Show us your welding projects

[bsaint]

Nice.

 

[HellaFab]

SM, where do you get your flexes? They look like vibrant units but i want to ask around.



Here is a few of a turbo manifold I am working on right now for a Honda.

More pictures on my Facebook Page.

 

[superspec]

^^^ following you on FB.

 

[kald]

Do you guys tack these exhausts together in the vehicle then move them to the jig/table?

 

[popskull]

Here is a coolant reservoir I am working on. Final product will get sanded and polished, but I am not quite there yet. Definitely not professional work, I have only been TIG welding for a couple months now and this is my first real big project.

Cut and ready to tack:

Welded up:

Ready to fit the top:

Overflow and air bleed tubes so I could hide the hoses on the bottom:

Coolant line and the overflow and air bleed:

Top all fitted and welds mostly smoothed. Next step is to test for leaks and fill the welds where there are some uneven spots or leaks:

 

[F-117HWK]

What are you using to clean up the coolant tank like that?

 

[popskull]

I used a 120 grit sanding pad on my angle grinder. Next step to polishing will be 220 grit on a pad sander, then of course the normal 400, 600, 800, 1000 step.

 

[HellaFab]

^^^ following you on FB.

 

[steel 35]

I used a 120 grit sanding pad on my angle grinder. Next step to polishing will be 220 grit on a pad sander, then of course the normal 400, 600, 800, 1000 step.

Looks good, I think that looks like a two burn box, lets see the blisters. I stop at 600 grit on aluminum you may try that, but I guess it depends what you use from there

 

[popskull]

Looks good, I think that looks like a two burn box, lets see the blisters. I stop at 600 grit on aluminum you may try that, but I guess it depends what you use from there

Thanks! I actually did not burn myself, but I did ruin my gloves in the process. They're old so they were on the last leg and they just wore out.

Good call on stopping at 600, I'm not terribly familiar with the polishing process, so I figured I would do the same as I did on my pistol barrel (which is obviously made from high carbon steel). Hopefully that will speed up the polishing process since the guy needs the tank by the 1st of march

 

[V-10 Killer]

Here is a coolant reservoir I am working on. Final product will get sanded and polished, but I am not quite there yet. Definitely not professional work, I have only been TIG welding for a couple months now and this is my first real big project.

Nice work so far. Looks like you're getting pretty good at running aluminum beads. I'm going to be starting a very similar project soon (intercooler ice/water tank).

 

[steel 35]

Thanks! I actually did not burn myself, but I did ruin my gloves in the process. They're old so they were on the last leg and they just wore out.

Good call on stopping at 600, I'm not terribly familiar with the polishing process, so I figured I would do the same as I did on my pistol barrel (which is obviously made from high carbon steel). Hopefully that will speed up the polishing process since the guy needs the tank by the 1st of march

Wet 600 and on too cotton works good for me. Steel and stainless must go well beyond 600

 

[popskull]

Nice work so far. Looks like you're getting pretty good at running aluminum beads. I'm going to be starting a very similar project soon (intercooler ice/water tank).

Thank you! That was my first weld on this project, by the end I could definitely see my welds getting better. Hopefully they hold and don't leak after being ground, I know that grinding the welds is going to increase the chance, but I think it will look better in the end.

I want to build a custom fuel cell for my Mustang, but not sure if I should haha. Might be building a few other coolant reservoirs for people, so hopefully that will help me get better and better. I have problems being over critical of my welds and comparing myself to John Marcella whose welds are like this:

 

[IONH]

Do you guys tack these exhausts together in the vehicle then move them to the jig/table?

I hate welding upside down as I'm always on my back (no lift). I often just hold the pipes together and put two sharpie lines across the pipes so I can line them back up outside of the car. If I have to tac them in place, that's what I do and then finish on the floor out from under the car.

 

[SM Racing]

SM, where do you get your flexes? They look like vibrant units but i want to ask around.

Yes they are Vibrant. I will warn you though, the 1.875in are actually a metric size and will not slip very well over the 1.875 bends. The ID is slightly too small to slip over, thus you have to balance the tubes perfectly to tack them in place. I was very unhappy with those. I think I am going to try some others in 2in. I am debating building another y-pipe in 2.0in instead of 1.875.

I like your manifold, but have to ask, why are you building it out of those heavy weld els. Why not use 16GA stainless or thinner 321? I am setting up to build a Honda manifold for a turbo car out of .035in or .049in 321 stainless tube. 321 is a better choice for a turbo manifold it holds up to the heat better.

Are you going to hang the turbo off the manifold?

 

[Case IH]

here's my latest project i've been working on the last couple days at work.

What is it?

 

[amt]

Animal control?

 

[SM Racing]

Child care?

 

[popskull]

Child care?

That's what it looks like to me...

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

 

[trboxman]

Animal control?

Child care?

There's a tangible difference betwixt the two?

 

[d_rock]

lol. Its for an animal control truck.

 

[alpinewhite]

lol. Its for an animal control truck.

Party control?

 

[d_rock]

Heres the cage finished up, going out for powdercoat.

