i have been tig welding for 30 years and you done a good job of giving a beginners lesson!! you covered what needed to be covered and done it well. so good job!
This is exactly what I wanted to see! Paul just talking through Tig for close to an hour. Perfect There’s other Tig videos but so few about thinner material. Arc shots turned out great Mitch! The material thickness arc explanation with the bottom bracket weld was very helpful. I was struggling with that. Also I never thought about sharpening both sides of tungsten, of course that makes sense, I just never did it. Hopefully we don’t have temps like that again in BC anytime soon 😅
Thank you for making a very well produced video. One thing I like to do with my Tig filler rod is bend the end over that is not being fed into the weld puddle. It might prevent an eye injury. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and talent!
That is a good idea, to bend over the end. I have a little piece of 6061 that is tapped for a small Allen screw. I often use it to hide the "other end" as well...
Foot pedal is like automatic gear boxes, they're mostly used in America according to my observation. I don't have a bench grinder setup yet so I always use a cordless drill and the angle grinder to sharpen the tungsten, not the best as it will nock the very tip of with cutting discs and the flap discs will round it slightly but it does the work good enough for 30-40 amps and up, less than that you really want that sharp tip for precision. When tacking two plates of thin sheet in a butt weld a sharp tip is very important not to blow a hole, when doing that I use very short bursts of high amps(usually double that I weld with) with no slope up and short slope down like an instant flash that melts the edges so fast that they fall together instead of slowly melt and curl away from each other and make a hole. As a welder out in the field we had to learn sharpening the tungsten on angle grinders with one hand and they're also short so that the torch can fit into tight places between pipes so not much to hold onto either so having a drill with you is good. For cleaning as you said brake cleaners can form chlorine gas when heated which can also be deadly so only use pure acetone or alcohol for cleaning.
Newly subscribed and just wanted to say that I appreciate you two putting these videos together and demystifying some things when it comes to bicycle fabrication. You and Mitch documenting this stuff is really important so this type of knowledge is passed along. Canadian legend!
I am not a welder, I can join two pieces of metal together with a MIG, talking to a man who could he said the most important thing is your comfort, seeing you use those blocks of wood made complete sense, i would like a TIG welder so the information you have shared here is most useful - many Thanks
I am planning to build my first bicycle frame and TIG welding seemed to be the easiest method, now after watching your video I'm going for a lugged frame. A lot more to TIG weld than I thought. Excellent and a pleasure to watch as always from you :)
Yes, Tig welding a thin walled bicycle frame is not the easiest thing to do. A lugged frame means (probably...) road bike, because most lugs are for road. Don't rule out fillet brazing. It is easier than Tig, and the possibilities are almost endless. Thanks for watching....
Paul: Revisited this 2-year-old video and must say it was chuck full of useful information. Was fantasizing about buying a Tig welder for my half-dozen projects but at 79 don't think it to be a prudent investment. I haven't welded since high school and the learning curve is only getting steeper.
Paul Brodie I didn't know you could weld. You have a very catchy name and a very unique teaching style, and a nice shop. I know how to weld but found your channel by trying to learn to braze. The brazing is a little difficult still on thick steel but you keep up the good work. I'll be looking forward to videos. God bless.
A man of wisdom and I am sure your students loved attending your classes.....one small step at a time gets you close to perfection. Imagine if the entire world was made up of people like you who obviously were given chances to educate but then took the next steps to strive for an active fulfilling life.....one wonders what the world would look like. I suppose we would be living in paradise!
Thank you Andy. I would like to see a world where everybody has food, shelter, and medical. Just the basics. If you want a fancy car or house, then you go out and work for it..
Hey Paul, i learned TIG welding awhile ago and after a few years not welding, i bought myself a welder to start again. Boy was i devastated by how hard it was to see what i was doing. Yes, my Eyesight was not what it used to be... Great Video again.
You Sir are an excellent instructor! I didn't have a clue about TIG welding before I watched this, just knew it wasn't easy. You explained the entire process, how it actually works, why you do certain things and don't do certain things. Thank you for giving of your time to pass on your wealth of knowledge. The more of your videos I watch, the closer I get to deciding to go ahead and give building a frame a try. What actually surprised me was where you placed the arc relative to the weld and the direction you flow it, thought it would have been the other way to keep the tungsten out of the way of the weld.
Only seen a few videos so far but you may have just jumped to my #2 source behind Welding Tips and Tricks! Great arc shots, explanations, filming. Thank you for sharing!!
This is exactly what I need!! I just bought a TIG welder (thanks to you) and am familiar only with stick and MIG. I think I need to buy you and Mitch few cups of coffee again! Only thing I'd like to add is I really recommend moving over to purple electrodes. No one really likes to mess with the radioactive dust the reds put out while grinding them. It's not that they put out a lot, but it's something that will stay radioactive in your lungs for the rest of your life.
@@paulbrodie there's a lot of scientific papers on it available online, not only opinions. I'd say as an occasional TIG welder it's not that critical and you apparently do your grinding outside. Worst cases come from grinding with bench grinders without exhaust ventilation and occasionally blowing surfaces in your shop with compressed air. Welding gives out some radioactivity but it's the dust that is something to be aware of.
