First post - need help with my balancing sculptures please!!

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Hi everyone, I just joined the forum and am in a big rut and need some advice.I make small/medium desk toys (kinetic balancing sculptures - to see what I make, just visit this link - myShop) being that I started doing it with NO one to teach me and an extremely right budget (recently graduated college) I learned to you a $65 mapp gas torch from Home Depot and braze using low temp high silver content brazing. (Expensive obviously) Basically, I make these sculptures from 3/16" 304 ss rods. The brazing has worked well but here are my problems:- the head of my guys are made from 3/4" mild steel balls and I do not have enough heat to braze it to the body so I solder it on. As you can imagine, the process is tedious, very sensitive and weak.- it takes me too much time to heat each little end to be joined and apply brazing, connect them, and heat them together until they both melt together.Here is where I'm at now:I want/need to weld. REALLY weld. I got a decent mig with the intent of returning it if it doesn't work. So far, the ability to join parts VERY fast is wonderful. Unfortunately it really leaves just a bunch of globby spots and I need to to lol very smooth and fluid. (I use .023 308l weld wire 75/25 argon o2 gas at 140 amps for instant penetration to make the weld the most fluid)Now, I know that my BEST option is a TIG and to probably just fuse weld these small joints to make them pretty, Smooth, and fluid. However, money is a big issue for me. My big question is: will Oxy/Ace work fine for me? If not, I suppose I will wait and save up for the cheapest TIG I can find!OR do I need to stick with my MIG and make it work? I just can't make it look as pretty as the braze.Anyway, any advice on how to join the pieces of my guys would be greatly appreciated. Ideally, I want to fuse them together to make a seamless joint. I also need it so when I attach the heads, they don't fall right back off after I reheat it again!Thanks!Kyle
Reply:I believe you are using the wrong gas for stainless mig.  75/25 is for steel.What did the package say on your 308 wire for shielding gas?For best results, my vote goes to tig.  Thermal arc 95 - about $425 with the tig packagehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/THERMAL-ARC-...item20b7489d86Dave J.Edit:  cool videos of them in action Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 06-07-2013 at 03:37 PM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Dave,Thanks for your time and reply.You're right, the gas isn't ideal but I didn't want to buy the tri mix since I was not 100% confident that MIG would work the way I needed it to.Do you think 95 is enough power for what I need? I also have to make stands for each sculpture and I do that buy SOLDERING (sucks) 1/8 inch cold rolled mild into a (+) shape. So if also like it to have the ability to weld that if possible too.Thanks for the thermal arc TIG recommendation and the compliment!
Reply:So... if you can't figure out how to use your new MIG welder... you are going to return it to the place you bought it and let the business suffer a loss because you didn't take the time to figure out what you really needed ahead of time?You do know that there is a thing called "Renting" right?Lincoln v155-s with Tig Welder Ready Pack K2606-1One father's love of his autistic son www.inmyimage.com
Reply:nice work.  why use a mild steel head?  why not use a stainless?tig is what you want or O/A.  you can use any filler for steel or stainless, but I would use 309 if it were me.Mig is not your friend for the work I see here.
Reply:I admit, this was a poor choice on my part. I went to my local Airgas and no one even recommended renting as an option just the whole purchase and return thing. It was only after I bought I that I learned I could rent Last edited by kyle's kinetics; 06-07-2013 at 06:01 PM.
Reply:Scott, Thanks for the advice. I use a mild head because getting a hold of 3/4 inch stainless balls is VERY difficult. I bought 25 mild balls for $12. However, I recently found exactly the stainless balls I want in a pack of 20 for $35 ok amazon. Price is much higher but I think it'll be worth it now that I actually found a source.TIG really is the right way. I like the thermal arc 95 that Dave suggested. I looked it up and it seems really right on with what I need it for.MIG is just not right for the job as you said (even though I was really hoping it'd work cause I wanted to keep it for making other larger things as well)Thanks again for the compliment and help!
