Anyone welded a pop can?

[ak4130]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moose

So, having tried this twice without success, I'm hoping one of you guys with the magic touch will spill the beans and post a step by step tutorial on your method and settings for those of us that are losing big bucks destroying pop cans instead of recycling them Yeah, I've read the whole thread. What are you doing to get the arc started without blowing through the can? Heat concentrated on the can or on the filler rod? Inverter settings? Etc...

Who's first?

SCRUB/sand/clean the living $%&^$&* out of the can
..

Start the arc on the filler but then pull the filler out at the right time,before it balls up -you only got a second or two..
Once you can get a few nice tacks in you can weld it ..

and i dont have a magic touch lol. burned through half the recycling bin and that is what kinda almost finally
worked for me

[StevefromOhio]

Heck, tig welding that is a cinch.

Try stick welding beer cans....full beer cans shaken vigorously.....now that is welding.

[Bob Warner]

Tried to embed but can't.

Here is a guy welding foil together. Pretty cool




http://youtu.be/EHZJ1irRYBI

[B_C]

Originally Posted by StevefromOhio

Heck, tig welding that is a cinch.

Try stick welding beer cans....full beer cans shaken vigorously.....now that is welding.

Pics please........lmao!

[VPT]

I'd rather see the video!

[David Hillman]

In case anyone is curious, here's what happens when a rank amateur welder tries this. I have about 12 hours of arc time, according to the timer on my Syncrowave. This was also the first time I tried to weld anything cylindrical.









Syncrowave 180SD
.040 ceriated
#5 cup

First two passes were at 20 amps with 1/16 4043, foot to the floor. Last pass was 30 amps max and 3/32 4043. I wish I had some smaller filler for the first pass, I think that would've been easier. The cans didn't start warping until the 30a pass. I can't believe how much filler it took to fill that whole gap!

I recommend trying this. Sticking them together was not particularly hard. I didn't blow any holes until I got a little careless with the 30a on the last pass. Making it look professional, on the other hand, is still way beyond me, as you'd expect. It was great practice, though and I learned more than a few things.

[MikeGyver]

Done a while ago on a Lincoln Precision TIG 185 with a 3/32 tungsten.

[StevefromOhio]

With aluminum so high now a days, I would think that practicing welding pop cans would be perfect to practice on. Buying scrap pieces are getting pretty pricey. Plus, can welding can really show if you are doing things correctly or not. Such thin material will show every little mistake. If you can weld that thin of a material, then you can weld the thick stuff too.

[zank]

I gave it a shot today.


Beer can bikes? by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr


Custom aluminum tubing by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

[Brainfarth]

Looks good. Now I have to figure out how stack dimes around the handles. I goofed off at work the other day and made another. 1/16 green tungsten, anywhere from 60 to 5 amps and no pulse.

[B_C]

This was fun.....