Thanks for the video, just found your channel and it looks like good content, thanks! One mistake I noticed. After the weld is stopped you should leave the rod in so it doesn't carbonize and is protected by the argon. You shouldn't have to clip off the end of the rod after each pass.
I only clip off the end of the rod if I'm trying to do a Really nice pass. Yes, I could leave the rod in the argon Fitbit still might have a very small ball on the end. Welders a ll have their habits and ways of doing things. Thanks for commenting...
Great video! Very pointy tungstens like that actually give a slightly wider arc that penetrates less, which is usually want you want on thin metal so it's all good. But it's mostly what you're used to. These days we usually use 2% lanthanated rather than thoriated because the thorium is a little bit radioactive. But since you're grinding it outside anyway it's certainly not a problem.
As always, nice video, thank you. That's an interesting comment about scalloping the electrode. I'll have to try it. I'm a cordless drill/belt sander guy -- I'll try putting the scallop on with the radius of the top roller. I agree about the scratch direction, too: longitudinal scratches definitely help make a tight, focused arc. You mention eyesight -- one of the single best things I've ever done to improve my welding was to shine a big, bright floodlight at my work. It makes it possible to see more than just the puddle. At some point, you could do a similar video about TIG welding aluminum. That's a fertile topic.
Definitely acetone, definitely don't leave the wipe rag on the welding bench. Last year, I looked up after a few inches of MIG to see my rag at the other end of the bench fully aflame courtesy of a spark from the torch. Luckily, my welding table is fireproof!
Extremely informative and needed video about frame welding. Not sure if i missed it, but can you also share what amperage you use for the various frame parts? Much appreciated.
Thank you. With my old machine, it is very hard to tell exact amperages, because the knob and settings are so vague. I am going to guess and say 40-50 amps...
Hi Paul, Thanks so much for going through everything in so much detail. As others have said there are plenty of videos out there, but you really took the time to explain the finer points. Also thanks Mitch for the awesome camera work on all the videos
This is a great tutorial! I have a lift arc machine, no pedal, so basically instead of adjusting the amperage on the fly heat control is just down to travel speed and machine settings. Also nice to see someone validate welding the joint in sections like that; my dad, who taught me to weld, showed me that as a way to limit the amount of heat you put into the joint (and thus the distortion), but he's a (retired) pipefitter, and so didn't know much of anything about bikes. But I guess steel is steel.
Thanks Matt. A pipefitters skills are completely different from a frame builders set of skills. I could not weld with a machine like yours. I need a foot pedal to have full control over the puddle. But yes, you say that steel is steel.
Faz um alicate lokring para colocar conexão de alumínio em tubo de geladeiras e emendar tubos de alumínio em tubo de cobre para não precisa soldar ; pesquisa air/ o que vc faz também não dar pra vê muito bem !
249 thumbs up and still no thumbs down thats unusual on any channel! even though Mig is more a one handed operation I wish I had thought of a steady stand of some sort when welding on old cars years ago it would certainly have helped! great video
Excellent tutorial Paul and thank you for recommending...tremendously informative. Can’t wait to go and strike a few arcs in the shop! Will let you know how it goes👍🏻
If you use mig wire, do this: cut off a piece and clamp one end tightly. Chuck the other end into a drill, and slowly twist the wire but keep it taught. If you do it right it won’t get coiled up and it will stay close to the same diameter but it will get a lot stiffer and will be easier to use as filler wire.
I think what I'm seeing is the arch (electricity) is burning or melting the piece and creating a gap (so to speak) and the rod is filling the gap creating the weld?
Well, sort of... The "arc" is melting the metal, yes. There is always a gap between the tungsten and the workpiece. The rod isn't "filling the gap", it is being melted on to the workpiece, creating the weld. Make sense?
Hi Paul, Thanks for all the interesting video's. You mentioned you were going to do a video on a primary chain tensioner for a Cub. I am updating my trials Cub, and would like to see what you come up with. Thanks Marty Lunde
Marty, yes I am working on it. Feked Off sells the PVL conversion with a chain tensioner. I want to make one for my Electrex unit. I need the (2) long Allen screws 5/16" X 22 TPI X 2.5" (?) long. Feked Off won't sell me the (2) Allen screws, nor will they tell me where I can get them. Most unhelpful blokes! So, I cannot proceed without those Allen screws.
Acetone cleanup/wash under the grip onyour torch. or isopropyl alcohol might be just as good but more friendlier to the leather., then hairspray underneath.
Late to the party, but... I sometimes use .023 mig wire for tig welding too. I use Ron Covell's trick for straightening it: I cut mine to about 18" in length, put one end in a vise, clamp a pair of safety wire pliers to the other end and give them a couple pumps to twist the wire. You'll be amazed how straight it is when you remove it from the pliers and vice.
There's a nifty little tool that model-makers use, called a 'pin vise'. It's essentially a small handle with a miniature drill-like chuck on one end. They come in various sizes (some have swappable collets), to deal with everything from holding super-fine wire, up to small drill bits. Cheap and easily available online or at hobby shops. You might find one handy for getting the last few inches out o your tungstens (and maybe less 'over-kill' than using a full-sized power-drill :)
Dear Paul I really enjoyed your information on Tig Welding there was a lot of information you passed on. Question I am going to build an exhaust system for my drag volkswagen out of 304 stainless steel, this size is 2 1/8" diameter what size tungsten should I use and what type wire and size should I be looking at?
