wleder choice

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Ok here goes. I have been researching the past articles and am still a little confused. Let me start by saying I have very little welding experience. I have used some OA and MIG. I would like some input. First what I would like to do. I am getting into fabricating as an addition to painting. I will be looking to do some custom motorcycle fender work recessed lights, filling and shaping fenders and some stainless exhaust. I will also be looking to do some custom frames in the next few years after I get more comfortable welding. I would probably be doing fusion welding and some silver brazing.  I currently have a modest OA set up consisting of 145cf OA / acetylene tank, 2 smith AW1 torches and a full compliment of tips. Here is the problem. I am not sure if what I have will really be the best for what I want to do. Speed of use is not really important at this time as I have no time limits restricting me. I have been considering trading the OA set up for a nice MIG or TIG, but can not convince myself that they are better options. I have heard you can do just as well with an OA as the other. I will mostly be using stainless and mild steel for all items. I will occasionally add some aluminum as needed. One of my many concerns will be OA weld appearance and strength on the stainless exhaust. I would expect to weld the tube then clean up the weld and polish the tube to a chrome appearance sorry if I seem to be rambling I just totally confuse myself sometimes. I do want to thank all in advance for any advice. Charlie
Reply:Sorry that post sounds like I am trying to get easy answers. I am just trying to gather some input from others on things I may not be considering, that will be obvious to more experienced welders and help me focus my efforts. I always try to flatten the learning curve as much as possible by researching and asking questions
Reply:Originally Posted by cstricklandSorry that post sounds like I am trying to get easy answers. I am just trying to gather some input from others on things I may not be considering, that will be obvious to more experienced welders and help me focus my efforts. I always try to flatten the learning curve as much as possible by researching and asking questions
Reply:Flatten the curve?!  I wish I could do that too! It just keeps going up... I found out the easy way, also the long way, that oxy-acetylene is no good for stainless cutting. I don't know if oxy-acetylene welding stainless is even possible, but I have not done very much gas welding period. It is fun though, I would not want to be without a torch since I was tutored on it's use. What other tool can you use to heat and bend carbon steel with the exception of a forge? You might want to get aquainted with the other welding processes, stick, tig as well as mig. Along the way, you will hear a lot about plasma-cutting, it's nice to have if you've got the airsupply, room, and budget. Tig is really nice for stainless work, or any metal for that matter!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:i would never sell my toprch oa can do what welding you want , so can tig
Reply:Sounds to me like a good tig set up is in your future. If you want to do stainless, sheet metal, exhaust tig would produce the cleanest welds. Now motorcycle frames are a different beast entirely, you'll need a full machine shop to really be doing those there's also the business of getting them licensed, heck even OCC just uses a fab shop to premake their frames for them.
Reply:Keep the torch. If I had to choose between tig and OA, I'd choose the OA. But if you can get the tig in addition to your OA, I would do it. Sounds like you'll be doing alot of tubing. In my personal experience (though others may dissagree) mig isn't well suited to changing positions, such as going from vertical to horizontal as you go around a pipe.
Reply:Definately keep the torch. Back when I was tough enough I would spend all day doing heavy duty welding and then come home and customize motorcycles. I used the torch almost exclusively for the MC work. tanks, fenders, and frames. Did some exhaust work too but it was mild tubing and then chrome plated. I also used it to build some aluminum components also. It is very useful for heating and shaping thing that would be just about impossible to do cold.Don't forget that there have been a lot of experimental airplanes built using only an A/O torch. It's slower than mig and tig but that also makes control easier. Distortion is also more but a lot of that can be controlled. If I could only have one welding method now I would choose the torch because of it's versatility.
Reply:You don't want to get rid of your oxy-acetylene, but what I think you may be better off considering is a multifunction unit or power source capable of all you need to do, a little arc, tig and some plasma cutting.It's not going to come cheap, you may want to consider going here:http://www.longevity-inc.com/, and I know I never ever thought I would make such a recommendation,I am finding their reveiws extremely good all round with no complainers and your investiment isn't so high that it should worry you.
Reply:although it sounds great but you'll need a full machine shop to really be doing those there's also the business of getting them licensed, heck even O CC just uses a fab shop to remake their frames for them..................:P steel bar steel supplier
Reply:wow I got more answers to a first post than I expected. I want to thank all that responded. I see a lot of concern over the frame and licensing. the easy answer is I will be customzing factory frames using exisiting title and VIN number, so the bike will actually already be titled. I know of a few custom builders who do this to avoid all the confusion that was listed. I do not plan on making a full time job, but am interested in doing a few bobbers in this manner. My confision was just from reading a lot of posts and web information. The one thing I kept coming across was that a lot of people say you CAN NOT oxy weld  stainless for exhaust systems. From what I read you can indeed do it, but there are precautions that need to be taken to ensure you do not have any rusting in the weld area form the heat zone . I am currently looking for specific information pertaining to this subject. I have the Smiths torchs as stated, but have read alot about the henorb. Does anyone have first hand knowledge with regards to using the henrob and stated smith AW1? Like everything I do not see any solid evidence that there is any concernable difference. depends on who you talk to . I see lots of people swearing there is, and lots more that swear theres not. does anyone have a video of the two torches side by side , lit and adjusted properly for flame comparsion, or even better weld comparisionFrom what I see that seems to be the big difference is that alot of people use way to much PSI on the standard torch settings. I see the welding books by Finch ( I think thats his name) all recommend about 3-4 psi for each . where as others use 10 - 15 for each on thin sheet. thanks again to all who responded and gave information I appreciate all the advise and input. charlie
Reply:Torch psi relates back directly to flow and tip size.You have to balance your torch to get the correct psi at the regulator.Henrob, you are looking at about $400.00 new, which I think could be better put towards a tig.The Henrob is something I would look at after you aquire some initial equipment.Also how much money do you have to start yourself out with?What is your budget?You are doing several things at once and it is confusing to give advise.Best course of action is to find a job fabricating, if its bikes then get into a bike shop.You have access to the equipment after hours and you get paid for an education.
Reply:Psitolloon, thanks for the input. Let me see if I can clarify. I am not looking for a job doing this. I am an enthusiast. Budget is self imposed. I really am not looking to get a TIG, even if it is the perfect tool as some think it is. I am looking to use what tools I have and maybe add some versatility. I already have a torch set but have contemplated if all the things I would like to do can be accomplished, or I should maybe trade up. Right now I paint and does some basic sheet metal work. The sheet metal work I have done so far has been brazing, and now I want to move more toward butt weld and fusion welding, to allow me to make some custom parts for bikes. I will also eventually do some frame modification. I have been researching and have determined an OA set up will do everything I need in one way or another. Whether it is fusion welding or silver brazing. I will just need to best apply the application to the project. My confusion now is really in the torch. I can get a good used Henrob for around $250 - $275 off eBay if I need to, but I am not sure it is a better torch. I am currently looking for someone who has experience with both. I am truly interested in the smaller heat zone aspect as I see where this could be beneficial to reduce warpage on parts.  Sorry for any confusion but I am focused on what I want, maybe it just did not come out that way .