scale chassis welding..

[an1mal_69]

I'm attempting a 1:10 scale toyota chassis build.

The material is 3mm, but obviously not much of it..around 7mm depth at the front crossmember. I'm a TIG newbie and this is proving 'fiddly' to say the least, any input on setup? Im using a 1.6 tungsten @ around 40A with a No5 shield, even with a freshly ground tip, its being a pig doing the tiny little internal corners.

I'll get some pics up when I attack it again...

 

[Norm]

can't help with advice as to the set up, as my tig welding needs a mahoosive amount more practice, but would love to see some pics as it sounds an interesting project are you working from a set of plans or do you have the real thing for measurements?

 

[langy]

I'm attempting a 1:10 scale toyota chassis build.

The material is 3mm, but obviously not much of it..around 7mm depth at the front crossmember. I'm a TIG newbie and this is proving 'fiddly' to say the least, any input on setup? Im using a 1.6 tungsten @ around 40A with a No5 shield, even with a freshly ground tip, its being a pig doing the tiny little internal corners.

I'll get some pics up when I attack it again...

Gas lens and more amps needed

 

[hotrodder]

Tell us more and post some pics (preferably uploaded to the forum as the ones in your other thread have all vanished). 40A is enough to get a small weldpool on some 3mm even with a fillet BUT it won't be big enough to accept any filler wire without freezing- especially if you're trying to use 1.6mm wire. If you're trying to produce tiny little welds due to the scale thing then you're gonna need some 1mm or thinner wire*, a VERY short arc length and no caffine jitters/DT's


* can straighten some MIG wire by clamping one end in a vice, the other in a drill and with under a little tension give it a spin. Weldequip sells 1mm TIG wire in small maintenance packs and a few places (IIRC R-tech is one) sell 1kg packs which can make more sense if you're not using it every day

 

[biffa]

If the fit up is good you could just fuse it, other wise Lots of practice, if you had a bigger lens, you could bend the tip of the tungsten slightly so it is easier to point into the corner and stick the tungsten out further

 

[an1mal_69]

cheers guys, I'll try the bigger lens and turn the juice up a bit, have to work quick then tho..jeeez..lol I dont mind the weld looking to scale, thats just nuts, maybe on chassis no.100+

Its measured from my hilux Surf, only a proof of concept this one,the chassis rails are around 60mm wide,so 6mm plate would be better, maybe for no.2 If i get time to work on it tomorrow, I'll grab some pics..I've cocked up photobucket somehow

 

[Norm]

Don't use photobucket, Upload direct to the forum, better for everyone and won't go missing

 

[an1mal_69]

Ok, can't upload with the iPad so photobucket it is for now..

Pretty chuffed with it..bottled the little fillets on the front crossmember tho..

 

[hotrodder]

Cleaning the millscale/surface rust off will make it easier. The front crossmember, specifically the gussets, are gonna be a bitch but they don't need a continuous weld... i would of tacked 'em at the ends, get a puddle on the chassis add a dab of wire and wash it into the tip of the gusset

 

[langy]

As Hotrodder said the metal needs to be really clean, the job will go much easier then, I would use a gas lens and a 1mm tungsten and 1mm wire, It shouldn't be that difficult then.

 

[justmental]

i agree with hotrodder and Langy the metal needs cleaning one thing with tig is clean clean clean and clean again.