Thank you Walt. I have thought about your question. Years ago one of my employees made a frame that was Tig brazed. I do not know anyone else that has done so. There must be a reason why. What that reason is I'm not sure...
@@paulbrodie Thanks for the reply. I thought about it a little more. I think that it would not work well because no flux is used; so the brazing material does not bound to base metal well enough. And nobody makes flux cored brazing rod/wire.
No, because often I'm welding very thin metal using only 40-50 amps, and most auto-darkening helmets aren't very sensitive in that range; you have to buy a very high end model. call me old fashioned.
I saw one thing you should never do when sharpen the tungsten, better to grind the opposite side from where the color is, always good knowing what tungsten you have! But other than that, a good instructional video - well informative.
@@paulbrodie Oh yeah ofc, you do what you want with your stuff, i meant how important it can be when you are around other people. Like in a workshop or so. I always teach my people to not grind the coloured side! Thanks for the great vids.
Currently, I do not weld titanium. Actually, I have never welded titanium. I'm sure I could; I just haven't. I guess I've busy working with aluminum and steel.
@@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266 Sorry, I am retired and have a UA-cam channel. It keeps me very busy and there really is no extra time to work on other people's projects.
@@paulbrodie Its in line with your other work. I have a tandem with has an adjustable stoker stem. Its needs a proper seat post collar and the stem adjusted for a different angle
@@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266 I would recommend Chris DeKerf or Sam Whittingham. They are both excellent frame builders and could possibly help you out.
I don't have first-hand knowledge, but a while ago I had the same question and did some research. The impression I came away with was: it's probably not a great idea. Also really if you're using a TIG machine might as well go all the way, & if you want that brazed look might as well use a flame.
@@paulbrodie Thanks for the reply Paul and thanks for all these great videos. Love you workmanship, and your shop. I just need to try find one those small diamond dressers here in ZA (home of Pratleys), I only have a big thing with wheels that makes a big mess and does not work well on small stones. One other thing I have wondered about: how important is it match the what you are feeding into the weld to the metal alloy you are welding? obviously iron to iron, Al to Al but finer details of the alloy? And hoping you will do a session on Al u min um TIG - that is really my end goal.
@@Kosmonooit Matching the rod to what you are welding. Yes, most of the time, but not always. When I am welding 4130, like a bicycle frame for example, I use a mild steel filler material. The reason being is that the mild steel will allow a very small amount of "flex", probably on a microscopic level. This helps to prevent very small cracks from starting.
Is that a Tiger Cub or a BSA bottom end on workbench? (B50?) It's a long time since I worked on either Thin steel is just as easy to gas weld, kinda always considered TIG as used for 'exotic' metals (aluminium, stainless steels, titanium, etc) and welding thin to thick although it's probably because I learned gas welding (oxy/DA) and never learned or owned a TIG
The trick if you ever need a fuel tank welded is to put some washing up liquid on it before you present it to your tame welder. It smells nice and if it jumps off the bench at him, you can claim innocence and tell him that you were as thorough as possible. Not that I've ever needed to get a race tank welded in a hurry, not me, not ever. :lol:
Do you ever use a back purge? Just getting ready to build my first frame and I'm wondering if it's worth investing in a purge setup. Love your videos & great to get your wisdom on this subject. From what I can tell you're a great teacher, sad I missed the chance to take frame building 101! Also thanks for the arc shots Mitch!
I am not setup for back purging. For steel it is not necessary. You do need it for stainless steel and titanium frames. Some of these welders back purge on steel frames, but you definitely are spending more $ on argon.
Phosgene gas is the deadly gas you're talking about. Using any cleaner (not just brake cleaner) that uses chlorine is a big no. The UV light created from the arc, superheats the chloride and creates the phosgene gas.
Hello Ireland! Yes, Tig is for Tungsten inert gas, and Mig stands for Metal inert gas. It's wire feed welding, and the arc is shielded by either Argon or Helium.
Most people are actually MAG welding but they say MIG. A stands for Active gas. MIG is mostly used on aluminium, high nickel alloys, high alloy stainless and super duplex.
@@paulbrodie my brothers first bike. Built in his bedroom and mum helped get it down stairs. Cost £5! I had a bsa bantam. So guessing you are making a trials bike.
@@chrislee7817 Good story. Yes, in England a lot of things were bought and sold for 5 pounds in the 60's. For example, our grand piano when we emigrated to Canada.. No, I am not making a trials bike. I already have two. It be a regular Cub to rip around my neighbourhood :)
I need a welder so I can learn how to weld again... I have so many ideas and things I want to make but i don't have a friend w/ a welder so I'll have to get one from Harbor Freight and start playing around. I have to fix my ebike and I want to make a sidecar for it so I can take my son on rides w/ me... He loves going on rides but the bike trailers are always getting dirt and stuff flung inside because it's right behind the rear tire, so I want him to have a sidecar so he's closer to me and feels safer, he has autism and when he gets scared or upset and he wants to hold my hand, hes right beside me and we can talk using ASL easier as well. 😁❤️
If you are going to buy a welder, consider supporting your local welding supply shop. If there are any problems or issues, I will bet the service is better from your local shop, and you are supporting the local economy. I hope you do build a good sidecar.
