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Who here still gas welds?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Tugmaster, Feb 3, 2012.

  1. Dapostman
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 294

    Dapostman
    Member

    I like gas for thin metal, hell sometimes I even braze.
     
  2. falconwagon62
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 1,431

    falconwagon62
    Member

    Love my Henrob...Have Tig, Mig and Arc, I can weld pop cans with NO distorion

    http://www.cobratorches.com/

    Weld like a TIG and Cut like a PLASMA?

    [​IMG]
     
  3. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    I just fixed a couple very tiny stress cracks on 32 Ford firewall feet, where most of them have cracked. I knew mig was not a good idea because it would be hard to get the heat "up" quick enough in such as short weld, so I gas welded them.

    That works great because those areas are so hard to get at to grind, you can almost get it good enough with gas, without any grinding,,,just a small die grinder bit.
     
  4. whoareyou
    Joined: Aug 15, 2010
    Posts: 9

    whoareyou
    Member

    I have been looking at learning how to gas and stick weld before I spoil myself with a MIG. I've been looking through the Smith torch outfits and wonder will I be ok with a medium duty set, or should I just spend the extra money for heavy duty? Or are both of these overkill?
     
  5. I saw the Smith "little torch". Pretty cool. Looks like it would work well on sheet metal. Todd
     
  6. 48 Chubby
    Joined: Apr 29, 2008
    Posts: 1,014

    48 Chubby
    Member Emeritus

    Yes there is a reason nobody "gas" welds any more.
    The reason is skill or lack of it.
    Practice, practice, practice. Don't be afraid to melt the metal, it has to melt to be welded. Yes you will get frustrated, because you will burn through in places to start with.
    Once you have the welding skills, start hammer welding. You won't ever regret it.
    Once I used to reccomend a class at a Vocational or Trade school to learn this, but now days too many of the instructors either can't do it or don't want to go to the trouble to teach you.
     
  7. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member


    I bought my very small Smiths set new in 71. Still have it, and it can do everything I have ever needed, including dropping axles and steering arms, with the optional rosebud tip. Lightweight is important when doing intricate welding with small tips IMO

    Arc welding is getting to be a forgotten thing on cars, but I sure do miss it at times. I learned MIG before Arc, if you can believe that.
     
  8. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,367

    31Apickup
    Member

    I weld with both oxygen/acetylene & mig, each has it's own place. Haven't had the opportunity to try tig out. There is more skill involved with the oa, but once you learn, the results are great.
     
  9. PurHell
    Joined: Dec 17, 2004
    Posts: 375

    PurHell
    Member
    from So Cal

    I sill love the gas! .. welding sheet metal, Alum, brazing, silver soldering and my favorite cutting....
     
  10. brianj
    Joined: Jan 1, 2012
    Posts: 92

    brianj
    Member

    I have a harris combo torch setup I use. Most of my welding is done with a hobart mig, but gas is much easier, in my opinion, to get a good finish on sheet metal. It is just slower if you are not very experienced- which I am not. My tig welding experience really helps me out, though. I like tig the best, but my budget won't support buying a good tig set-up right now.
     
  11. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,903

    need louvers ?
    Member

    You gotta learn gas welding... It's kinda like a gateway drug to TIG. Just lately I have been going back gas though for sheet metal and teaching myself aluminum via gas weld as well. Seems to be a much more workable bead and hammer welding is alot of fun once you get down how much to hammer. Also, exhaust welds seem to like the sofness better too. I bought my gas rig from SEARS in downtown ST.Paul MN. in April of 1981. Still use it damn near everyday! The MIG still does all my chassis welds though.
     
  12. whoareyou
    Joined: Aug 15, 2010
    Posts: 9

    whoareyou
    Member

    Watching the guy building Norley frames on Cafe Racer using gas and bronze really put the itch in me to start learning.
     
  13. Bar Ditch
    Joined: Aug 1, 2011
    Posts: 272

    Bar Ditch
    Member
    from Tacoma

    I totally agree with you!

    Here in Washington I go to school for welding. The first welding in class we were ever allowed to do was gas, not only to teach the basics but to teach puddle control. My instructors reasoning for this was very simple, you have to know how to control the puddle, the rod, and the equipment so that you actually have an understanding how a weld is produced. It hasn't failed me so far and gettin it just right is a challenge but far more rewarding than just pulling a trigger.

    Welding is a skill that with decent equipment can produce amazing results, whether it be oxy or any other procedure.

    Get weldin' and don't look back.:D
     
  14. Working on old, not new, sheet metal I use gas or tig, mostly gas. Anything over 1/8 inch I use Mig or Arc.
     
  15. budd
    Joined: Oct 31, 2006
    Posts: 3,478

    budd
    Member

    back may moons ago when i went to welding school it was for two years, the first 8 months was all gas, welding, soldering, brazing and cutting, we also didn't use grinders, everything was cleaned up with a file.
     