 

[Gamble]

I was under the impression you don't want to grind your aluminum welds down since the strength is top of the weld and it will be prone to cracking?
Someone correct me if I am misinformed.

Exhaust looks great, but how in the world do you weld the sections I circled in red? Especially when the other pipe is attached?

 

[SM Racing]

Exhaust looks great, but how in the world do you weld the sections I circled in red? Especially when the other pipe is attached?

Magic and voodoo. .

Actually the collector is welded from the inside and the portion where the two pipes enter the collector, I welded one tube fully then inserted the other tube and welded 98% of it as normal. To weld the last 2% I just pulled the Tungsten WAY out on my big gas lens and cranked up the argon. It was pretty easy to reach from both sides.

 

[popskull]

I was under the impression you don't want to grind your aluminum welds down since the strength is top of the weld and it will be prone to cracking?
Someone correct me if I am misinformed.

I thought the root of the weld is the strongest, but you're right that it all plays a part in the strength of the weld. Since this is a non structural piece that won't see much pressure, heat, or what have you, I think it will be fine.

 

[Gamble]

I thought the root of the weld is the strongest, but you're right that it all plays a part in the strength of the weld. Since this is a non structural piece that won't see much pressure, heat, or what have you, I think it will be fine.

Not sure, hopefully a pro will chime in. I thought it was the root for steel.
When I was first starting i built a catch can and groundthem smooth and they looked great then out of nowhere they cracked. Just from sitting there.

 

[Gamble]

Magic and voodoo. .

Actually the collector is welded from the inside and the portion where the two pipes enter the collector, I welded one tube fully then inserted the other tube and welded 98% of it as normal. To weld the last 2% I just pulled the Tungsten WAY out on my big gas lens and cranked up the argon. It was pretty easy to reach from both sides.

Voodoo is correct because I can't even see how you can fit a tungsten in between the 2 pipes on the left circle

 

[V-10 Killer]

I thought the root of the weld is the strongest, but you're right that it all plays a part in the strength of the weld. Since this is a non structural piece that won't see much pressure, heat, or what have you, I think it will be fine.

I can't remember the exact terminology, but on steels, where you can melt both sides in without filler and get a good bond, the root is pretty strong.
Aluminum however, most of the strength comes from the filler material (weld bead). The material washed in from both pieces of metal doesn't bond very strong without it. If I can find the names for it, I'll edit this post.

*Edit* Found it, It's known as hot short. Tendancy of a metal to get brittle when heated to a certain point. Aluminum can be quite suceptible.

There, now I'm done cluttering up a sweet thread

 

[popskull]

I can't remember the exact terminology, but on steels, where you can melt both sides in without filler and get a good bond, the root is pretty strong.
Aluminum however, most of the strength comes from the filler material (weld bead). The material washed in from both pieces of metal doesn't bond very strong without it. If I can find the names for it, I'll edit this post.

Make sense I guess now that I think about it. Wonder if this will hold up... the guy wants it smooth like this since it will be polished. I guess if it cracks I make him a new one, or grind out the welds and start over.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Just add a small bead all around it. Your welds should be smoother as well on a re melt. I never take the welds off of a tank.

 

[jmlcolorado]

Man! It takes a while to get through 60 pages!
Lots of talent here for sure! With I had some of it
Figured I'd share a bench I rescued.
I'm an amature, with little practice.
I went too long and hot on this and warped it a it, but who cares. It still works

 

[bullnerd]

I was under the impression you don't want to grind your aluminum welds down since the strength is top of the weld and it will be prone to cracking?
Someone correct me if I am misinformed.


Exhaust looks great, but how in the world do you weld the sections I circled in red? Especially when the other pipe is attached?

Pretty sure that is supposed to be a slip joint and not welded.The Ys are factory done.

 

[Flamed181]

Building a lot of fish lately but have never done a lot of fishing

 

[vic17]

Добрый день, зашел просто посмотреть, не удержался хочу выразить вам свое восхищение. Все аккуратно и красиво, вы молодцы!

 

[alpinewhite]

Добрый день, зашел просто посмотреть, не удержался хочу выразить вам свое восхищение. Все аккуратно и красиво, вы молодцы!

Per Google Translate:
Good afternoon, came just to see, could not resist I want to express to you my admiration. Everything neat and nice, you rock!

 

[jmlcolorado]

Per Google Translate:
Good afternoon, came just to see, could not resist I want to express to you my admiration. Everything neat and nice, you rock!

Kinda thought you were joking, but your not

 

[vic17]

Не шучу. Сейчас строю свой дом. Сварил ворота в гараж. Поддерживающую балку. Клетки для животных. и по мелочам. Ещё есть свой грузовик, самосвал. Для себя все делаю сам.

 

[alpinewhite]

Не шучу. Сейчас строю свой дом. Сварил ворота в гараж. Поддерживающую балку. Клетки для животных. и по мелочам. Ещё есть свой грузовик, самосвал. Для себя все делаю сам.

per Google Translate:

No kidding. Now we are building the house. Cooked gate to the garage. Supporting beam. Cages. and detail. Still have my truck, dump. For myself, I do everything myself.