@@paulbrodie - IDK of any welding suppliers in my town so I'll have to look around... If I do find one I might be able to get a few refresher courses before buying one. Thanks for the advice and the idea... 😁
I remember the first question I asked the professional when I started welding: Is there a law against cleaning your little window? He didn't need to see as well as he did when he first started welding. I thought I'd finally found something truly interesting to take for show and tell. What do kindergarten teachers know?
I watched this video again!
Thanks for watching 😉
Finally! My prayers have been answered!
Made a world of difference when I finally accepted that I was getting older and put a 1.5 magnification lens in my helmet. Stunning change.
Yes, eyesight is Huge in Tig welding. It really is very precise.
I don't weld that much thin stainless anymore because the puddle is so damn small I strain my eyes keeping focus!
@@Sambasuper Yes, not easy welding the thin stuff...
i have been tig welding for 30 years and you done a good job of giving a beginners lesson!! you covered what needed to be covered and done it well. so good job!
Thank you Mitch. I appreciate your comments. I thought it could be a shorter video but apparently there is a lot of explaining to do!
This is exactly what I wanted to see! Paul just talking through Tig for close to an hour. Perfect
There’s other Tig videos but so few about thinner material. Arc shots turned out great Mitch!
The material thickness arc explanation with the bottom bracket weld was very helpful. I was struggling with that.
Also I never thought about sharpening both sides of tungsten, of course that makes sense, I just never did it. Hopefully we don’t have temps like that again in BC anytime soon 😅
Thank you Levi. I watched your Mig welding video too. That's great you are creating too :)
PUSH THE PUDDLE ALONG!
A simple phrase at 26 minutes in hit me like a hammer.
Thanks for that Brodie!
If it helped, that's great. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for making a very well produced video. One thing I like to do with my Tig filler rod is bend the end over that is not being fed into the weld puddle. It might prevent an eye injury. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and talent!
That is a good idea, to bend over the end. I have a little piece of 6061 that is tapped for a small Allen screw. I often use it to hide the "other end" as well...
My first welding instructor used to say "we get paid by the weld , not by the hour "
Takes time and patience !
Excellent Tutorial Sir
Thank you keltecshooter. I heard recently that some welders un the USA were charging $75 per inch. Pricey!
Foot pedal is like automatic gear boxes, they're mostly used in America according to my observation. I don't have a bench grinder setup yet so I always use a cordless drill and the angle grinder to sharpen the tungsten, not the best as it will nock the very tip of with cutting discs and the flap discs will round it slightly but it does the work good enough for 30-40 amps and up, less than that you really want that sharp tip for precision. When tacking two plates of thin sheet in a butt weld a sharp tip is very important not to blow a hole, when doing that I use very short bursts of high amps(usually double that I weld with) with no slope up and short slope down like an instant flash that melts the edges so fast that they fall together instead of slowly melt and curl away from each other and make a hole.
As a welder out in the field we had to learn sharpening the tungsten on angle grinders with one hand and they're also short so that the torch can fit into tight places between pipes so not much to hold onto either so having a drill with you is good.
For cleaning as you said brake cleaners can form chlorine gas when heated which can also be deadly so only use pure acetone or alcohol for cleaning.
Henrik, thanks for your comments. I like the idea of short bursts of high amps. That makes a lot of sense.
Thank you Mr Paul your class was great.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Newly subscribed and just wanted to say that I appreciate you two putting these videos together and demystifying some things when it comes to bicycle fabrication. You and Mitch documenting this stuff is really important so this type of knowledge is passed along. Canadian legend!
Thank you Michael. It's a good time in my life to be doing these videos with Mitch.
I am not a welder, I can join two pieces of metal together with a MIG, talking to a man who could he said the most important thing is your comfort, seeing you use those blocks of wood made complete sense, i would like a TIG welder so the information you have shared here is most useful - many Thanks
I am planning to build my first bicycle frame and TIG welding seemed to be the easiest method, now after watching your video I'm going for a lugged frame. A lot more to TIG weld than I thought. Excellent and a pleasure to watch as always from you :)
Yes, Tig welding a thin walled bicycle frame is not the easiest thing to do. A lugged frame means (probably...) road bike, because most lugs are for road. Don't rule out fillet brazing. It is easier than Tig, and the possibilities are almost endless. Thanks for watching....
Another great job of instruction.
I've watched all your welding tips and I'm now a grand master welder. Thanks
That is awesome! Thanks hoah.
@@paulbrodie can't wait to do my first bead!
@@hoah Welding can be exciting :)
Paul: Revisited this 2-year-old video and must say it was chuck full of useful information. Was fantasizing about buying a Tig welder for my half-dozen projects but at 79 don't think it to be a prudent investment. I haven't welded since high school and the learning curve is only getting steeper.
