T-top

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

jonesg MIG welding stainless is just as easy as steel. I'd use argon for the gas, and if you welder is capable of welding aluminum, thats the the same gas you would use for it. I've been a welder for going on 8 years now, and always use argon for my stainless and aluminum work. And at the house I use argon for everything on my TIG machine. Here are some pics of it on my tig machine.

I have a small Lincoln mig with the gas guage but alum without a spoolgun is difficult and the spoolguns ain't cheap, $500+.

Then again, going stainless requires a bender as the tube is much harder.
Not to mention the comparison in cost, $80 emt vs $300+ for the stainless stock plus gas.

I'll try stainless with gas out of curiosity but laying out for that much tubing is not possible.

 

[JimbC]

Re: T-top

jonesg If you can get the Aluminum cheap enough you might want to check this out. No Welder ,Wire or GAS needed. Thanks would go to brobrad for pointing this product out in his thread. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

Cant you weld stainless with regular carbon steel wire, then the weld wont be stainless but it will hold?

It will weld, but you would have to paint the welds and that would kind of defeat the point of using stainless material. If the boat seas salt water those welds will defenetly rust no matter what you paint them with. Even that cold galv. spray does not give you enough protection on steel.

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

yeah, without a spoolgun already it probally isn't worth buying just for one project if you are not going to use it enough. Like you said buy the time you buy the tools and materials to make it, you could have saved $ buy just having one made.

 

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

Got it all installed and tack welded together for now, I might still adjust some angles by cutting the bottom of the legs.
http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/jonesg_photos/T-Top/?albumview=slideshow

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

Looking good. Though, I'd bring the back of the top down some. To much of an angle might put some unwanted downforce on the hull when running at higher speeds.

 

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

Looking good. Though, I'd bring the back of the top down some. To much of an angle might put some unwanted downforce on the hull when running at higher speeds.

exactly my thought too, I'll cut some off the bottom of the rear legs.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: T-top

jonesg MIG welding stainless is just as easy as steel.

It's actually easier, because the metal is cleaner than steel.

I tig steel, stainless, and aluminum. I'm still learning aluminum, and frankly I'm not an expert at any of 'em yet.

I use 100% argon for everything, nice and simple.

I'm personally using steel tubing for my own top, because it's cheap and easy to weld. I'd probably use stainless if I could afford it.

Aluminum is a very different ball game.. I've heard the easiest way to weld it is a spool gun on a good quality high amp welder. My tig is 200 amps max and I have difficulty with more than about 1/8" thickness.

I haven't tried welding stainless with mild rod. I'd think it'd corrode, kinda pointless to pay for stainless then do that.

That aluminum fix rod is ok for cheap repairs, but I wouldn't assemble anything structural out of it. It's basically a high temp solder, not even as strong as brazing rod. It's not welding, although it is relatively easy to use for some things. Try it if you haven't got any, you'll see what it can do and what it can't.

Erik

 

[JimbC]

Re: T-top

I say this stuff looks to me like it would work just fine. Like I said If you can get Aluminum pipe/tubing cheap enough. It could be welded with this and be as strong as a weld. Just watch this video. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/video_new.asp

 

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

I say this stuff looks to me like it would work just fine. Like I said If you can get Aluminum pipe/tubing cheap enough. It could be welded with this and be as strong as a weld. Just watch this video. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/video_new.asp

Easy to see where that stuff would work wonders on some engines, I've seen that coke can trick at home machinist shows I've been to, looks easy but it isn't as easy as it looks.

but I kinda like the bright blue flash that gives everyone headaches.

I just ordered a tank of argon mix, gonna do the final welding with gas if its not too breezy, I usually weld early or late when its calm outside .
Fed up with flux splatter.!

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

That argon/co2 mix will give you nice welds with that steel wire. I don't know if you have flux core wire, but you don't need flux core when using gas.

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

It's actually easier, because the metal is cleaner than steel.

I tig steel, stainless, and aluminum. I'm still learning aluminum, and frankly I'm not an expert at any of 'em yet.

I use 100% argon for everything, nice and simple.

I'm personally using steel tubing for my own top, because it's cheap and easy to weld. I'd probably use stainless if I could afford it.

Aluminum is a very different ball game.. I've heard the easiest way to weld it is a spool gun on a good quality high amp welder. My tig is 200 amps max and I have difficulty with more than about 1/8" thickness.

I haven't tried welding stainless with mild rod. I'd think it'd corrode, kinda pointless to pay for stainless then do that.

That aluminum fix rod is ok for cheap repairs, but I wouldn't assemble anything structural out of it. It's basically a high temp solder, not even as strong as brazing rod. It's not welding, although it is relatively easy to use for some things. Try it if you haven't got any, you'll see what it can do and what it can't.

Erik

That's the nice thing about TIG, one gas for everything. Aluminum is also very easy. The key to aluminum is the prep. Everthing must be clean. I have wire brushes I use just for cleaning aluminum, they see no other material but aluminum. I also rub down my aluminum TIG rods with steel wool before each use. Another tip for aluminum is if you contaminate the tungsten, stop and regrind it, dirty tungsten will give you an erratic arc.

 

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

That argon/co2 mix will give you nice welds with that steel wire. I don't know if you have flux core wire, but you don't need flux core when using gas.

I have 2 different wires, previous owner said he had tried doing a bit of alum welding but the non flux wire looks more copper colored.

That alum solder looks like the cats meow, pricey too.

 

[berry79]

Re: T-top

The copper color .035 steel is what I use to MIG steel. Most of the flux core is silver in color, but I have seen a few flux core wire spools that were copper also.

 

[Tampa Ron]

Re: T-top

great job!!!!

 

[erikgreen]

Re: T-top

I say this stuff looks to me like it would work just fine. Like I said If you can get Aluminum pipe/tubing cheap enough. It could be welded with this and be as strong as a weld. Just watch this video. http://www.aluminumrepair.com/video_new.asp

It's not even close to the same strength as welding, despite what the marketers say.

 

[jonesg]

Re: T-top

It's not even close to the same strength as welding, despite what the marketers say.

its obvious they used the type of joint that gives maximum surface area, not as strong as a tig weld , not strong enough for T-top.
I wonder what it is .

Made any progress on your hard top ?
We're waiting for updated pics. tap tap tap tap.....

 

[erikgreen]

Re: T-top

Heh, guilty as charged.

I've actually got the painting done except for the edges of the top, it's all shiny and pretty now. Next step is to use my crane to test location and angle for it on the boat, then cut the legs to size and weld them up.

There's a bunch of little things to do too like attachments for the legs to the boat cap, and headliner for the top, but the top is basically done, I just need to get it on the boat.

Won't happen this weekend, heading north again and I've got to attach a trolling motor to my stern before I go

Erik