metal pipe play helicopter

[37ford4dr]

i am building this for the grand kids, it will have running lights, a swivel spot light, potentiometers that move the gauges and switches that control lights, a tractor or motorcyle battery and solar panel, a "rescue basket" and problay painted orange and white for USCG colors

[6Boys]

This is cool. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[rugrat]

Cool looking project. I await the progress and finished stage photos.

[Welder Dave]

What are you welding it with? Cool project but the welds look suspect.

[37ford4dr]

welds are ugly for sure......1/8 and 1/16 E6013, i have some 5/64 coming in a day or two.

I have gotten so spoiled my by MIG welding I havent touched stick welding in over 20 years. so i figured i would force myself to use the stick welder for this project and just keeping adding metal to the ugly spots. its strong as hell but corresponding ugly. any horizontal straight line welds looks really pretty, going around the tubing is less then desirable, its strong but really ugly, I figured I would just keep stick welding and do grinding to clean it up and if i need to clean up any areas either TIG weld it or MIG weld it.

I will admit I am having fun stick welding even though its not very pretty.

[OPUS FERRO]

37ford4dr

I have gotten so spoiled my by MIG welding I havent touched
stick welding in over 20 years. so i figured i would force myself
to use the stick welder for this project and just keeping adding
metal to the ugly spots.

I will admit I am having fun stick welding even though its not very
pretty.

Any stick, on pipe this small is 'last choice' - as noted, your product is
poor - and will do 'next to nothing' to advance your welding skills.

Dressing [grinding] on pipe joints this small only makes things uglier.
With proper joinery and MIG - it could have looked cast . . .

Conversely - big kudos for original design - for the Kiddies - at an age
when they will keep the memory of their Grandfather for life . . .

hth


Opus



ps - Tear Drop's - make me weak in the knees . . .




.

[37ford4dr]

interesting observation, I knew I could do it with the MIG and it would look really good and be pretty fast, TIG would just take too long.
I didnt realize that the stick welding was the last choice ( to start with) but I can tell you I certainly am living that observation and reality at this point. it was an effort getting good fitments of the tubes to each other. I look at these fun projects as just challenges to push my abilities and to learn new things, after all it just a kids toy to play in. thanks for the observations, bob

Any stick, on pipe this small is 'last choice' - as noted, your product is
poor - and will do 'next to nothing' to advance your welding skills.

Dressing [grinding] on pipe joints this small only makes things uglier.
With proper joinery and MIG - it could have looked cast . . .

Conversely - big kudos for original design - for the Kiddies - at an age
when they will keep the memory of their Grandfather for life . . .

hth


Opus



ps - Tear Drop's - make me weak in the knees . . .




.

[tapwelder]

Nice project. Wonderful you can do it for the grands.

Stick should be fine. No need to use 5/64. Isn't that stuff 1/8 thick? I would do 6011 at 3/32. Aside from pilot error, perhaps metal quality is an issue? I just think 6011 is more forgiving at different amperages. 6013 needs to be dialed in a bit closer to keep slag holidays to a minimum.

However, 6013 would run nice and clean if you can figure it out.

Not sure how much slower TIG would be given the cleanup required after stick.

[37ford4dr]

thanks for the input i appreciate it , I just looked at the rods I was using they were 3/32 not 1/8 (sorry i got that wrong before). I did try the 3/32 6011 thinking it might be a better choice and it was really "jumpy" on me and i could not get it started as easily as the 6013

the thickness of 1/2 sch40 is .109 and the 3/4 sch40 is .113

the biggest problem I had was with the 1/2 pipe to the 3/4 pipe connections, and I am sure its a combination of my skills on every level....and maybe less then the highest quality product, but lets blame my stick skills first. I dont get too stressed about these things its not like its a show car....and its just for fun.

I dont intend to do much clean up on it just a quick hit with a flap wheel to make sure its somewhat smooth. the 3/4 pipe was much easier to weld then the 1/2.
the next warm day i get i will clean it up and perhaps do some nice 1" long horizontal beads on the joints to make it look prettier. I can do those nice and pretty its following the tubing around the circumference that is challenging for me.

thanks bob

Nice project. Wonderful you can do it for the grands.

Stick should be fine. No need to use 5/64. Isn't that stuff 1/8 thick? I would do 6011 at 3/32. Aside from pilot error, perhaps metal quality is an issue? I just think 6011 is more forgiving at different amperages. 6013 needs to be dialed in a bit closer to keep slag holidays to a minimum.

However, 6013 would run nice and clean if you can figure it out.

Not sure how much slower TIG would be given the cleanup required after stick.

[123weld]

looks like alot of work for a play toy. i probabaly woulda took the kids to that orange homedepot cart, and said "heres ur helicopter" - alot easier. bein ur this far into it, might as well hang it from that big tree across at the neighbors, and let the kids crawl up into it

[37ford4dr]

looks like alot of work for a play toy. i probabaly woulda took the kids to that orange homedepot cart, and said "heres ur helicopter" - alot easier. bein ur this far into it, might as well hang it from that big tree across at the neighbors, and let the kids crawl up into it

my sons yard has a steep incline towards the neighbors yard, i expect one side of the helicopter will be at grade level and the other side will be 24" - 30" off grade ....good for rescue basket and jumping out. as for the work this is just for fun and i look forward to playing in it with them. i figure the kids will play in it until they are 10 or 11 so it can get passed around to other family members.

[123weld]

in the 90's i woked in a machine shop w/ a guy, that had a orange mustach w/ wax rolled in each end. he was a clever maticulous guy. he was a helicopter pilot/medic in vietnam, and to work, he carried his vietnam medic case, as a briefcase each day. he told me he had a helicopter he was putting together in his shop, that was 25+ yrs ago. about 2 yrs ago, im standing in line at jc pennys, a guy w/ a orange mastach rolled up on end, walks up to me and asks, where i know u from? i said, the machine shop. then i asked him if he ever got his helicopter going. his wife laughed, and said, everyone asks him that. anyway, have fun

[Continuum]

Looks like a nice project. And the GK will label you no1 in the family.

I see great mission creep potential. You should add a wood copter blade that turns from an old pedal and bike sprocket. Maybe put on a 3DOF pivot to improve flight experience

Welds are a tad rough. 6013 is a bugger if cold. Looks like black pipe. Suggest cleaning the coating and dusting to bare metal. Run 6013 to about 130 A and do more of a button weld on one or two sides since flight strength is not critical. It will weld just fine.

Will be a project that is always remembered by the family.

Regards