Everyone needs a mentor to bounce ideas off of and to ask questions. I suppose the internet changes the way that can happen. I worked for a year doing channel letter neon before setting up my shop. If you need practice just make a tree, blow a hole and weld to it, blow a hole and weld onto it, keep going until your out of room on your tree. You will get better as you go. Now start doing 90 degree bends until your good at it, your manifold system can wait a bit, and it won't break, causing more frustration. I would go visit some local sign shops and see if you can find someone to help get you started. Good luck on your adventure!
Trying to make a T weld is pretty advanced. I see a hand torch in the background. You might try practicing your bubble blowing and splicing using that. In the neon schools of the 80's, one of the first things they taught was splices. I would get comfortable using the hand torch. I know some benders do all their welds in the crossfire but I find the hand torch gives me more control. You really need to blow the bubble to the size you are trying to splice to. Also, you can use a bench grinder to sharpen your file.
Everyone needs a mentor to bounce ideas off of and to ask questions. I suppose the internet changes the way that can happen. I worked for a year doing channel letter neon before setting up my shop. If you need practice just make a tree, blow a hole and weld to it, blow a hole and weld onto it, keep going until your out of room on your tree. You will get better as you go. Now start doing 90 degree bends until your good at it, your manifold system can wait a bit, and it won't break, causing more frustration. I would go visit some local sign shops and see if you can find someone to help get you started.
Good luck on your adventure!
Trying to make a T weld is pretty advanced. I see a hand torch in the background. You might try practicing your bubble blowing and splicing using that. In the neon schools of the 80's, one of the first things they taught was splices. I would get comfortable using the hand torch. I know some benders do all their welds in the crossfire but I find the hand torch gives me more control. You really need to blow the bubble to the size you are trying to splice to. Also, you can use a bench grinder to sharpen your file.
I was $18,000 invested in equipment and time before I made my first light bulb