod and I also picked up the brass craft bending tool.. hopefully it works.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F0Z8E2/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Hmm I just noticed that was a tube bender I got.. I don't know how well it's going to work on a steel rod.. I have some propane but no mapp gas..

 

[clutch93]

yea, you probably wont be able to bend that rod with the pipe bender, if you had enough strength in your hands you'd probably break the tool, just put it in the vice and use something for leverage, like a pipe that was previously mentioned. Oh and don't hurt yourself! haha

 

[Major Ramifications]

Could you just buy some inexpensive exhaust hangers at the auto parts store? Also, you don't need to weld the exhaust tubing, exhaust clamps work just fine.

 

[subarub4]

Could you just buy some inexpensive exhaust hangers at the auto parts store? Also, you don't need to weld the exhaust tubing, exhaust clamps work just fine.

They all use the strap type.. Why can't anyone just make ready made steel hangers?? Not everyone likes using straps.

 

[JimDon]

please don't reinvwnt the wheel here, which is what you are doing. forget learning to weld on pipe. somebody else warned you about it and they're right. worse thing in the world to learn on. go to hardware store, buy roll of perforated pipe clamp material, and make your own hangers, straps. i do it all the time. it's simple and cheap. then get some scrap tube/exhaust material and try it to see for yourself if you really want to. cheers, Jim

 

[subarub4]

I went and installed it yesterday the lack of the thunderstorm made me go out.

the hangers was the hardest part to get on, on the SS body.

 

[KEH]

That's a good first time job of welding. You will probably have some leaks.

KEH

 

[RivennHewn]

Never pass up an opportunity to learn to do something yourself.

Looks much better than cheezy straps!

And, you can say you did it yourself!

 

[subarub4]

That's a good first time job of welding. You will probably have some leaks.

KEH

I was expecting leaks at first but none when I started it up I will keep checking

Never pass up an opportunity to learn to do something yourself.

Looks much better than cheezy straps!

And, you can say you did it yourself!

And thanks, I was telling everyone I did not want the straps for like you said because they look cheesy.. Once I get the hang of this I will upgrade to a better welder that uses gas.

 

[Shadowdog500]

That looks good for your first weld job. With some practice you will be making some really good looking welds that can withstand the hammer and vise test.

Chris

 

[subarub4]

I was really scared that I was going to burn a hole getting the reducer mounted this HF mig welder the lowest setting is like 60 amps or so.

However when I was almost done that's when it was starting to come out better but it's a pain I need to get a auto darkening helmet trying to tack weld while looking away is hit or miss.

I don't really have anything else to weld for the time being.. well I do have to replace a part on the car that rusted out which is on;y like 5-6 inches long but I don't think this welder is up to that task.

For those that have done this type of body work how do you shape the part that's going to get welded on? I have to grab a picture of it in the morning.

 

[Shadowdog500]

My neighbor bought one of those HF Flux Core welders for around $89 on sale. I am impressed for what he paid. If you go to lowes and get Lincoln Flux Core wire and tips you will be amazed at how much better that little welder will do. You will also have to turn your heat down some.

Chris

 

[dagoat_1]

Look better than than my first welds....Keep practicing and you will be able to lay nice beads in no time. Oh and if you start to weld some more you WILL be buying a new welder
Its amazing how much a mid class welder improves your abilities.
I started with an HF type cheapo unit and within a yr had a Lincoln.

 

[subarub4]

yeah I've been looking at the Lincoln 125 once I get more into it I will give it more thought.

 

[Sriracha Me]

After you weld. With beads like that, do any of you grind it down with a metal disk grinder for a cleaner look?

 

[subarub4]

I'm sure most would but I did not have an angle grinder on me.

 

[southern iron]

i worked at a exhaust shop ...pull the weld hot and fast. sleeved joints are stronger and easier to weld . the hangers you can bend as you weld them

 

[Notwerk]

For those that have done this type of body work how do you shape the part that's going to get welded on? I have to grab a picture of it in the morning.

I've been kinda curious about that myself.