New guy, critique my Welds

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Hello all! Ive been welding as a hobby for a few years now, mostly to complete projects on my old 300zx. Ive used a small lincoln 140 mig for a few projects with good success. Here is a suspension arm i modified:Heres a few more pics of the car.. Currently installing a new custom manifold/turbo setup and cleaning/painting the bay: ... Which brings me to my current project.. Learning to Tig so i can do the replumbing of the piping (exhaust/intake) myself. So far ive been focusing on the aluminum intake and intercooler plumbing. Machine is 70s hobart 300 with freq adjust. Works well. Water cooled torch, 1/16 tungsten, 1/16 4043 rod. This is my first time ever TIG welding.. After getting a feel on some flat plate and doing some butts/corner joints i moved to the 2.5" intercooler pipe.Day 1, about 3hrs spent practicing:Day 2, made "totem of TIG", keeping track of settings. Overall i used more heat and went faster as i progressed. Also increased frequency from 60 to 100hz (max).Day 2, end of totem, about 3hrs of practice. So what do you guys think?
Reply:I think they must be good, because nobody's responding. Welcome.(either that, or they're all jealous of the fun you're having with that Z..)LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX
Reply:Hoping this is for "off road"These spots in red are questionable. Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Hey Mike,Your welds look decent, although, I do agree with David R on the (2) areas he highlighted. I would suggest you take a die grinder & remove as much of those (2) areas as possible & re-weld them. As far as your aluminum welding, I do applaud your efforts to do exactly what you have done......start, record settings, evaluate results, & determine what needs improved. That is what I "preach" on occasion to the youngsters/newbies to learn how to progress to the stage of optimum. Your last pic definitely proved your perseverence to "get-it-right". Doing setups prior to a start on ANY project will make the project so much easier & better as to results. Ok....clean up those indicated areas & post follow-up pics.BTW..... for those who never had a Z, or the opportunity to drive one, they will never know the superb power & road-handling performance that is inherent with the Z. Mine was a non-turbo because of the exorbitant added insurance coverage $$$$. It had 186K before I had to start replacing components such as starter, water pump/timing assem., & alternator. I sold it last year for the same $$$ I paid for it back in '93 & it had 202K on it & still ran like a Swiss watch. Here's a pic of the one I had......Denny Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Welcome to the forum man!! You're off to a good start with the "Tig Totem", but unfortunately your mig welds are wayyyyy too cold. 110v migs dont have the heat for much... Id recommend grinding those welds out and either tigging them or sticking them with your tig machine.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Thank you everyone for your feedback. I see what you are thinking on those MIG welds, they don't have great penetration into the material, and it may have been too thick for the welder settings.  Those suspension arms were built a couple years back, and have been in service since then. I've recently inspected them for cracks and they are still holding up. I will certainly consider some re-work on them. The TIG Totem/learning is recent from this week. I have been practicing a lot, tried green and orange tungsten and different settings of the welder. I found we have a nice tungsten sharpener at work so that has been great.. I have been setting the tip length at 2.5x tungsten diameter.A professional welding friend said I need to dab less per inch travelled.. not sure if you guys have any input on that (in regards to above pictures of 2.5" alum pipe).Here is a very condensed build thread on the car. http://www.xceedspeed.com/forums/sho...=154645&page=1Some more details on myself... Always been excited to learn, work hard and hands on.. graduated with mech. engineering degree last year and accepted full time position at custom hydraulics supplier. Worked as technician/apprentice throughout highschool doing small engine repair. Used to race and repair motocross, then got into the cars.  Have dabbled in fabrication to support my hobbies.  Here are some coilover adapters I machined and paid to have welded;Here is a recent project I did last week.. Relocated steering rack for more steering angle, and made new engine mount which locates the engine further back in the chassis (shift weight to rear).  I did this with a friends 220V Lincoln MIG gun. Its not the cleanest welding and I got a lot of spatter. The pictures aren't the greatest..This is .134" wall pipe:Result: [img]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p280/Mike_Gruizinga/Z-Car/2010-11%20Rebuild/Comparison.jpg[img/]Oil cooler adapter block I machined up:Next project is a new intake manifold I am working on. Need to weld aluminum tubing to cast plenum.  I have been reading a lot and practicing on some scrap to get my setup right.  I am trying to duplicate this:Have been practicing on a spare cast manifold. Sandblast, wire brush, acetone. Then preheat with propane.  I would make a cleaning pass, then lay the filler down after that. Used 150-300amps setting, 3/32 filler, 3/32 tungsten. I found the tungsten was "burning up" after awhile...perhaps I need 1/8" tungsten for this?I also found the cratering hard to control.. My understanding is that i need to slowly reduce pedal and feed rod at the end of the weld. Perhaps I just need practice..Weld on left was after about 10-15 different trials:Again thank you for the input!Last edited by Mike_GruiZinga; 12-07-2011 at 01:13 PM.
Reply:car is looking good - Sounds like as it goes you're finding more and more use for the welder. Interested in seeing your tig progress. Keep at it, time in the seat already showed after your 2nd day session and better settings.Hobart Handler 125 #500495Miller Diversion 165 #907005 (tig learning box)
Reply:With the cast, run the torch over it before you weld it to bring the "stuff" up to the top.  It makes life easier.Post 6 picture 6 and 7, I don't know how  you got the spatter.  Torch too far from work?DavidLast edited by David R; 12-07-2011 at 03:40 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RWith the cast, run the torch over it before you weld it to bring the "stuff" up to the top.  It makes life easier.Post 6 picture 6 and 7, I don't know how  you got the spatter.  Torch too far from work?David
Reply:I think some of the spatter was powersteering fluid actually...Though I sandblasted the part, I think leaked PS fluid/grease over the years was inside the crossmember.  I smelled some burning oil while welding it and noticed the spatter.Dave, I do not have access to a torch at the moment. Perhaps doing more "cleaning passes" would work? Or any other alternates you might mention
Reply:Originally Posted by Mike_GruiZingaI think some of the spatter was powersteering fluid actually...Though I sandblasted the part, I think leaked PS fluid/grease over the years was inside the crossmember.  I smelled some burning oil while welding it and noticed the spatter.Dave, I do not have access to a torch at the moment. Perhaps doing more "cleaning passes" would work? Or any other alternates you might mention
Reply:Okay, havent tackled my intake manifold project yet, but i did do complete an intercooler pipe.Overall i think it was fairly succesful/functional.  One question i had.. My welds on the pipe turned out sort of "shiny" while the welds on the BOV flange were more "dull".. Any ideas?On another note, i bought my own helmet. Ive been using a **** $40 autodark and it was giving me some flash and headaches. This is the new lincoln 3350. Picked it up for $180, and its been working awesome:
Reply:for how little time you've had with the tig, it looks like your welds improved quite a bit. Looking forward to more updates on your buildHobart Handler 125 #500495Miller Diversion 165 #907005 (tig learning box)