Paul Brodie I didn't know you could weld. You have a very catchy name and a very unique teaching style, and a nice shop. I know how to weld but found your channel by trying to learn to braze. The brazing is a little difficult still on thick steel but you keep up the good work. I'll be looking forward to videos. God bless.
A man of wisdom and I am sure your students loved attending your classes.....one small step at a time gets you close to perfection. Imagine if the entire world was made up of people like you who obviously were given chances to educate but then took the next steps to strive for an active fulfilling life.....one wonders what the world would look like. I suppose we would be living in paradise!
Thank you Andy. I would like to see a world where everybody has food, shelter, and medical. Just the basics. If you want a fancy car or house, then you go out and work for it..
a pin vise also works well for sharpening short tungsten's. nice video.
Yes, a pin vise would work too, and I have several. Thanks for watching!
Hey Paul, i learned TIG welding awhile ago and after a few years not welding, i bought myself a welder to start again. Boy was i devastated by how hard it was to see what i was doing. Yes, my Eyesight was not what it used to be... Great Video again.
Cannot overemphasize having good eyesight and being able to see exactly what is going on down in that little puddle... Thanks!
You Sir are an excellent instructor! I didn't have a clue about TIG welding before I watched this, just knew it wasn't easy. You explained the entire process, how it actually works, why you do certain things and don't do certain things. Thank you for giving of your time to pass on your wealth of knowledge. The more of your videos I watch, the closer I get to deciding to go ahead and give building a frame a try.
What actually surprised me was where you placed the arc relative to the weld and the direction you flow it, thought it would have been the other way to keep the tungsten out of the way of the weld.
Thank you! Framebuilding is a great hobby. I hope you give it a try :)
The detail in this lesson is invaluable. I now know I can't TIG weld. Haha!
Yes you can with practice, practice, practice... 🙂
You’re the best teacher I’ve ever seen!
Thank you. Very high compliment :)
Only seen a few videos so far but you may have just jumped to my #2 source behind Welding Tips and Tricks! Great arc shots, explanations, filming. Thank you for sharing!!
Jordan, thanks for watching! 😉
The best tutorial ever!
Thank you Fredrik.
Great video. Thanks!
I used to stick weld when I was young. I guess what surprises me the most with this video is how little of the rod you use.
good video, thank you
Best advice I have seen yet,for a complete novice I found this very helpful.
Great to hear! Thanks for watching.
Hallo Paul. Gute Arbeit. Mechanische Werkstatt für klassische Motorräder, das ist auch mein Ding. Weiter so. Gruß Arnold
Thanks for watching! 😉
Good video I'd say I learned a lot thanks Paul
Thank you Robert! 🙂
Thanks for this tig welding class. I learned a lot.
Thank you Noe.
This is exactly what I need!! I just bought a TIG welder (thanks to you) and am familiar only with stick and MIG. I think I need to buy you and Mitch few cups of coffee again!
Only thing I'd like to add is I really recommend moving over to purple electrodes. No one really likes to mess with the radioactive dust the reds put out while grinding them. It's not that they put out a lot, but it's something that will stay radioactive in your lungs for the rest of your life.
No one told me about radioactive dust... I don't do that much Tig welding, but I will be careful.
@@paulbrodie there's a lot of scientific papers on it available online, not only opinions. I'd say as an occasional TIG welder it's not that critical and you apparently do your grinding outside. Worst cases come from grinding with bench grinders without exhaust ventilation and occasionally blowing surfaces in your shop with compressed air. Welding gives out some radioactivity but it's the dust that is something to be aware of.
@@valkman761 I will be careful.
radnor e3 electrode is all i use.(purple) works on both steel and aluminum.
love watching your videos; you are like the shop teacher that emphasizes all the right tricks of the trade to be a success.
Jim, thank you very much.
Great information
Thank you.
Thanks for the video, just found your channel and it looks like good content, thanks!
One mistake I noticed. After the weld is stopped you should leave the rod in so it doesn't carbonize and is protected by the argon. You shouldn't have to clip off the end of the rod after each pass.
I only clip off the end of the rod if I'm trying to do a Really nice pass. Yes, I could leave the rod in the argon Fitbit still might have a very small ball on the end. Welders a ll have their habits and ways of doing things. Thanks for commenting...
@@paulbrodie Yes, we do have our eccentricities. You do some nice work!
@@mosfet500 Thank you.
Great video! Very pointy tungstens like that actually give a slightly wider arc that penetrates less, which is usually want you want on thin metal so it's all good. But it's mostly what you're used to. These days we usually use 2% lanthanated rather than thoriated because the thorium is a little bit radioactive. But since you're grinding it outside anyway it's certainly not a problem.
Thanks Ben!
Thanks for sharing how you tig weld. Always interesting…… 👍😎👍
The bike is looking amazing , cannot wait to see it finished
I have seen people cut the mig wire and throw it in a drill and vice and give it a spin to get nice straight filler wire
Yes there has been a Lot of comments about that sort of thing.
Thin walled tig tips are what has been missing! Thank you (from a freakbike maker)
Hi Paul, thanks for share your knowledge and experience. Regards from Argentina.
