Dick, If you intend to work on lsr cars / street rods / homebuilt
motorcycles
and the like for a number of years yet, the best way to go is to get yourself
a TIG welding ( also referred to as HELIARC ) outfit .... this is how the PROS
do it, and to me it is the ULTIMATE way to fasten metal together : aluminum
(or as it is known in the UK : ALUMINIUM ),stainless steel, regular carbon
steel, titanium, magnesium, copper, and cast iron . You said that you can
gas weld ..... TIG is much the same, torch in one hand, filler rod in the
other,
only the heat for the arc is supplied by electricity, and the inert gas is
for the
purpose of shielding the weld zone only, whether argon, helium, or carbon
dioxide ...... or mixes like 75 % helium / 25 % argon, etc. ...... it all
depends on WHAT you are welding on .
My take is ..... IF you can afford to do some serious racing, and IF
you will be building the car(s) yourself, and IF you can visualize yourself
being ABLE to do this for at least a few more years ..... then you should
do yourself a BIG FAVOR and get TIG welding for your shop .
IF you were a racer who is mainly an engine builder type, and does
just a little welding on the car, or NONE, and farms all of that out to
friends
or pro shops, then this advice might not apply to you ..... everybody has
to figure out what they really need versus the cost, and how often will they
need to use that equipment, and will the equipment they already have
get the job done ..... to their satisfaction .
Much of the great technology in hot rodding and race car building
came to us from the aircraft industry, which is one of industry' s main
cutting edges in metalworking, and I believe the TIG process was developed
by North American Aircraft in the early 40s ...... but I might be incorrect
on that . Check out the welding you see on any modern airplanes .....
I do every time I' m getting on an airliner .... some nice looking welds
there, and rivet work, too !
Several thoughts there ......
YA PAYS YER MONEY & MAKES YER CHERCE
Bruce
BTW : When I started gas welding (1954) the word " torch " meant the
CUTTING torch ..... when we actually welded metal together with the
smaller tips screwed onto the same handle, this was technically referred to
as an oxy - acetylene blowpipe .....at least according to the manufacturer .
In those days every garage and body shop had oxy - acetylene welding
..... but they did NOT all have arc welding .....
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