Gamble97
15+ Year Contributor
- 2,642
- 63
- Jan 3, 2006
-
small town,
Illinois
I still weld the old school way... Oxy/Acetylene or Oxy/Propane with an old gas handle and assortment of tips, plus a cutting torch. It is slower, but it'll weld anything... No need to specialize. Plus, if you have to join different metals and can get good, clean, close fit, brazing is available too (Dont discount brazing, marine nuclear piping is often brazed). It is a little harder to get the hang of initially, but once you know how to set it, it is similar to TIG. I also just don't have the cash for a decent TIG machine, and gas equipment is much cheaper initially, and filler and flux are easy to come by.
Any other gas welders? It seems to be becoming less and less common as a primary means of welding with modern machines, but it is extremely versatile.
Wow never knew you can weld with oxy and propane. You seem to be right it is becoming less and less popular. My dad brazes all the time for work and it does have it's advantages. For example my maxima had a hole in the oil pan and it was all rusty, nothing where a nice weld bead would stick so we brazed it. Was still holding up perfect when I sold it.
What about the strut tower area? I can see the back panels just getting tacked because it not to structural. Also what settings should i use.
As long as you use the same the thickness metal as stock (or thicker) and you get full penetration it will be fine.
Settings will all depend on your welder. Open the side door and there should be a chart telling you general settings. These get you in the area but are not exact.
One of the best invenstments I've made besides my welder is a micrometer. I didn't spend a lot and get a mitsutoyo because I'm not a professional machinist and don't need one, but something to get me in the area I need to be helps.
I bought this one, 150 mm 6" Digital CALIPER VERNIER GAUGE MICROMETER LCD | eBay
Best $10 I ever spent. Even with tig welding if I don't know how thick it is, I'll measure it and say oh it's .0050, I'll set my machine around 50amps.