Hello Argentina! Thanks for watching.
I learned something really cool, glad to find this video
Thanks.
Thanks Paul, I really liked the way you slowly worked through the welding of the BB/ST junction. And that is a really cool fixture you've got there.
Thank you David.
Another great video with great step by step! I love to TIG weld but have never welded a frame at all, this tutorial is top notch!
Thank you very much!
Great lesson, Paul! Thank you (and Mitch)
Thanks Chris.
As always, nice video, thank you.
That's an interesting comment about scalloping the electrode. I'll have to try it. I'm a cordless drill/belt sander guy -- I'll try putting the scallop on with the radius of the top roller. I agree about the scratch direction, too: longitudinal scratches definitely help make a tight, focused arc.
You mention eyesight -- one of the single best things I've ever done to improve my welding was to shine a big, bright floodlight at my work. It makes it possible to see more than just the puddle.
At some point, you could do a similar video about TIG welding aluminum. That's a fertile topic.
I like the idea of a bright light. I might just do that. Thanks :)
Thank you, interesting!
😀
Definitely acetone, definitely don't leave the wipe rag on the welding bench. Last year, I looked up after a few inches of MIG to see my rag at the other end of the bench fully aflame courtesy of a spark from the torch. Luckily, my welding table is fireproof!
--- I wish my dentist would be as focused as Paul ... At least I learned a lot ... Again ... Thank you.
Tom, we all want our dentists to be highly focussed. My next appointment is a couple weeks... Thanks for watching!
@38:00 - The happy little bottom bracket.
SUPERB ------- THANKYOU
I wanna see a video on the Libido Full Suspension bike ;) Thanks for the great content
Kasper, thanks for watching!
Nice video :) thank you. The needle / collet system makes me think of an airbrush somehow.
Sangat baik menjelaskan untuk penggunaan las argon...
Great tutorial as usual Paul 👍
Thank you Shane.
Extremely informative and needed video about frame welding. Not sure if i missed it, but can you also share what amperage you use for the various frame parts? Much appreciated.
Thank you. With my old machine, it is very hard to tell exact amperages, because the knob and settings are so vague. I am going to guess and say 40-50 amps...
great video . a wealth of knowledge
Hi Paul,
Thanks so much for going through everything in so much detail. As others have said there are plenty of videos out there, but you really took the time to explain the finer points.
Also thanks Mitch for the awesome camera work on all the videos
Thank you Peter :)
This is a great tutorial! I have a lift arc machine, no pedal, so basically instead of adjusting the amperage on the fly heat control is just down to travel speed and machine settings. Also nice to see someone validate welding the joint in sections like that; my dad, who taught me to weld, showed me that as a way to limit the amount of heat you put into the joint (and thus the distortion), but he's a (retired) pipefitter, and so didn't know much of anything about bikes. But I guess steel is steel.
Thanks Matt. A pipefitters skills are completely different from a frame builders set of skills. I could not weld with a machine like yours. I need a foot pedal to have full control over the puddle. But yes, you say that steel is steel.
Faz um alicate lokring para colocar conexão de alumínio em tubo de geladeiras e emendar tubos de alumínio em tubo de cobre para não precisa soldar ; pesquisa air/ o que vc faz também não dar pra vê muito bem !
Thanks for watching!
249 thumbs up and still no thumbs down thats unusual on any channel! even though Mig is more a one handed operation I wish I had thought of a steady stand of some sort when welding on old cars years ago it would certainly have helped! great video
Thank you Derek.
Awesome
Thank you...
Спасибо! Вы профессионал!
Excellent tutorial Paul and thank you for recommending...tremendously informative. Can’t wait to go and strike a few arcs in the shop!
Will let you know how it goes👍🏻
Thank you Peter.
If you use mig wire, do this: cut off a piece and clamp one end tightly. Chuck the other end into a drill, and slowly twist the wire but keep it taught. If you do it right it won’t get coiled up and it will stay close to the same diameter but it will get a lot stiffer and will be easier to use as filler wire.
Sounds like a good trick, but I'm not sure my drill chuck goes small enough to hold an .035" wire...
thank you guys for your hard work
Thanks for watching.
Now I'm gonna have to find me a tig welder.
I was going to ask about rehearsing the hand movement but you read my mind ... in advance. How did that work?
It works well for me. I always do it on the tricky bits.
I think what I'm seeing is the arch (electricity) is burning or melting the piece and creating a gap (so to speak) and the rod is filling the gap creating the weld?
Well, sort of... The "arc" is melting the metal, yes. There is always a gap between the tungsten and the workpiece. The rod isn't "filling the gap", it is being melted on to the workpiece, creating the weld. Make sense?
Hi Paul, Thanks for all the interesting video's. You mentioned you were going to do a video on a primary chain tensioner for a Cub. I am updating my trials Cub, and would like to see what you come up with. Thanks Marty Lunde
Marty, yes I am working on it. Feked Off sells the PVL conversion with a chain tensioner. I want to make one for my Electrex unit. I need the (2) long Allen screws 5/16" X 22 TPI X 2.5" (?) long. Feked Off won't sell me the (2) Allen screws, nor will they tell me where I can get them. Most unhelpful blokes! So, I cannot proceed without those Allen screws.
