Welding questions..

basically i just want to weld a hardtail on my bike.. any advice to for MIG welding.. i'm planning on using 1 1/4" DOM tubing .120 thickness.. i've got a 130 MIG and just wondering is i can get solid welds using it.. will bevelling my cuts be a good idea... i want to make sure that i can get safe penetrating welds and still be able to pull off clean welds...

any info would be appreciated..

 

Oh no not another one.

Check out the Stick Welding thread.

 

ummm well....my Honest oppinion is to not give you the advice, and tell you to seek a professional welder for that kind of maintence. I think everyone should weld stuff on there bike, but not the frame. Imagine going down the road at 55 and a weld braking, your gonna eat shit and possibly Die, simply becuase you took the cheaper route. Sorry man, to sounds harsh, im all about being a do it all urself guy, but certain items need better welds.

 

if you take your time and measure everything you will be fine. i've been welding frames for a long time and don't be afraid of doing it you self. clean all the metal and make sure your temp and speed are good and u will be fine. any one can go and buy a hardtail but its cool when someone look at your bike and ask did you do all the work and you can say "yes I did".

 

FYI Cmccully04
shock frame are ALL MIG WELDS.

 

I was thinking the same about hard tailing

 

I don't know much about welding. I do know some about hardtails. I have the destroyed lower back to prove it

Have you had one before? If so, cool. If not, you might wanna make some solid struts, cut and holed to match the shocks' lengths, and put them on and ride it for a week or so to see if it's gonna be something you really want to do.

They look cool as hell, but they suck nard to ride....chances are you won't wanna take any long trips anymore...

 

i had a DR650 with about 8 inches travel in the back and that was just about right

 

I made that comment not to say any thing about hardtailing but to say there is a major dispute on the other thread about which type of welding method to use. You'll have to read "Stick Welding" to see what I mean

MN

 

i agree that it can't be pleasant to ride for longer trips.. i'm not looking for a touring bike... just something i can cruise to wing night on...it's basically an art piece that i'm looking to create.. comfort comes second....

as for welding it myself.. i've thought about it a lot... that's why i'm asking to be sure... i'm a perfectionist when it comes to anything..not a hacker who just wants to throw something together fast...i'm willing to take my time at it... cut pieces and practice and try to break the weld..then practice and practice and break and break some more till i get the speed and juice where i need it to be... it's not that i've never welded before (had training in university and worked on a lot of sculptures with it) just not with a 130... so i don't know it's capability....

the second option i was thinking is if i wasn't 100% sure of myself... then i'd just tac the frame together and bring it to a pro to be safe.... so i have thought of options... but at the same time..just want to get the best practice out of the thing and know some good tips to get the job done right...

i appreciate people's honesty saying that i shouldn't, or i should, just wish to get an answer of why or why not included with it.

 

Why is it that anytime you tell a group of bike riders your building a hardtail bobber theirs always a few guys that have to tell you that it will destroy your back or I wouldn't ride it cross country. Wow really of course it is not going to ride the same as a bike with shocks. With a good spring solo seat its not a bad ride. I'll park my xj hardtail bobber next to any stock xj and watch everyone trip over the stock bike to get to mine.

 

Barefoot I did mine the same way. I got everything the way I wanted it tacked it together. And had a buddy with a TIG welder weld it all up. You can not beat a tig weld for looks and strength. Just remember to weld your swing arm solid.

 

Bevel your cuts, you'll get a better joint weld.

 

wait let me break out my pom pom's..........


weld it yourself, and make sure its a solid weld by trying to break it before you put the bike on the street. practice makes perfect (or at least better). experiment with settings on scrap pieces the same size and joint type you want to weld on the bike. if you attempt and fail and do not feel comfortable doing it, then bring it to a pro. dont let the naysayers scare you away from saving money, using the welder you own, and working on your own bike.

one pointer i have for mig beads that look great is to push the bead. keep the wire going into the center of the puddle and push it right into the seam. pushing has shallower but wider penetration, and also lays the bead smoother. the shallower penetration is ok, but you want to v-groove the joint so you are penetrating through the entire joint rather than just on top of it.

another pointer, is to sleeve the inside of the joint. cut a piece of pipe to fit inside the joint at least 2" long, bridging the joint. you can then leave a nice gap at the joint and weld it shut. it makes for a very strong joint.


stay tuned for an overly arrogant, nugatory post.

 

Lol, again the "what welding process" war.
It just doesn't matter, it's the experience that matters.
I rather have an experienced welder stick weld my frame then have my friend weld it who just bought his first $200 chinese tig welder of off fleabay.

Every process has its pros and cons and limitations but they ALL are capable of welding a frame, since it's not the process that welds the frame but the welder.
Start laying beads, like hunderds of them on scrap metal, just make 100% sure you can make a structural weld before doing anything that can cause ur ass to bounch off the highway 'cause ur weld broke, after all it's ur ass on the line.

 

+1

 

I think this statement puts it together quite nicely. The key part is experience, followed by good technique. Nothing can substitute for experience. I weld things occasionally and it usually takes me about 15 min of 'practicing' before I can lay down a fairly nice bead. I always grind a bevel on my joints and make sure I get good penetration on the welds...I don't worry too much about how 'pretty' the weld is...that's what grinders are for lol
Check out youtube for vids on "hot-to" there are a bunch out there, some good...some not..

 

Wow you say you had a buddy tig weld your frame and all of the sudden he is some hillbilly who just bought and chinese tig welder off of ebay. Even though he uses lincoln welders and has been doing it for 15 years and I trust him with my life. Mig Tig or Stick all good just what you are good with.

 

What's the harm in getting Pro help on your project??

Get your seat professionally upulstered. Pay Robert to go thru your TCI box. I have a friend who worked on the "Back To The Future" ride as a welder and electrician. We worked together custom mounting my fairing. He used a wire fed welder (no gas) and the welds haven't cracked in 10,000 miles.

 

:?: No I didn't

 

What Pauluminous and I were getting at was all 3 styles of welding is fine for frame welding just make sure its done right. You can learn how with practice just don't jump in with blinds on.for your own safety. anxiuos to see how this turns out and good luck.