Reply:Originally Posted by kyle's kineticsDave,Thanks for your time and reply.You're right, the gas isn't ideal but I didn't want to buy the tri mix since I was not 100% confident that MIG would work the way I needed it to.Do you think 95 is enough power for what I need? I also have to make stands for each sculpture and I do that buy SOLDERING (sucks) 1/8 inch cold rolled mild into a (+) shape. So if also like it to have the ability to weld that if possible too.Thanks for the thermal arc TIG recommendation and the compliment!
Reply:You're right, I will hang onto it and throw it up on Craigslist for a little cheaper than what I bought it for. I don't mind taking A $50 hit for using it for 2 days. Give someone a good deal and avoid hurting depot.
Reply:I forgot to mention - put in your location so it shows up in the upper corner of your posts.That way, if someone is close, they may be able to help you out.Don't worry about owning a mig and a tig.  They will both come in very handy. Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thanks a lot, Dave. Sorry for my dumb move. (I am a college graduate after all) I had never heard of the TA95 before you mentioned it. But it looks like exactly what I need. Do you think fusion welding will be the way to go with what I want? And do you think I will be able to fuse the 3/16" rod to the 3/4" ball?
Reply:Whether you use a fusion weld or adding rod will depend on the look you end up getting.A pro that works with stainless will have to answer how much power it will take to fuse those small pieces.  My thoughts are that even though they are thick, they are small so it will work.Your shielding gas will be 100% argon.  No substitutes.Practice a lot on scrap first.  Plain steel will be fine for cheap practice.Practice both fusion and adding rod.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Heck ,you are right here in Phoenix!I am off 40th street and McDowell.If you want to try a TIG let me know .From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:Kevin, if I was in Phoenix, you'd already hear my truck in the parking lot Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:If you've been brazing/soldering with MAPP, O/A would do everything the same, except much easier because of the higher heat. Actually welding those small bits cleanly would take some practice but it definitely possible. I know a major artist who uses O/A for very similar work to what you are doing. However, you're looking at only a small savings over a TIG if any. A lucky find on craigslist can get you a torch and cylinder setup for a few hundred, but buying used is a bit risky unless you know how to check the gear out thoroughly. Cheaper and safer than acetylene is propane. It's not hot enough to weld steel, but good for brazing/soldering and cutting. Most torches can be used for propane with a different tip.
Reply:Anytime Dave,   You are always welcome in my studio...From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:Kyle, sorry for "preaching"... but as guy who has managed a couple of retail stores, "renting" expensive equipment is a major problem and I get a bit irritated hearing people talk about doing it...Now... if AirGas told you that you could buy it and return it if you decided that it didn't meet your needs, then take it back and say thank you, just try to get your next machine through them because they might not take your bottle of gas back assuming you bought it vs rented it, but they will probably be happy to exchange it for a 100% argon tank.Before doing any of this though, I'd recommend taking Kevin up on his offer because he has all the options you could look want, and with the size of the pieces you are creating and the fact that there you will not really be running beads, OA may actually be the best choice for you, and it will be better if you make that decision first and then head over to AirGas and exchange everything all at once.Lincoln v155-s with Tig Welder Ready Pack K2606-1One father's love of his autistic son www.inmyimage.com
Reply:Thanks everyone!! Huge help!Tradetek,I completely understand. Honestly, I was not thinking one bit. I've been so anxious to solve this particular need that I just went and did it this way  lesson learned! I will definitely be doing as you advised!Also, I had a brief but wonderful conversation with Mr. Caron! Extremely nice and was very kind about allowing me to use his equipment! I am very excited! I am almost positive that TIG is the way for me now that Kevin advised me of some cheaper brands that will suit my needs perfectly and that I can personally test out! Thanks again Kevin! GREATLY appreciate your kindness and willingness to help!
Reply:Maybe you can be in one of Kevin's videos. Something looking at small sculptures and trying to decide what welding method is best. That would be a good topic for one of his vids.Good luck, and by the way, your little kinetic guys look good!Lincoln v155-s with Tig Welder Ready Pack K2606-1One father's love of his autistic son www.inmyimage.com
Reply:I have to buy one of his pieces!!Great eye for balance!Oh yeah, and the boss likes them also....From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:Thank you all for the help and compliments. Originally Posted by kevinacaronI have to buy one of his pieces!!Great eye for balance!Oh yeah, and the boss likes them also....