Keith :
GAS WELDING IS NOT THE SAME AS BRAZING .
Brazing is a form of soldering, with flux and brass rod ...... it has its
place in some things automotive ..... building headers is not one of these .
Way back in the distant 50s, before I got an arc welder, I gas welded
tow bars, bumper brackets, engine hoisting rigs and stands, and everything
else that needed to be hitched ..... out of sheer necessity ! I have even
gas welded 3 / 8 "steel plate successfully ( but would never do it again, for
a number of obvious reasons ..... plus the heat hitting my face from that
largest welding tip would make a hot day on the salt seem like a cool
breeze by comparison ..... a VERY inappropriate way to weld thicknesses
like that, even if it stood the test of time ! I do not own a TIG set up,
unfortunately, but it is basically gas welding without the shielding gas
......
while I am proud of the headers I gas welded in the early 60s, they do
not measure up to the excellent TIG welds Doug got on the headers we
built for Black Radon ..... TIG IS the way to fly on most racecar stuff !
I used to even stick weld flanges on headers and exhaust systems
using 6013 AC rod, and it worked very well ..... but nowadays I would
utilize MIG ( electronic caulking ! ) on this and many other jobs that I
formerly handled with stick welding ..... we used MIG when we chopped
Darrell' s Impala ..... but like Joe from Delaware says ..... it does produce
a hard weld bead ! I agree with both Joe' s statements, and those of
Dave the hayseed ..... stick welding can produce welds with excellent
penetration, strength, and still look very good, too ..... I have seen many
very good cages that were stick welded ( and some awful ones, both
stick and MIG welded ! ) Most good welding depends on good surface
preparation, and the welder' s SKILL , of course ..... the old " Practice
makes Perfect " bit . Those tin side V8 60s did have pretty fair welding,
but next time you see an unpainted aircraft bellytank, check out the
full circumference welds on the seams ...... absolute JEWELRY !!!
( because machines have steadier " hands " than we do ! )
Just a few of my thoughts on this, Keith, but remember, next time
you are BRAZING two pieces of metal together in your shop ......
you are NOT gas welding !
Bruce, who learned that while the price was RIGHT, the coat hangers
from my Mom' s closet did not make the BEST welds .......
FORTY FIVE years ago !
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