Great video, thanks! Wondering what amperage range you are working with on thin wall bicycle tubing?
I would say 40 - 55 amps. Thanks for watching!
Acetone cleanup/wash under the grip onyour torch. or isopropyl alcohol might be just as good but more friendlier to the leather., then hairspray underneath.
That would be pretty funny... me buying hair spray!
this is how bicycle grips are stuck in place at a bike shop i know of. cheers
just curious, no back purge on the stainless welding?
You are correct. Stainless should be back purged. I tried to setup a quick system, but it didn't work. Thanks for watching....
Late to the party, but...
I sometimes use .023 mig wire for tig welding too. I use Ron Covell's trick for straightening it: I cut mine to about 18" in length, put one end in a vise, clamp a pair of safety wire pliers to the other end and give them a couple pumps to twist the wire. You'll be amazed how straight it is when you remove it from the pliers and vice.
I have some very thin wire that I use for welding up Excelsior gas tanks. Much smaller tungsten too. I will try Ron's trick for straightening. Thanks.
谢谢，学到很多东西
There's a nifty little tool that model-makers use, called a 'pin vise'. It's essentially a small handle with a miniature drill-like chuck on one end. They come in various sizes (some have swappable collets), to deal with everything from holding super-fine wire, up to small drill bits. Cheap and easily available online or at hobby shops. You might find one handy for getting the last few inches out o your tungstens (and maybe less 'over-kill' than using a full-sized power-drill :)
Thanks.
What size and type of filler rod and electrode are you using for the aluminium?
In this video I didn't weld an aluminum. I did in the cylinder head fin fixin' video, and used a 1/16" 5356 rod and a 3/32" tungsten.
Paul do you build the engines your self for the race bike ?
Christopher for down under
Christopher, yes I do. In the case of Ruby Racer, I made the 1919 Excelsior motor from an old photograph. Thanks for watching!
Dear Paul I really enjoyed your information on Tig Welding there was a lot of information you passed on. Question I am going to build an exhaust system for my drag volkswagen out of 304 stainless steel, this size is 2 1/8" diameter what size tungsten should I use and what type wire and size should I be looking at?
Header pipe are usually thin wall, so 1/16" tungsten with an .035" welding wire.
Thanks for that, you demystified a few areas there. Is a skill that I would like to get into, but time and the capital costs have thwarted me so far.
Mark, thanks for watching. I hope you get a welder and practice your skills!
Another masterpiece of instruction. Thank you. I do have a question about tig brazing. Does it have a place in frame building?
Thank you Walt. I have thought about your question. Years ago one of my employees made a frame that was Tig brazed. I do not know anyone else that has done so. There must be a reason why. What that reason is I'm not sure...
@@paulbrodie Thanks for the reply. I thought about it a little more. I think that it would not work well because no flux is used; so the brazing material does not bound to base metal well enough. And nobody makes flux cored brazing rod/wire.
Would you find it easier if you used a self darkening visor?
No, because often I'm welding very thin metal using only 40-50 amps, and most auto-darkening helmets aren't very sensitive in that range; you have to buy a very high end model. call me old fashioned.
I saw one thing you should never do when sharpen the tungsten, better to grind the opposite side from where the color is, always good knowing what tungsten you have!
But other than that, a good instructional video - well informative.
Stor, I only have 2% thoriated for steel, so I can grind both ends and still know with certainty what electrode I have. Thanks for watching.
@@paulbrodie Oh yeah ofc, you do what you want with your stuff, i meant how important it can be when you are around other people. Like in a workshop or so.
I always teach my people to not grind the coloured side! Thanks for the great vids.
Ah , if only knowledge was that easily shared ,,, experience certainly never is.
It does take a while to get the hang of Tig welding, but don't give up!
@@paulbrodie practice and patience ,,, thats the key ,,, but you could say that about most things in life.
@@tomthompson7400 Yep. It's like the old saying about Saxophone. Learn it on a weekend, master it over a lifetime.
@@Alanbataar so true ,,, every days a school day ..
Do you currently weld titanium?
Currently, I do not weld titanium. Actually, I have never welded titanium. I'm sure I could; I just haven't. I guess I've busy working with aluminum and steel.
@@paulbrodie Could you DM me regarding a private commission? Steel TIG welding and fabrication.
@@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266 Sorry, I am retired and have a UA-cam channel. It keeps me very busy and there really is no extra time to work on other people's projects.
@@paulbrodie Its in line with your other work. I have a tandem with has an adjustable stoker stem. Its needs a proper seat post collar and the stem adjusted for a different angle
@@weedmanwestvancouverbc9266 I would recommend Chris DeKerf or Sam Whittingham. They are both excellent frame builders and could possibly help you out.
Hi Paul.
It's nice to see you baçk, looking a fair bit thinner but hey at least
Yes, I have lost a LOT of weight...
Hi, would you ever tig braze a bike frame?
Probably not, simply because I have very little experience with Tig-brazing. I'd rather Tig-weld or fillet braze.
