LocostBuilders - powered by XMB

Welding in the tightest of spots?

TimC - 22/1/12 at 07:31 PM

Evening all,

Where I've welded two tubes together on my chassis, I've left a join unwelded as it seems impossible to get the torch in the corner. Should someone be able to tig this or are there other alternatives like 'liquid metal?'

loggyboy - 22/1/12 at 07:37 PM

With a mig? just let the wire feed in to the gap, you might loose some gas sheilding but should be fine for the inch of weld.

TimC - 22/1/12 at 07:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
With a mig? just let the wire feed in to the gap, you might loose some gas sheilding but should be fine for the inch of weld.

I'm something of a novice, presumably gravity would help? Should I up the gas-speed to try to compensate?

Minicooper - 22/1/12 at 07:40 PM

Turn the gas up and the wire feed slightly and weld as normal, although it looks too far away, it is easy to do, practice on a few bits of scrap first

Cheers
David

silverback - 22/1/12 at 07:40 PM

As stated just before I replied, with a mig just nicely fill it in bit by bit untill you have completely welded the area .

blakep82 - 22/1/12 at 07:42 PM

and rather than get the tip at 90 degrees to the bit you're welding (as in, between the tubes) go for 45 degrees from the sides, you can still get pretty close in there!

daviep - 22/1/12 at 07:42 PM

What size of shroud do you have on the mig torch?

First step is to get the narrowest shroud, then turn up the gas flow, you may also need to turn up the current and wire speed a bit but you should be able to get a reasonable weld with a long wire in to the angle.

Davie

liam.mccaffrey - 22/1/12 at 08:17 PM

The way i see it is you have 3 options
1 Do as other have said and weld it with a long mig wire and live with marginal shielding, you might get better shielding with flux cored wire

2 Accept it will be a poor weld and put gusset plate either side of the joint to stregthen

3 This is what I would do, get Glen Thornton to weld it, linky I'm sure he could manage it.

SCAR - 22/1/12 at 08:18 PM

Dont worry about it, the weld you would get into the inside of such an acute angle wont make a significant differance to the strength of the joint.
Because the tubes come together at such a steep angle look how much weld you already have along the sides plus the end.
If your weld is good an impact would bend the tubes long before the joint breaks.
Welding the inside would help seal the joint though if that is important to you.

ashg - 22/1/12 at 08:26 PM

come on guys.... im guessing none of you have seen a pro welder at work

take your gas shroud off the end of the welding torch walk over to the vice and crush it a little bit (not so much that it touches the electrode) refit to welding torch do the weld. when the weld is done take the shroud off put a new one on. take the bent one and put it in the top draw of your tool box and keep it for the next time you have to get into a tricky spot.

job done.

clanger - 22/1/12 at 09:08 PM

mma, rod will go in there easy. 2mm should be tidy

bonzoronnie - 22/1/12 at 09:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ashg
come on guys.... im guessing none of you have seen a pro welder at work

take your gas shroud off the end of the welding torch walk over to the vice and crush it a little bit (not so much that it touches the electrode) refit to welding torch do the weld. when the weld is done take the shroud off put a new one on. take the bent one and put it in the top draw of your tool box and keep it for the next time you have to get into a tricky spot.

job done.

+1 There Ash

Just to add, shorten the shroud a little if need be, you'll be able to squish it a little more + 5mm of tip protruding will greatly assist.

Up the gas flow,current & wire speed a tad & you should find it easy to get into the joint in question.

If you have the luxury of being able to flip the frame a vertical down weld is well suited to a joint such as that.

[Edited on 22/1/12 by bonzoronnie]

ashg - 22/1/12 at 09:44 PM

the chap that taught me to weld had over 40 years experience if he didn't know how to do it then nobody did. i would never claim to be be a professional welder even though i am a qualified welder. welding is like driving just because you have passed the test doesn't mean you are a pro, it just means that you have met the minimum standard.

Peteff - 22/1/12 at 09:51 PM

I kept a special cut down tapered shroud for the job but it went with my old welder so I might have to make another. As above attack it from one side and build the weld up to the other like filling in a gap.

T66 - 22/1/12 at 11:29 PM

You could also plate over either side of the v shape and literally box that joint.

Doing this would mean you aren't welding into a tight spot, as the final weld won't be buried.

Small in fill piece to fill in the middle section between the
Plates.

It will also be much stronger.

fesycresy - 23/1/12 at 09:55 AM

Clamp the shroud as suggested, but I would also invert the chassis.

If you can push a nice pool, it should puddle better.

Angel Acevedo - 23/1/12 at 10:39 PM

another option would be to cut a triangular wedge of square section and weld in the corner...