Morgans wrote:
"bildan" wrote

There's probably a smidgen of truth in that - I heard it from an old
timer OA welder 45 years ago. Then again, he might just have been
grumbling about 1960's "new technology".

Since then there's a lot of field experience with highly stressed TIG
welded 4130 and if there's any loss in weld strength, it doesn't seem
to be a problem people worry about. However, if it was a real "bet my
ass" part, I might have it heat treated and magnafluxed.

I thought that I remember that a small aircraft (Bearcat?) manufactured by
"Budd" (I want to say Davidson, somehow formerly involved in this group?) in
Mexico was using TIG as their primary welding method, and having no
problems. Anyone remember anything like that, or know more of it?

The Ag metal shop in the high school I teach at got a very nice TIG welder
this past year, so now I need to learn how to use it, if for no other reason
just to learn something new. Perhaps this summer will give me an
opportunity to play with it. It has always fascinated me, after seeing it
used so much on car and motorcycle "how to do it" TV shows. It certainly
does produce very neat welds, and on many different metals and widely varied
situations.

Jim in NC


When acurrizing a bolt action rifle I frequently had the magazine
well welded to the receiver. I noticed when it was OA welded I had
problems with things taking a bluing. With TIG I didn't have this
problem. I don't weld, never got past the welding coupons stage and thus
have had to have it done for me.

As I understand it TIG doesn't heat the receiver as deeply as OA. I
would think a similar situation would occur in aircraft welding where
one welds a lighter part to a heavier part. Would a similar situation
occur when welding tubing of different diameters?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired