Here's my first attempt at making a 2-1 collector. I used some scrap mild steel pipe.

Harbor freight band saw works pretty darn well






action shot :P



and here is where i need help. for the life of me i cannot figure out how to go about welding the tightest point of the collector. i have issues where the arc wanders from one pipe over to the next rather then directly at the gap line. and as you can see, ends up burning a hole.







i did not backpurge these welds, i don't have the equipment to setup a backpurge line.
also, i realize the inside metal is horribly dirty(carbon buildup) but i wire brushed the outside for a while and cleaned the outside with rubbing alcohol.

im sure backpurging and further cleaning would have helped but this was again just my first attempt.

also heat range is a problem for me. on the welds along the sides i didn't have enough heat (as noted by the raised weld bead and lack of full penetration). but at that same heat level towards the top the arc would wander to one side and burn a hole (check the last few pics.)


This is scratch start tig welding with .045 mild wire, 100% argon at a flow rate of 20. i forget what size tungsten i have, its whatever came with the tig attachment.

So, some welding tips would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

-Luke

 

wire is too ------- big if it's mig, stop whoring the filler in the gaps

 

damn nice fit on the parts, but your welding needs some work. from the outside it looks like your not using enough power, but the inside looks like decent penetration. maybe slow down a little and slow down your wire speed

 

you said tig. what the ---- is wrong with you if you tig weld like this?

 

i suck at welding but dam man u are right there next to me and i only welded like twice in my life

 

drop the collector and PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE

 

You need to take a grinder and knock that thin layer of slag off the surface you will be welding. Cleanliness of the material is the only way to get a nice clean weld. The arc won't get down into that gap if it's full of non-conductive slag, hence the jumping around you were talking about. you gotta get some pipe without the carbon all over the inside. Welding on that shitty material is a waste of time.

 

how are you sharpening your tungsten? you should point it upward on the grinding wheel when you sharpen it, don't hold it sideways to the wheel. doing so will cause the arc to wander. try keeping your electrode a bit closer to your base metal, pull it out of the cup a bit if you have to. invest in a gas lense for better shielding.

 

Two words, grinder and wirewheel.


That's all.

 

damn, how did i miss that he said tig. DEE DA DEE