Oxy welding flat panels

[Burdekin]

Just thought I'd post a few pics of oxy welding two flat panels and controlling distortion. It's a slow process but an easy method to learn. No filler used. I'm no pro so just posting for a bit of knowledge for folk.

 

[galooph]

Nice one, you got a good even HAZ there

 

[Shedendman]

Did you tack the ends 1st?

 

[Burdekin]

No, start at one end. I do it like Peter Tommasini shows in his youtube vid:

Also he's got 10 excellent metal shaping DVDs available for anyone into metal shaping.

 

[galooph]

Also he's got 10 excellent metal shaping DVDs available for anyone into metal shaping.

Couldn't agree more! I've got all 10 and I'll snap up number 11 when it's released too

Not only is Peter super talented, he's a really nice guy and always happy to offer advice.

 

[Burdekin]

Yep totally agree. He's always on the forums offering up his advice. We're having the Viking metal meet 10th anniversary next year in Denmark and hoping he can make it out for that.

 

[galooph]

I'd love to get along to one of the metal meets sometime and meet the gang from the forums, even more so if Peter could make it over!

 

[Burdekin]

I've been to a couple of the Viking meets, great bunch of guys and would recommend going if you can.

 

[galooph]

Very tempting! Is it still scheduled for June 23rd? Might be able to go if I can get Dad booked in for a week of respite care, but won't know that until closer to the time.

 

[the snooper]

Doesn't OA put in 3 times the heat of a mig

 

[Bill Edwards]

Doesn't OA put in 3 times the heat of a mig

Probably.
You've so much control with it though, you can put as much metal as you want where you want.
There's far less dressing down of welds to do after with O/A.

I believe it also looks better on something which is later galvanised.

 

[the snooper]

Probably.
You've so much control with it though, you can put as much metal as you want where you want.
There's far less dressing down of welds to do after with O/A.

I believe it also looks better on something which is later galvanised.

I haven't welded with OA for over 20 years, used it purely for heat and that's it

 

[Bill Edwards]

I haven't welded with OA for over 20 years, used it purely for heat and that's it

I love it and find it more enjoyable than any other processes.
There's very little call for it though when there's a MIG available (in my work anyway) because there's a big speed difference and the heat - it's easy to set a vehicle on fire with O/A welding.
I mainly get to use it for bodging up very thin rusty rubbish.

 

[brightspark]

I love it and find it more enjoyable than any other processes.
There's very little call for it though when there's a MIG available (in my work anyway) because there's a big speed difference and the heat - it's easy to set a vehicle on fire with O/A welding.
I mainly get to use it for bodging up very thin rusty rubbish.

and that's where it scores over mig hands down. its easy to weld dissimilar thickness metals and u don't have to grind a load of weld off when finished

 

[Turbo]

It's years since I did any o/a welding but I think I'm right in thinking that you need less prep as the process naturally burns away surface rust as you weld.

 

[Burdekin]

Doesn't OA put in 3 times the heat of a mig

The stress seems to be in the weld so after welding you planish the welds and remove the distortion. As brighspark said you don't get the build up like mig to grind flat and the weld is softer and more pliable.

A friend in Denmark does restoration for a living and all he uses is oxy, his welds and work is lovely. With a bit of know how for welding panels it's the way to go if you can I think.

 

[Burdekin]

It's years since I did any o/a welding but I think I'm right in thinking that you need less prep as the process naturally burns away surface rust as you weld.

I'm not sure, I always try and get things clean and shiny. Ideally you want the edges butted together with no gaps so you have to take extra care when cutting repair sections.

For me it's quite a bit slower though. I did some welding last night and the tacking and planishing took me a while.

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's years since I did any o/a welding but I think I'm right in thinking that you need less prep as the process naturally burns away surface rust as you weld.

I try to get everything clean when doing a job properly.

But, I have welded plenty of rust, paint and galv with no prep and it still welds OK. The extra heat seems to burn galv off before the pool gets to it.

 

[brightspark]

I try to get everything clean when doing a job properly.

But, I have welded plenty of rust, paint and galv with no prep and it still welds OK. The extra heat seems to burn galv off before the pool gets to it.

same as stick welding it does 2

 

[Bill Edwards]

same as stick welding it does 2

It's far, far better. Stick does tend to get affected quite badly, especially if you haven't much power available.