Finish Welding an SS 2 by Girard

[ZsROD]

I will be ordering an SS 2 from Girard next week. *My question is: *I have a new arc welder. Can I finish welding the frame with a small rod and less current? *Like say a smaller 6011 rod and 60 or 70 amps?? Or would it be better to try and find a MIG somewhere??

Thanks,
Z

[ZsROD]

Did I post this in the wrong spot or what?? *

[nutz4sand]

Under frames would have worked to but its not really out of place here.

The big question is how good of an arc welder are you? It does "TEND" to be the hardest welding to do according to some people yet some can lay a heckuva weld with an arc welder. I am an ok arc welder and can weld two thicker pieces in front of me but I aint crazy about upside down. I have a mig and love a Tig which I may be buying soon. * *

If I were you I would also request some scraps of the same diameter and thickness from Girard when you order the frame and see if you can lay a arc weld into that you would trust with your life. Even cut a couple apart to see if the penatration is good if needed. *

Include welding upside down unless you can figure a way to spin the frame around (Lotsa people use engine stands or similiar. Some stands will need to be secured down to hold a complete frame as its a lot longer than an engine. But it can allow the frame to pivot to get to the welds easier. Something simple fabbed up works well also.

If you cannot weld the tube with your arc rent a GAS mig or perhaps a tig? (Unless you got a goooood friend who will loan you one) The flux cored Migs are ok at best and the quality of a real gas mig would be to your liking and make a better frame.

[nutz4sand]

The extra "practice" pieces you ask for should be notched of course to duplicate a true frame joint. I am betting he can provide that for a very minimal charge and it will be good to try and make sure the settings are right. Bill

[ZsROD]

Thanks for the reply. *I can lay a pretty good bead but I do agree with you on the MIG. *TIG would be ideal but, I don't have any experience with the TIG. Thanks again for the info. I'll ask for some scrap when I call.

[renegadespec1]

I don't think I'd 6011 that... you would be money ahead to use 7018...6011 is pretty aggressive for thin wall tubing...If you don't wan't to pop for the 7018 you could use 6013 and roll the cage around to keep the weld on top of the tubes

[masterfabr]

Nothing wrong with stick welding mild steel if you are profecient at it. Hell using low hydrogen rod and stick welding 4130 is OK. It's just cleaner and easier to mig or tig. My order of prefererence is tig(sloooow) then mig(much faster) then stick(fast and dirty).Nutz and spec gave some good tips.

[ZsROD]

I'm thinkin about going to atwoods and buying a mig. *Do y'all think I could get by with a gas-less mig??

[nutz4sand]

You might check into renting one with gas for a week before buying one without. The non gas ones can work OK but the first bit of weld will always be contaminated till the flux in the wire get heated and starts making gas. Plus they tend to make splotchier looking welds. Go to any good welding shop and I would be surprised to see a non gas mig for professionlal use (Bubba and Bobs "We weld anything for beer" doesn't count!).

There IS a reason they (non gas) are so cheap. They do not perform as well as gassers.

IF the cost of buying a welder is to high if this is an otion is to have a local welder weld it for you if there is a good one that does not overcharge. Unless doing the welds yourself is something you wish to be of your own handywork?

Call the local rental places about a Mig gasser. Phone calls are pretty cheap. Do the entire frame in a weekend or few days then return the welder till you get all the rest mocked up for final welding of all the other? *Bill

[boilermaker]

Almost anything can be stick welded and made to look good it's just a little harder to do a pretty looking job. If your a fairly good welder go ahead and stick it. It might need to be touched up lightly with a grinder to look perfect but there is a hell of a lot of pipeline's and boiler tubes,etc,etc. that have been stick welded. Just need to practice on the size and thickness tube that you'll be useing before you start. Mig is easier, faster, less fire down your sleeve that's all and with a tig you can go over the weld a second time to make it look better if need be. Stick it if you got em . If you do buy a new or used mig,you'll really like it and use it for welding things you never though about welding before...Good luck with your build which ever way you go...