Bruce, you might ask around and see what they use to weld together those
NASCAR chassis with.
Jim in Palmdale where it actually SNOWED last night, well technically it was
snow but it was only 1/4 inch thick
----- Original Message -----
From: <FastmetalBDF@aol.com>
To: <lsr_man@yahoo.com>; <Nt788@aol.com>; <LGMCAFEE@aol.com>;
<land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 11:10 AM
Subject: Re: Welding 101
> 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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