Evidently I've been living under a rock, because I'd never heard of "Laser Welding." YouTube and welding forums are all over this innovation, so lots of info available now. Pretty epic. If laser had been available back when I was doing custom fab work, it sure would have got my attention! 🤩 Could have made a great business, and completely ruined the hobby aspect. lol
Here is a YouTube video from my favorite welding YouTuber. While this is a commercial grade welding machine, I liked the safety aspects they covered.
What clued me in to this is I've got a project coming up that will require some welding. Been debating on whether to buy a Mig & bottle, use my buddies pipe welding rig (stick) to do the project. Or just tack everything up with his rig, and take the assembly to a local shop for complete welding. Living in "Oil Country" we've got some great welding shops.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
It's ALWAYS a good idea to know a good welder who is willing to build for you. They will save you epic amounts of time, cuss jar contributions, and rework.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
All I've seen are Lap, Butt, and Tee joints on flat stock. I'd like to see it on tubing especially on coped connections like these
All I've seen are Lap, Butt, and Tee joints on flat stock. I'd like to see it on tubing especially on coped connections like these
There is a bit of tube welding shown at about 3:05 into this video. You make a good point. The torch tip is pretty large.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Notice that the cup is always dragged, very difficult to do with tubing fitted on angles. But there are some really cool things like the smaller HAZ and the speed of making the connection. This is especially with stainless steel, which was my speciality back in the 70's. The speed and small has really helps with preventing warping, possibly preventing the need for closely stacked tack welds like I used to do.
Agreed. Would be interesting to see how well that works with sheet aluminum. I don't see it as a replacement for tig. Things like adjusting "stick-out" seems limited, as well as the overall size of the head. But sure seems like it could be a good augmentation tool for a full service welding shop. Just the shear speed of it would tend to make me want to grab it first, where applicable.
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
There is also the "Tip Tig" machine if you are looking for filler rod automation:
well, im impressed. my welding is pretty crude. goode enough for exhaust systems and brackets, but not serious stuff.
My welding is soooo good I riveted my last build.
Nothing wrong with solid rivets if done right. Lots of airplanes are still built using them. I was involved in the restoration of the Parnelli Jones built "BFG Blazer" which had hundreds of solid rivets holding all of the sheet metal parts together. I had to drill out a lot of rivets to remove different panels. Bucking the back side of the rivets can be the most challenging part of the process. Some of you might recognise the name of one of the last former drivers of the Blazer. The Balzer was restored to it's former glory when raced by Scoop VesselsMy welding is soooo good I riveted my last build.
Solid rivets?
50 years since I last used solid rivets.
Check out the Furphy water cart.
It's my trailer canopy I riveted and bolted.
