What Type of Welder for Frame Rails?

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2001

2,468

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99

Western Mass

May 14, 2006

#1

• May 14, 2006

• #1

Since our frame rails are made of high strength steel (HSS), what kind of welding does this require? Something like MIG or TIG?

 

dragnazz5.0

My "0" key d0esn't w0rk, s0 I have t0 use the zer0

Nov 19, 2005

815

5

18

mooresville, nc

May 14, 2006

#2

• May 14, 2006

• #2

what are you trying to do? a simple 110 mig welder will weld something to it

 

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2001

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99

Western Mass

May 14, 2006

#3

• May 14, 2006

• #3

I need to have the left side anti-sway bar bracket welded back on.

 

rd

Founding Member

Jan 12, 2000

3,316

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109

Ocean Springs MS

May 14, 2006

#4

• May 14, 2006

• #4

I did my subframe connectors with a flux core wire feeder. My overhead welding skills were awfull before, and I have not done any since. But it worked...

85 amp Eastword-Century wire feeder, 1985 vintage, 030 fluxcore wire.

I did burn through in a couple places, and was able to fill them up, more or less. It ain't come unglued yet...

 

larrendeuce

Member

Sep 13, 2003

649

1

19

Southern NJ

May 14, 2006

#5

• May 14, 2006

• #5

MIG or flux core should be fine, mine are mig welded, and my friends are flux core. His are holding up ok, just don't look as nice as MIG. Just don't acetylene weld. Too much heat for the high carbon steel.

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

2,867

3

58

Port Elgin, Ontario

May 14, 2006

#6

• May 14, 2006

• #6

MIG would be your best bet.

 

74courier

New Member

Jun 18, 2005

158

0

0

vancouver wa

May 14, 2006

#7

• May 14, 2006

• #7

mig is your best bet unless youve got the money and skill to use a tig welder i used a miller 110volt and it works just fine on the thinner stuff such as subframe connectors and brackets. id be pretty weary of trying to weld a rollbar with a 110volt though.

 

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2001

2,468

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99

Western Mass

May 14, 2006

#8

• May 14, 2006

• #8

Thanks, I'm going to try and head down to the local welding supply house tomorrow to see if they can hook me up with a MIG/TIG welder who makes house calls. Figure it would be best to get it done while the engine is out.

 

stprorolla49

Active Member

Oct 9, 2004

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39

Fairfield, CT/North Jersey

May 14, 2006

#9

• May 14, 2006

• #9

mig is easier to learn, but tig is the only weld that is NHRA legal, and it will make cleaner welds as well...i use a cebora tig welder which i love

 

mustangjoe87

Member

Jul 23, 2004

364

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16

Harrison Twp., Michigan

May 14, 2006

#10

• May 14, 2006

• #10

Just try not to heat it up too much, the heat will ruin the properties of the HSS.

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

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58

Port Elgin, Ontario

May 14, 2006

#11

• May 14, 2006

• #11

I actually found TIG to be easy to learn and I can weld with TIG all day I love it. The welder at work sometimes gets me to weld for him lol. MIG is almost easy for anyone that has an idea on the concepts of welding

 

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2001

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99

Western Mass

May 14, 2006

#12

• May 14, 2006

• #12

I've tried MIG welding myself. Lets say the results were not pretty.

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

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58

Port Elgin, Ontario

May 14, 2006

#13

• May 14, 2006

• #13

Did you turn the gas on lol

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

2,867

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58

Port Elgin, Ontario

May 14, 2006

#14

• May 14, 2006

• #14

Also if you plan on doing alot of welding a auto darkening helmet will be your best friend

 

TrophyHead

15 Year Member

Mar 18, 2003

1,195

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49

PA

May 15, 2006

#15

• May 15, 2006

• #15

TIG is the way the go on anything. Plus I love the smell.

But it really dosent matter. MIG, TIG, Stick, they all willl work with the right rods and right amperage settings.

 

74courier

New Member

Jun 18, 2005

158

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0

vancouver wa

May 15, 2006

#16

• May 15, 2006

• #16

Roland69 said:

Also if you plan on doing alot of welding a auto darkening helmet will be your best friend

Click to expand...

id recomend the hornell speedglass models if they are in your price range some of the cheaper auto dark ones are to slow so your eyes are still exsposed to some of the arc.

 

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2001

2,468

86

99

Western Mass

May 15, 2006

#17

• May 15, 2006

• #17

Well I think I may have lucked out. I went down to our local PRAXXAIR and the owner knew exactly who would be best for the job. I got a hold of him on the phone and he said he would be by on Wednesday morning.

Sigh of relief.