welding piper channel ?

[tim bandy]

I've been struggling to Tig weld the .020 piper channel. Mostly where it is welded to thicker items
(which is pretty much anywhere its used )

It looks like thats just past my skill level in some orientations.
Does anyone else have difficulty with this super thin stuff ?

Would a meco midjet OA torch be the better way for paper thin steel ?

Just wondering what most of you do on that----
(chill blocks helps -- but does not fix completely-----)

Tim

[Stephen]

I would gas weld using a small light weight torch.

[teammoose]

Is mig welding an option?

[dgapilot]

Is mig welding an option?

As a general rule, mig is not an acceptable welding method on airframes. TIG and gas are the primary methods used in the field.

For thin wall materials, mig would be hard to get an acceptable weld. Before I would use it, I’d want to do a number of test welds, then cut and etch them to insure adequate penetration.


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[wyandot jim]

I've been struggling to Tig weld the .020 piper channel. Mostly where it is welded to thicker items
(which is pretty much anywhere its used )

It looks like thats just past my skill level in some orientations.
Does anyone else have difficulty with this super thin stuff ?

Would a meco midjet OA torch be the better way for paper thin steel ?

Just wondering what most of you do on that----
(chill blocks helps -- but does not fix completely-----)

Tim

I would and have welded it with OA and a 00 or 000 tip. I have two TIG rigs and gave up on using them on anything that flies. The size of the mixing barrel isn't as important as the tip size. I welded up most of my Starduster Too with a Victor (size large) 415 before I bought a Victor J-27 mixing barrel.

A weeeeeeeeeee bit of welding

[RickF]

With all types of welding the key is practice, practice, practice.
In this situation 90 percent of the heat you apply will be to the thicker material.

Rick

[Frank Green]

I'm pretty good with mig but for tig I call upon a friend of mine's son who could literally weld the bottom of 2 beer cans together. He says the trick is you can't make a puddle and feed the rod into it cause the rod is sometimes thicker than the base. You put the rod in position and start the arc on the rod and stitch it in with a lot of patience and practice. And a steady hand. Can be done. I've watched him in amazement.

[Frank Green]

I would gas weld using a small light weight torch.

That's how the women (yes mostly) did it at the factory.

[keith weber]

There are several certified airplanes that are mig welded

[dgapilot]

There are several certified airplanes that are mig welded

Yes, but using controlled procedures.


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