I don't have first-hand knowledge, but a while ago I had the same question and did some research. The impression I came away with was: it's probably not a great idea. Also really if you're using a TIG machine might as well go all the way, & if you want that brazed look might as well use a flame.
What about contamination of the grinding wheel? Others say that can be an issue. I guess by dressing it before you eliminated that problem.
Yes, if the wheel is properly dressed, contamination should not be an issue!
@@paulbrodie Thanks for the reply Paul and thanks for all these great videos. Love you workmanship, and your shop. I just need to try find one those small diamond dressers here in ZA (home of Pratleys), I only have a big thing with wheels that makes a big mess and does not work well on small stones.
One other thing I have wondered about: how important is it match the what you are feeding into the weld to the metal alloy you are welding? obviously iron to iron, Al to Al but finer details of the alloy?
And hoping you will do a session on Al u min um TIG - that is really my end goal.
@@Kosmonooit Matching the rod to what you are welding. Yes, most of the time, but not always. When I am welding 4130, like a bicycle frame for example, I use a mild steel filler material. The reason being is that the mild steel will allow a very small amount of "flex", probably on a microscopic level. This helps to prevent very small cracks from starting.
Thoriated tungsten is radioactive so use respiratory protection while you’re grinding it.
Yes, I have heard that. I only grind them outside when there is a strong wind :)
Is that a Tiger Cub or a BSA bottom end on workbench? (B50?) It's a long time since I worked on either
Thin steel is just as easy to gas weld, kinda always considered TIG as used for 'exotic' metals (aluminium, stainless steels, titanium, etc) and welding thin to thick although it's probably because I learned gas welding (oxy/DA) and never learned or owned a TIG
Yes, Tiger Cub. I actually have 4 bottom ends. Video soon.
If you have ever welded a used 2 stroke exhaust it comes with a bonus experience , lol 😆
Yes, I have had that experience!
The trick if you ever need a fuel tank welded is to put some washing up liquid on it before you present it to your tame welder. It smells nice and if it jumps off the bench at him, you can claim innocence and tell him that you were as thorough as possible.
Not that I've ever needed to get a race tank welded in a hurry, not me, not ever.
:lol:
Do you ever use a back purge? Just getting ready to build my first frame and I'm wondering if it's worth investing in a purge setup.
Love your videos & great to get your wisdom on this subject. From what I can tell you're a great teacher, sad I missed the chance to take frame building 101!
Also thanks for the arc shots Mitch!
I am not setup for back purging. For steel it is not necessary. You do need it for stainless steel and titanium frames. Some of these welders back purge on steel frames, but you definitely are spending more $ on argon.
Phosgene gas is the deadly gas you're talking about. Using any cleaner (not just brake cleaner) that uses chlorine is a big no. The UV light created from the arc, superheats the chloride and creates the phosgene gas.
Q for u paul.
What is the m in Mig welding.
I knew the T was tunsten.
Like ur videos. Watching from ireland
Hello Ireland! Yes, Tig is for Tungsten inert gas, and Mig stands for Metal inert gas. It's wire feed welding, and the arc is shielded by either Argon or Helium.
M is for monomethylsilanetriol
@@paulbrodie Or often a blend of argon _and_ CO2. 75/25 or 93/7 is common for me.
Most people are actually MAG welding but they say MIG. A stands for Active gas. MIG is mostly used on aluminium, high nickel alloys, high alloy stainless and super duplex.
@@jimurrata6785 Yes, I have heard about blends. Certain blends work well on aluminum too.
I have x2 cheater lenses now. My tig welding isn't pretty 😢. By the by did I spy a tiger cub engine on your bench?
Tiger Cub video coming up...
@@paulbrodie my brothers first bike. Built in his bedroom and mum helped get it down stairs. Cost £5! I had a bsa bantam. So guessing you are making a trials bike.
@@chrislee7817 Good story. Yes, in England a lot of things were bought and sold for 5 pounds in the 60's. For example, our grand piano when we emigrated to Canada.. No, I am not making a trials bike. I already have two. It be a regular Cub to rip around my neighbourhood :)
⚡⚡
💜
I need a welder so I can learn how to weld again... I have so many ideas and things I want to make but i don't have a friend w/ a welder so I'll have to get one from Harbor Freight and start playing around.
I have to fix my ebike and I want to make a sidecar for it so I can take my son on rides w/ me... He loves going on rides but the bike trailers are always getting dirt and stuff flung inside because it's right behind the rear tire, so I want him to have a sidecar so he's closer to me and feels safer, he has autism and when he gets scared or upset and he wants to hold my hand, hes right beside me and we can talk using ASL easier as well. 😁❤️
If you are going to buy a welder, consider supporting your local welding supply shop. If there are any problems or issues, I will bet the service is better from your local shop, and you are supporting the local economy. I hope you do build a good sidecar.
@@paulbrodie - IDK of any welding suppliers in my town so I'll have to look around... If I do find one I might be able to get a few refresher courses before buying one. Thanks for the advice and the idea... 😁
I remember the first question I asked the professional when I started welding: Is there a law against cleaning your little window? He didn't need to see as well as he did when he first started welding. I thought I'd finally found something truly interesting to take for show and tell. What do kindergarten teachers know?