  16. stan's52
    Joined: Jan 17, 2012
    Posts: 18

    stan's52
    Member

    I learned to gas weld in higth school metal shop, when schools still had this class. I couldn't get along with out my welder. I use the stick welder for heavy welding. maybe someone can explain why this happens. I just get a good puddle going, and all of a sudden the torch will pop and blow a hole in what I was welding. This doesn't happen with a hotter flame. This is something new. Drives me nuts, and makes me use words I haven't used since my Navy days. Stan
     
  17. Noland
    Joined: Oct 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,235

    Noland
    Member

    I still gas weld, wish I had a nicer torch, but I mostly tig. I dont like mig welders they just make stuff hard to work with.
     
  18. I was a welder for 39 years counting my five years aprentice. I learned with a torch and still like the control when doing exhaust. I tig just about everything.
     
  19. terrarodder
    Joined: Sep 9, 2005
    Posts: 1,101

    terrarodder
    Member
    from EASTERN PA

    I built this in 52, all the welds were with gas and coat hangers. Thats all we had and didn't know any better but it was fun. I'm still using gas to bulid my 37 Dodge truck but only bough some welding rods. 16 gage tie wire works good too as some one stated.
     

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  20. fatkoop
    Joined: Nov 17, 2009
    Posts: 713

    fatkoop
    Member

    Once you get good at oxy-acy welding, you'll wonder why so many guys mig everything. Mig is great in a production environment, 'cuz that is what it was invented for. I know, I know, it also is very handy if you only have one hand or arm, but for most of us, oxy-acy fills the bill for at least 75% of what we do. Learn it, you won't regret it. Control, grasshopper, control.
     
  21. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    If it pops, turn it up or get a smaller tip.
     
  22. mwhistle
    Joined: Feb 19, 2007
    Posts: 314

    mwhistle
    Member
    from sacramento

    I like gas welding and have been doing it for a long time. However, in all honesty, it's often more convenient (and cheaper) to grab my MIG for a lot of the welding I do. It's also easier to MIG thin sheet metal than it is to gas weld it.
     
  23. careyohio
    Joined: Jun 6, 2008
    Posts: 410

    careyohio
    Member

    And if it "POPS", take the time to look around and see where the hot sparks went........they can fly a long way........remember , rags,cloths, and uph. will
    smolder for a long time before blazing up.......don't ask me how I know..
     
  24. mossback44
    Joined: Apr 4, 2006
    Posts: 95

    mossback44
    Member

    Koz & Dyce,

    That is some very pretty work by each of you! I'm going to dig out my torch and give it a try. It's been about 25 years since I used it for anything other than burning. You guys made me remember how much I liked to gas weld before I got my mig.
     
  25. RDK INSPECT
    Joined: May 24, 2010
    Posts: 3

    RDK INSPECT
    Member
    from california

    I think gas welding is becoming as lost art and should be used as much as possible. As a full time Auto body tech new vehicle manufactures don't allow gas welding but I learned many years ago and still use it when possible. I agree MIG welds are much harder and almost cannot be metal finished.
     
  26. snaptwo
    Joined: Apr 25, 2011
    Posts: 696

    snaptwo
    Member

    Get some clean mild steel sheet rems from a fab. shop 16,14,18 Gage and just practice "pushing the puddle" no filler rod just yet.Keep practicing and you will learn heat control and speed. When you get a nice bead down with just heat ,lay two pieces together flat with a 1/32" gap and run in some filler rod as you go weld for an inch or two and let it cool for a bit. You will soon learn about the effects of heating and shrinkage as you go. What is it you say , the gap dissapeared and even overlaped the sheets ? Ah Ha ,the dreaded shrink! Why do guys hammer weld ? Give it a try.
     
  27. smittystoys
    Joined: Jan 31, 2009
    Posts: 107

    smittystoys
    Member

    I gas welded for about 15 years doing exhaust work , i thought it was the only way it should de done until i finnally got a miller wire welder , i wouldent trade it for nothing now ,its faster, stronger, and you dont have near the heat...
     
  28. I teach welding classes, and the first part of gas welding is controlling the heat and running puddles. I still do it a lot, but prefer tig.
     
  29. ml68nova
    Joined: Jan 13, 2007
    Posts: 37

    ml68nova
    Member

    Is the puddle easier to see then with MIG? I have a acetilene (sp?) setup I used for my wishbones. Is the flame hot enough to practice with that? Is there a special lense reqiured with gas? Ive only done MIG and I just cant see the puddle sometimes. I think I`m doing well only to find I wandered off. If I can use gas welding without and tint involved and only need safty glasses and or a face shield I would be a happy camper!

    Mark
     
  30. burl
    Joined: Nov 28, 2007
    Posts: 840

    burl
    Member
    from Minnesota

    i use the green tint for gas welding.If you have vision issues they make readers as well
    You really need to see what your doing to have any success.Gas welding was the first thing they taught us in metal shop.Had to pass the bend before break test before we moved on to anything else.
     

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