Titanium welding??

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I'm looking for some tips on welding Titanium. How difficult is it to do? What would be the best setup to have? Thanks for any info
Reply:Very very similar to welding stainless steel. I weld it with my tig welders. You do need to be cautious of oxygen contaminating the material and overheating just like stainless.Other than the material being very expensive, it is easier to weld than most people believe.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:The main thing is Ti needs gas coverage way down until 500-800 degrees F or the metal will be ruined. Purging and post flow and trailing shields are the requirements that make is a real hassle to do right.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Best bet is to weld down into a box or pan of some kind so the shielding gas will pool up. Also helps that there be no wind blowing to stir up the welding gas. So say your part is a bracket of some sort that is about 6"x10". MAke a simple box about 2ft x 2ft, and 6" deep. Run a purge line into it and set it for a low number, like 2-4CFH. Let it purge the box for a minute or 2 as you prep. Set up and weld as normal. Use a longer postflow than with SS or alum. and keep the purge line bleeding into the box slooowly, and everything will be good to go.Don't forget to shut off the purge line. You can bleed a 248 bottle dry in an afternoon while you are working on the grinder or some other useless endeavour........And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:I agree with the other recommendations. It is a lot like stainless or mild steel. Set the machine like wise. DC- etc.I would call titanium welding as "sticky." If you touch the filler to part of the base metal while not actually dipping into the pool, it will stick to the base metal. Kind of like hot melt glue.
Reply:Originally Posted by dbdesignsI'm looking for some tips on welding Titanium. How difficult is it to do? What would be the best setup to have? Thanks for any info
Reply:Originally Posted by hobohilton------------------------Your question is sort of vague. Can you give us some more info .... like, how much of this are you going to do? Is it a one time project?Here's some of the equipment needed ---http://www.jetline.com/product.aspx?c=41&i=14487Thanks,Hobo
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloYeah..... that's taking it to a whole other level!!!!! I do not think the average welder is going to try and tackle the cost of the welding booth for their first forays into welding exotic alloys.But I WILL say- if you have a real hankering to weld magnesium, that is a much safer way to go after it. FWIW, the drop in box I use does a number when you want to get really nice coverage on SS as well. But I rarely use the box for that with a full purge- I will just up the gas a touch or throw on a little solar flux on the back of the weld.I have never tried Solar Flux on Ti....... but am willing to set fire to a piece if someone wants me to try it!!!!!!
Reply:It behaves under the arc like stainless. I've only dealt with it a handful of times, always in a cabinet.With TIG the key is to increase current and weld as fast as possible. A lot of weld specs. will call for a trailing gas shield, which is a royal pain.Cleanliness is very serious business with Ti. Joint areas pretty much need to be handled with white gloves. (read about the history of the SR-71 to find out why.) Parts should be cleaned with acetone. They should be ground with discs specifically designed for Ti, prior to welding. A lot of companies store Ti stock/ parts in a separate building. Where they wont be exposed to flying sparks and welding dust.Molten Ti absorbs most other element on the periodic table like a sponge.  Then when it freezes, impurities and intermetallics come out in the grain boundaries causing brittleness problems. Oxygen/Nitrogen from the air can be absorbed and cause embrittlement/cracks in the hot metal even after the puddle has solidified. If your welds show excessive oxidation colors, you're sunk. one of the problems with Ti is it has worse heat conductivity than SS so welds stay hot for a long time.Use a gas lens with the largest size cup you can get. More front side shield gas coverage is always better. Filler rods should also be individually wiped with acetone.Last edited by Joshfromsaltlake; 08-26-2012 at 04:06 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860Actually Solar ( B or I ) is not the right chemistry. Need something closer to the fluxes used for submerged arc welding of Ti. Believe it or not Ti can even be welded with O/A with the right fluxes and process, and is on a production basis. Just dont hear about it much in the US.
Reply:Tinman is your friend! Best  Bob
Reply:Originally Posted by Dale1990Would you happen to have more info on using O/A with titanium? Maybe some links about the process or fluxes? I've tried Googling for info but couldn't come up with much except TIG - my search-fu is weak. As a simple hobbyist, I love working with my O/A setup and am always looking for something else to play with.
Reply:Lokks like it's out of my league at the moment...Is there a place on the forum to try and get prices from somebody to do it? Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860The flux material isnt mainstream since here in the USA the gas shielded processes are prodominent. The fluxes are basicly calcium flouride based, and the coverage area larger than stainless welding. Chemalloy Sparflux might be a place to start.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dale1990Thanks for the info!Funny side-note... When I searched for Chemalloy Sparflux on Google, this post came up #10.
Reply:You could build a welding cabinet (kinda looks like a parts blasting cabinet) and weld in an argon environment, contamination/purging problems are gone.
Reply:Some titanium welding does not require chambers.What is the configuration of your weldment?Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:What everyone else said, unless you have a place you get a DEAL on filler be prepared most LWS  don't stock Ti and will get you for Ten pounds min. I have seen it sell in smaller quantities online......I use 6AL4V for most of my motorcycle exhaust customers and it works fine........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Is there a section on the forum that I can get prices to get some Ti welding done? Thanks
Reply:Try Titanium Joe. You can buy small quantities in small sizes.http://www.titaniumjoe.com/Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...anium-welding/
Reply:Take look at the thread ! And i would look for bike framebuilder shop .    https://www.weldingweb.com/images/attach/jpg.gif     https://www.weldingweb.com/images/attach/jpg.gif      http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=46579   http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=43378 Attached Images