O/A Welding Applications

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Good day,It’s my first post here but have been lurking around for the past couple of weeks. I’m interested in getting an O/A setup. I have searched all around and picked the torch setup I am interested in it is the victor super range II. The projects I am interested in are projects such as, welding go kart chassis, motocross bike chassis, ATV chassis, some car fabrication, maybe some chopper bike chassis and so on. The problem is I would like to know if O/A welding will be suitable for my applications. I keep reading in other forums people welding with Tig, and Mig welders but hardly hear anything about welding with O/A. I know Tig or Mig would probably be the best for these sorts of applications, but I would really like to know if these sorts of things can be done with O/A sufficiently.Here is a link to the Victor O/A welding setup: https://www.mythermadyne.com/thc/en/...2508false%2508Thank you for your consideration.
Reply:Since my home didn't have 220v, I welded with O/A for many years (16 or so). The practical limit for O/A is 3/16". Yes, you can weld thicker; but 3/16" is a realistic limit. Since the weld is completely visable and controllable, I'm comfortable using 'whatever' filler I have available. Yes, RG-45 or RG-60 is the technical choice.RG-45 and RG-60 have a tensile strength of 45 and 60,000 psi. Mild steel is somewhere around 36k. So, both are stronger than the base metal.OBTW: go to the left side of any page (User CP) and add your location. Maybe someone can help you locally.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 08-22-2008 at 11:26 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:So it is practical to go for O/A for my sort of applications? I think at most I will be welding 1/8"... Also another question, if I have a welding tip that lets say is rated for 3/32" but want to weld something with a wall thickness of 5/64" would it be possible, or would I need the 5/64" tip? The reason I am asking is because I'm trying to dceide on the best welding tips to go with my welding kit. Which size welding tips would suit my applications? I am ordering my welding kit from here: http://store.cyberweld.com/visuraiiwecu.htmlAs you can see the kit allready comes with the #2 welding tip which is the 1/8" tip...Yes I am extremely new to this and am looking to order my kit next week, but won't start welding to December.
Reply:Originally Posted by Its_me2So it is practical to go for O/A for my sort of applications? I think at most I will be welding 1/8"... Also another question, if I have a welding tip that lets say is rated for 3/32" but want to weld something with a wall thickness of 5/64" would it be possible, or would I need the 5/64" tip? The reason I am asking is because I'm trying to dceide on the best welding tips to go with my welding kit. Which size welding tips would suit my applications? I am ordering my welding kit from here: http://store.cyberweld.com/visuraiiwecu.htmlAs you can see the kit allready comes with the #2 welding tip which is the 1/8" tip...Yes I am extremely new to this and am looking to order my kit next week, but won't start welding to December.
Reply:I just had to ask these questions, because I was reading a chopper building forum somewhere and someone asked about gas welding chopper chassis and most people said no stick to mig or tig. Just wondering why would be the disadvantages of welding with gas compared to welding with a Mig or Tig, for my applications?
Reply:Originally Posted by Its_me2I just had to ask these questions, because I was reading a chopper building forum somewhere and someone asked about gas welding chopper chassis and most people said no stick to mig or tig. Just wondering why would be the disadvantages of welding with gas compared to welding with a Mig or Tig, for my applications?
Reply:In the early days all motorcycle frames were welded with O/A because MIG and TIG didn't exist and sticks were in their infancy. I can show you gas pipelines in NM still in service welded entirely with O/A. I started riding bikes 40 years ago and all of the repairs and mods we made were done with O/A or sticks. Dad being into bikes as well his garage and driveway frequently looked more like a Harley shop than a garage. I had a lot of friends that rode and dad or I pretty much kept them all running. We dreamed up and built custom parts just because we could. O/A is the oldest of the 4 major processes. I personally feel it is the best way to start. Not a big outlay to get started and a really good way to learn about the heating, flow and fusing properties of metals which are very helpful when you move into the other processes. If I had to pick a favorite process I think O/A would be it even though I seldom ever use it anymore. Good luck and practice, practice, practice. One more thing; you can always turn a tip that is a bit too large for the material down, and the opposite is not true.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:The main drawback to A/O welding is speed. The neutral A/O flame is about 6000 degrees F. The electric arc is around 10,000 degrees F so it is self explanatory why TIG and especially MIG are faster. The faster the weld is made the less heat is induced into the parent metal and warping is significantly reduced. Also the longer the weld is kept above critical temperature the larger the grain growth in the weld deposit resulting in slightly reduced strength.That said, airplane frames of chrome-moly tubing used to be welded up with A/O and they had no problems. A/O is the easiest welding process to learn as you can readily see how deeply you are melting the parent metal and have time to control your puddle to keep it how it needs to be. If I wanted to build a motorcycle frame and A/O was all I had I wouldn't hesitate a minute. I would stress if you are not familiar with welding with A/O to learn how before attempting something like this and the same thing goes for any other process. The life you save might be your own.
Reply:Thanks for all the clarification; I was worried that O/A welding wouldn’t be right for my applications. I do know someone who does great O/A welding, and spoke to him in recent days and asked him to show me how to weld with O/A. Someone with experience like he has I should be fine to learn O/A, and start welding up some projects. Now I’m extremely anxious to get my O/A welding kit.