gas welding: question about popping

[Ragwing nut]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

they are leaded originally on the terne plate tanks.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

It was a soldering technique. I never could do it well . those good old boys knew exactly when it would flow before it did! The flux was made in house and apparently had a lot to do with it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Welding is one of those things that is more art than science. I worked with welders as an engineer and could blow a hole in thin stock with the best of them. I feel lucky the really skilled old hands taught me how to inspect a weld, even if I couldn't do a good one. Just never enough time to practice. I think almost anyone can become a pretty good welder with enough practice, but when I got all the welding done on the 45 I took it to a guy who was a Nuke welding instructor at the shipyard (yea, I know, he did most of work on material MANY times as thick as our stuff, but his fine work on thin tube was pure art).
Seeing a true artist with a torch is something to behold, and he was just as good with MIG, TIG and arc as with normal gas. He DID get me to the point where I wasn't afraid to cut and fit tubes while he welded and we could go like a house afire (so to speak, only caught my pants once) once we got going.
Never asked him about tank repair, but I would hate to think that soldering tanks has become a lost art. There will be some considerable pain in re-learning if it has. Anybody still doing it? My welder has gotten on in years since he did my plane, and practice is critical!
Hank
Hank

[astjp2]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

It was a soldering technique. I never could do it well . those good old boys knew exactly when it would flow before it did! The flux was made in house and apparently had a lot to do with it.

Forrest, you just didnt give enough sacrifices to the welding GODS!

If you need a Ternplate soldered, take it to a radiator shop, those guys solder every day. tim

[bashibazouk]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

I would hate to think that soldering tanks has become a lost art. There will be some considerable pain in re-learning if it has. Anybody still doing it? My welder has gotten on in years since he did my plane, and practice is critical!
Hank
Hank

I can't recommend Kent White's website enough! www.tinmantech.com He's done welding workshops at Oshkosh, he forms metal, welds, solders, brazes, etc. He torch welds steel, aluminum, stainless, and other more exotic materials. He sells lots of stuff on his site, and sure, he's in it to make money-- but he's also taken the time to learn techniques that have fallen out of favor with newer gear. Much of his experience came from Harrah's and other car restorers, working on exotic one-off aluminum-bodied race cars, but you can also see his work on the Hughes H-1 replica and numerous WWII-era fighter restorations.

His DVDs and booklets are filled with very useful information and the stuff he sells just works because it's what he uses every day.

I hate to sound like some kind of zealot or proselytizer, but this guy is a real asset to builders and restorers. He took the time to learn the techniques from the guys who built and fixed the old cars and airplanes before they died off. He's preserved the skills and passing them along. I, for one don't mind supporting his business to keep the flow of knowledge going.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

I opened his page and immediately recognized his picture! Some of the stuff he did got me into metal bumping but I had lost track of him. Thanks a million for reconnecting me to a real artist. I think tonight will be spent reading his web page and getting reacquainted.
Hank

[mhorowit]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

I can't recommend Kent White's website enough! www.tinmantech.com He's done welding workshops at Oshkosh, he forms metal, welds, solders, brazes, etc. He torch welds steel, aluminum, stainless, and other more exotic materials. He sells lots of stuff on his site, and sure, he's in it to make money-- but he's also taken the time to learn techniques that have fallen out of favor with newer gear. Much of his experience came from Harrah's and other car restorers, working on exotic one-off aluminum-bodied race cars, but you can also see his work on the Hughes H-1 replica and numerous WWII-era fighter restorations.

His DVDs and booklets are filled with very useful information and the stuff he sells just works because it's what he uses every day.

I hate to sound like some kind of zealot or proselytizer, but this guy is a real asset to builders and restorers. He took the time to learn the techniques from the guys who built and fixed the old cars and airplanes before they died off. He's preserved the skills and passing them along. I, for one don't mind supporting his business to keep the flow of knowledge going.

Have you used his micro torch? if so, your opinion? - Mike

[Mark Julicher]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Meco Midget torch is excellent for aircraft work. Light weight and comfortable in the hand. Size 0 tip is good for oxy-fuel aluminum welding and size 2 or 3 works well with 4130 steel tube.

You can work much longer with a Meco than the larger Victor torch before getting tired. Only issue is that it requires the small hoses which Kent sells or you get at your local welding supply.

[mhorowit]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Only issue is that it requires the small hoses which Kent sells or you get at your local welding supply.

How far back do you have to replace? certainly you don't have to replace your regulators ???? - Mike

[Mark Julicher]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Same regulators.
There is a little adapter to go to the smaller hose size.

[bashibazouk]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Have you used his micro torch? if so, your opinion? - Mike

The Meco torch is great! The finer hoses make it super-maneuverable and really nice to handle. Not too expensive and it makes a really nice, precise flame that's easily controlled. It's been said somewhere that it's like using a dental instrument to weld with. Not sure about that, but it's nice and light.

Like a jeweller's torch, but big enough to do real welding.

[bashibazouk]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

How far back do you have to replace? certainly you don't have to replace your regulators ???? - Mike

The thinner, black rubber hoses aren't too long (maybe 6-8 ft?) so I just put the adapters on my flash arrestors on the end of my regular-weight hoses. Gives extra length and added safety (relative) without bulking up the torch.

[Marv]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

Mike you may want to check out the Dillon torch. I have had mine since 1983 i think. You set the regulaters at 4 psi oxygen and 4 psi aceyetelene. Does a real good job and very cheap to use. Just type in Dillon torches in info bar. It is now made by a different company but is the same torch and is made in U.S.A. yes realy U.S.A. AND HAS A LIFETIME WARANTY. MARV

[astjp2]

Re: gas welding: question about popping

I have a Victor J-28 and a J-40, I perfer the 40 because it fits my hand better. I met a guy on Metalmeet.com that makes adapters to use the Meco torch on the victor mixer. If you buy regulators, get the 2 stage, they dont change the hose pressure as tank pressure goes down. Tim