I filled the tank again and played around with the welder. Got the flange welded to the straight pipe. Let's just say it's not gonna break haha! I tried to weld the pipe to the intake but it's kinda fubar'd. When I tried before it's when the tank went dry so some welds look like crap. I could grind and redo I guess. When do I need to get the intake back?

Who started those welds on the intake? You?

If I have my old gutted cat at dad's, I'll try to grab it tomorrow, measure the end to end and cut one of the flanges off. Or maybe weld a straight pipe inside it. Much cleaner or more stealthy. But I think I threw that old one away. If you get me another flange, I can finish it up.

 

Jeff sure knows how to use PM's.

 

John did the welds on that intake, wont need them back until he comes up again so no biggy.

I checked with the exhaust shops again 2 days ago and no luck with the flange so if you could do that with the cat flange it would be awesome! Also maf adapters would be cool too, but by the sound of it you might be moving on to other stuff . Let me know if you want any help/company one of these days

 

our PM's turn into 10 page threads that fill up the inbox

 

My new welding helmet should be coming soon. Basicly I'm learning on your test pipe haha. Need to buy a good 4" cutting wheel for my grinder. I don't know if I'll be doing maf adaptors but it's a good idea. I need one too. You do also right?

Dave. I know how to use your chest as a punching bag

 

I need 2 Adapters (same setup as you, Anton has the one I used to have). I might have a cutting wheel that you can use, its for a robozip. Aaron bought it when I was doing his bimmers but it is too big for my grinder, might work in yours (I have 2 discs).

Autodimming mask? Half the time when I was using yours I didn't even bother with the mask (well with the tacking and small stuff). I was surprised it fit my head

 

Haha. Try again sucka!


sike. (haha).

 

Yup autodimming. I'll just buy the wheels. I have a 4" electric grinder. Probably won't work. I'll see if I can make a template from my spare maf. Get some 8awg wire so we can do your ground kit.

 

hahah, ok, I'll ask my friend if he still has his spare stuff, otherwise I'll get some from a shop or something.

btw, I'll setup that account for you

 

I have one of those...best thing ever made. Be sure to leave it in the sun for a little while before you use it so you arent blinded. It works off of solar power...the welder arc will keep it charged but the first time it might not be charged already.
At least thats how mine is.

I just got some SS wire today and some Argon. I was using CO2 but you can't use co2 with SS.

I have some SS stuff to try and weld on...should be fun.

 

I had to find some really small radius 2.5" pipe. Some if it only comes in SS. But I'd have to switch gas and wire. So I'll stick to mild steel(argon/C02 gas mix) I get great deals on gas now. My last 40cuft tank was $20.

I keep putting holes in all my clothes from the splatter. haha

 

heh.. Jeffy, if you're getting that much splatter, then you're doing something wrong! I haven't ruined a shrit yet, but I've gone through 2-3 sets of work gloves. that fake leather doesn't hold up to heat well.
also be sure to wear leather shoes- but I'm sure you've figured that out by now.

According to lincon's website, you can run C25 as a shielding gas for stainless, but it produces better welds if you run full argon, or some helium in it.

I need to figure that part out as well, as Danno wants me to make those SS parts for him.

 

haha I did when I first started too...I have like 3 or 4 pair of jogging pants with holes all in them. I dont get splatter now or very little...it will go down with practice.

Yeah like Matt said you can use a arong/co2 mixture for SS or at least thats what the welding supply place said here in town.

You just have to buy the wire. I think they wanted a little over 20 for a small spool here but I got it for $15.

 

yea you must have one that only runs off solar, the one i got from harbor frieght for 60$ has a watch battery in it somwhere but it works great and is very convenient when welding while lying on your back under a car and such

 

It's gone down alot since I found out I was extending the wire too far out of the gun tip. Practice, practice practice.

 

Yeah I didnt buy mine (its my dads welder, mask etc...I am just "borrowing it until he needs it" which is hardly ever) but it was one of the more expensive units. He doesnt usually like to say how much he spends on something but I just know he keeps telling me to be careful with his expensive lens.

 

So, what are you guys workong on?

 

Yup. HF had the battery/solar one on sale for $60. It's not the fastest reacting unit but it's good for the price. Mike had a good suggestion about charging it up first. Nothing like sunspots on your eyeballs! heh. When my tip had some crap in it, the damned copper tip would arc everytime I touched something. *tack!**tack!* Dammit!

 

Atleast the crap doesn't actually weld itself to the bronze, that would suck, lol.

Laying out some nice beads now?

 

Well I get decent penetration (by looking at the heat marks inside the tube) but it's hard to tell if the weld is penetrating the thicker side(flange). They aren't pretty but they aren't going anywhere. I can't get the speed just right yet. I think I'm moving the gun too fast and the weld puddle is not melting into each other. I'm scared of burning holes in the pipe. When the gas was off/empty, it was really easy to burn though. But with the new tank, it's much better. I refer to John's small weld as a reference.

 

your right the reaction time isnt the greatest becaue i can see a split second of bright acr before it darkens but for the price im happy

 

what amperage are you setting the welder at

i think i usually set mine to 90amps for welding 18ga exhaust pipe and i havnt burned through anything yet but if the flang is alot thicker than that you may want to bump it up to closer to 120 but when i first started welding i would burn through at 120

 

Well in my garage, I only have outlets with 15amp breakers so I have to limit the amps. I don't remember what that amounts to. I ran it at the higher setting but the wife said all the lights were dimming inside the house. hahaha. (20amp) The unit is a cheap one that runs on 110v so, I think it only goes up to about 85 amps. Good enough for an idiot welding newbie like me. I had a friend try it and he said it was fine.

 

mine runns off 110v to but it can weld up to 120amps but it will throw the 15amp circuit breaker if i use it long enough continuusly. but you shouldnt need to worry about burning through at 85amps but if theres a will theres a way haha i love welders they rank up there with big chains saws for MANlyness or at least thats what my dad says

 

I think it was burning because of the lack of shielding gas. So I'm gun shy about holding the wire in the weld puddle too long. It's easy to put down a nice weld on a flat piece of metal, it's when you have to join two pieces that have a small gap, it gets harder.

 

just go slower, when I first started I would go wayyy to fast, then my shop teacher explained to me that its not the indy 500 and I need to slow down..... alot.

I was able to use Jeff's welder with out throwing a breaker alone, but with my air compressor on it would trip it.

Jeff I dont think you'll really burn threw the pipe, well atleast welding 2 pipes together. That peice of sheet metal though, it kind of can burn threw that. Building stuff is fun though, I'm still searching for my own welder now, hehhehe.

 

i miss welding.................... need to get the car to my house so i can get started again.

 

yeah I need some welding too, Im getting tired of tape on my trunk.

ps. you changed your location to patchogue, what a goober

 

oh great hes closer to me now

 

dont think im telling you where i live............................

jason doesnt even know, every time i've had him over to work like a slave i've tied him up, blind folded him and stuck him in the trunk.

and i switched the locationa week before i bought the house, positive thinking. if they denied the loan i would have been like, but i already changed it on the .org, i cant go back.

 

BTW. I found another flange off of my stock exhaust. I'm sure it's smaller than the one we bought but it matches the stock cat. I'll see if it fits onto the pipe. If it does, I'll weld it up.

BTW. I have a good stock cat for sale.