wright1902glider wrote:
Morgans wrote:
By the time you get done gas welding a trailer, you could weld up an airplane,
I'll bet!
--
Jim in NC


Jim,

A few months ago at EAA Copperstate, I had a chance to try my hand. My
beads were pretty lumpy, but the steel was rusty, and the wind was
blowing 10-15. I'm also left-handed which complicates teaching
experience. But I did get good penetration.

The rig I used was a hybred: hoses and regs were HF, torch was Lincoln.
Which begs the question: is an HF torch worth the $100? Or should I
keep saving my pennies? What size tanks would you recommend?

I'm looking at .120" to 1/4" mild steel for a trailer, and from
1/2"x.030" to 2 -1/2"x.095" 4130 tube for a plane or other projects. Do
you think the included tip sizes would handle that range? Can Lincoln
or Harris tips be used on an HF torch body?

Just wondering.
Harry


I've welded a Delta together with a HF torch, and everyone that I can
get to inspect them (and I ask everyone) thinks they are just fine.
Just keep the tip clean and you'll have no problem. Gas welding torches
have been around for over 100yrs, and there really isn't that many ways
to drill an orifice in a piece of copper/brass/whatever those things are
made of.

I wouldn't want to do extensive welding of 1/4" anything with a gas
torch, though...unless maybe it was the dead of winter. A TIG or
wirefed MIG are much more useful there.