Oxygen & acetylene welding

[blacksheep]

what are uses of oxy/acetylene welding (not brazing). ive been thinking alot about it and couldnt think of any uses for it. because i was thinking about taking a class on it, but didnt know if it was even worth it

[Brainfarth]

Learning to weld with OA will help you in the long run with your puddle manipulation in various other processes and directly relates to TIG welding steels of sorts. As for the practicality of using OA, I couldn't tell you. Fortunately I have not been put in a position where I had to use it other than to braze.

[ddsmith]

I believe some air frames using Chrome-Moly tubing are OA welded. At least that is what I saw on the TV. There is a group called E.A.A or E.E.A that's always involved in Oskosh fly in that has information on building a plane at home.

[wroughtn_harv]

Originally Posted by blacksheep

what are uses of oxy/acetylene welding (not brazing). ive been thinking alot about it and couldnt think of any uses for it. because i was thinking about taking a class on it, but didnt know if it was even worth it

My first rule of welding. If you aren't melting metal you aren't welding. That's why I say when you burn a hole you're closer to welding than when you aren't.

That said. I believe the first thing everyone should learn is to gas weld. Because there you are learning what is happening and how to work it.

Learn to gas weld. The rest of it is a lot easier if you have learned the basics.

Besides that, some of the best weldor-artists use gas almost exclusively to weld up aluminum and stainless. It takes skill. But isn't that what welding's about?

[julmer]

I find that OA works well in some maintenance and repair welding. I used it a lot to repair thin sheet metal. Things happen slower with OA and you have a lot of control.

[Bugs66]

Originally Posted by blacksheep

what are uses of oxy/acetylene welding (not brazing). ive been thinking alot about it and couldnt think of any uses for it. because i was thinking about taking a class on it, but didnt know if it was even worth it

O/A welding is still very strong in the homebuilt aviation community. A proven method in aircraft building since the 1920's. The main advantage over TIG is the lower cost in equipment, easier for beginners because it's slower. If you are real good, you can weld aluminum with O/A too.

I am a beginner but very much like O/A welding. $1500 for a decent TIG machine is more than I care to spend. For now, I'm happy with my Meco Midget torch for welding 4130 thinwall tubing.

See the fuselage section of this website: http://www.mybearhawk.com/ for some great close photos of how nice you can O/A weld 4130 tubing. I am working on getting good as him for my project.

[wroughtn_harv]

Originally Posted by Bugs66

O/A welding is still very strong in the homebuilt aviation community. A proven method in aircraft building since the 1920's. The main advantage over TIG is the lower cost in equipment, easier for beginners because it's slower. If you are real good, you can weld aluminum with O/A too.

I am a beginner but very much like O/A welding. $1500 for a decent TIG machine is more than I care to spend. For now, I'm happy with my Meco Midget torch for welding 4130 thinwall tubing.

See the fuselage section of this website: http://www.mybearhawk.com/ for some great close photos of how nice you can O/A weld 4130 tubing. I am working on getting good as him for my project.

You might check out a Henrob. If you've ever seen that first Jesse James biker show they show him welding up aluminum with a Henrob. I've got one. I don't use it for aluminum. But if I need to gas weld I prefer it over a Victor set.

One thing I did find enteresting about your link's welds. They look similar to my arc welds on galvanized.

[Bugs66]

Originally Posted by wroughtn_harv

You might check out a Henrob. If you've ever seen that first Jesse James biker show they show him welding up aluminum with a Henrob. I've got one. I don't use it for aluminum. But if I need to gas weld I prefer it over a Victor set.

One thing I did find enteresting about your link's welds. They look similar to my arc welds on galvanized.

Nice looking arc welds for sure! The Henrobs are very nice. The consensous is if you have one, to keep using it. Otherwise for 4130 gas welding, anyone should seriously consider the Meco Midget. The Midget with the light weight hoses is a joy to use. See http://www.tinmantech.com/html/meco_midget_torch.html for more info.

Arc welding on tubing has got to be challenging. I guess it depends on material thickness. I've never seen anyone try to arc weld thinwall 4130 tubing. Wonder how feasible it is?

[Gas Ax]

OA welding is popular in the metal shaping world as it leaves a softter weld. This makes it easier to hammer and blend into the panel being formed. Also with the slower process you are less likely to burn big ugly holes in the sheet metal.

[kevbo]

Originally Posted by Gas Ax

OA welding is popular in the metal shaping world as it leaves a softter weld. This makes it easier to hammer and blend into the panel being formed. Also with the slower process you are less likely to burn big ugly holes in the sheet metal.

All true, AND (like TIG) you control the amount of filler independant of the heat. So you can make good welds without large beads that need lots of filing, grinding or planishing.

[asharrow]

I read and been told that because OA heats a joint more evenly there is less trouble with warping a fuselage or ending up with a brittle joint.

[Robin Hood]

Heeeeyyy The good ole days of O/A, cut the pipes off the car and put them back with a coat hanger.....

[Robinson Welding]

perhaps one of o/a's greatest attributes is that is completely self contained. In other words, no outlets needed or any other external power source. This means it can be used in the middle of the woods carried on a four wheeler, unlike a heavy welder/ generator. On the other hand, it is just plan fun, kinda like playing with fire, without the negative social consequences!