cage welding questions

[rc dreemer]

ok guys I recently started to learn to do some of my own fab work with my new welder (linc 140). I tried to make some shock hoops & other misc. small items & I am wondering what all you expert fab & welding guys use to grind down or smooth the welds on small items like hoops & cages??
I tried my dremel but I am not sure what to use (attachments??) would you expert fab guys mind sharing some of the deep guarded secrets of the fab world??

thanks for the information & time

rc dreamer

p.s I know it is a big welder.... but I do 1:1 stuff too

[wings_of_fire]

Pneumatic or electric die grinder is your best bet. They have a collet size into which the right diameter grinding bit fits.

die grinder usa | eBay


This seems like a dentist grinder.
Die Grinder Miniature 90 Degree Head | eBay

You can see grinding bits here
American Rodcraft 7102 1 4" Mini Die Grinder Kit | eBay

[bob1961]

our small stuff we build, your better off brazing over welding....no grinding to clean up welds ....

[C*H*U*D]

Or silver solder. That's my preferred method.

[Szczerba]

Get enough practice with the small stuff and your grinding will become less of an issue when welding. It's taken me about a year of teaching myself MIG welding to really start laying down clean beads and joints. Before that, I spent quality time with my dremel, metal cutoff wheel and sanding drums. Good luck and keep practicing.

[WAFFLE]

This dremel EZ lock attachment is nice 1 1/2" grinder wheel:EZ541GR 1-1/2" Grinding Wheel / Model: EZ541GR

The also have a multiple EZ lock cut-offs: EZ Lock Cut-off Wheels

The EZ lock is quick and works great, the grinder and cut-offs are sturdy and don't bonce off your forehead like the old screw on disks.

As far as welding tips:
-use 0.025 wire for RC work
-Don't butt your pieces tight, leave a small gap to fill so your weld doesn't protrude. you can notch or v the ends on rod as well.
- I like to run my welder on the hot side with low wire speed to try and melt into the piece more.
-I clean every weld or tack with a stainless wire brush
-Welding tables are nice to have and can make life easier, clamp your ground to the table, so now you can just weld anything that touches the table. makes setting up jigs and clamps nice too.

[joeyf]

I like to tack weld everything then braze it all up. I do this because i get to see all the metal work 90% done. If there is anything i dont like its easy to break a tack and i only have to turn on the brazing torch once when i finally like how everything Looks. Also there is no clean up needed with tacks.

[rc dreemer]

Originally Posted by bob1961

our small stuff we build, your better off brazing over welding....no grinding to clean up welds ....

THANKS!.. i am having to do the welding so the wife see's me using my christmas gift from her....

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

Or silver solder. That's my preferred method.

as noted above I need to try to use the welder so i can get better at that...

Originally Posted by Szczerba

Get enough practice with the small stuff and your grinding will become less of an issue when welding. It's taken me about a year of teaching myself MIG welding to really start laying down clean beads and joints. Before that, I spent quality time with my dremel, metal cutoff wheel and sanding drums. Good luck and keep practicing.

the dremel, cutoff wheels & sanding disks is what i am looking for... i just am not sure of the best to use?

Originally Posted by WAFFLE

This dremel EZ lock attachment is nice....the grinder and cut-offs are sturdy and don't bonce off your forehead like the old screw on disks.

As far as welding tips:
-use 0.025 wire for RC work
-Don't butt your pieces tight, leave a small gap to fill so your weld doesn't protrude. you can notch or v the ends on rod as well.
- I like to run my welder on the hot side with low wire speed to try and melt into the piece more.
-I clean every weld or tack with a stainless wire brush
-Welding tables are nice to have and can make life easier, clamp your ground to the table, so now you can just weld anything that touches the table. makes setting up jigs and clamps nice too.

I will check into the ez lock items...., I will get the 025 wire & related feeding stuff as well. Then put to use the info. tips you provided

Originally Posted by joeyf

I like to tack weld everything then braze it all up. I do this because i get to see all the metal work 90% done. If there is anything i dont like its easy to break a tack and i only have to turn on the brazing torch once when i finally like how everything Looks. Also there is no clean up needed with tacks.

That is a pretty neat idea... i am going to try to see if i can get the welding down first.. if not then i will conceed to the brazing idea as mentioned above.....

Thanks for all the helpful hints & tools.... all you guys aren't as bad as everyone makes you out to be....

rc dreemer

[1tonscout]

Mig welding is going to produce a bad finish. Tig welding, silver soldering and brazing are the preffered methods of welding for rc chassis fab. If you're really good at mig welding, you can throw down a good weld that wont need much grinding

If I were you I'd switch to silver solder, I looks so much better and if you make a mistake you can brush flux on the joint and un-solder it

[bob1961]

Originally Posted by C*H*U*D

Or silver solder. That's my preferred method.

same difference, either safety silv with separate brush flux, or flux coated rod ....

[BigSki]

I take a roll of 1" wide 80 grit emery cloth, tear off a 6" piece, then tear that lengthwise into strips about 1/4" wide then use it sorta like dental floss. It gets nice and tight into all of the corners.

[rc dreemer]

bigski,
thanks!! i will get some of the emery cloth & try that as well.... that seems like a pretty good idea....

[WAFFLE]

Don't let these guys discourage you, some of the best builders on here use a mig

mg200
grizzly4x4
carter fab

[rc dreemer]

waffle.... no worries....I just hope that when I grow up I can be half as talented as the guys you mentioned.....

I just need to make the time to practice

[4.3 Zook]

I didn't see it mentioned but if you are using fluxcore,don't,do
yourself a humungous favor and get a 15lb. bottle of CO2.
Cost around $70. That model should have came with a regulator.

[Wade]

Originally Posted by WAFFLE

The EZ lock is quick and works great, the grinder and cut-offs are sturdy and don't bonce off your forehead like the old screw .

Lol, I can't even count the times that has happened to me.

Cheers
Wade

[rc dreemer]

Originally Posted by 4.3 Zook

I didn't see it mentioned but if you are using fluxcore,don't,do
yourself a humungous favor and get a 15lb. bottle of CO2.
Cost around $70. That model should have came with a regulator.

4.3..
yea i have a friend that swears by using gas as well... i am going to look into getting a tank soon..

wade,

LOL!!.. yea i wear safety goggles all the time when "dremmeling" & almost everytime that happens!!!.. afterwards i think "dang!!! i should just get a full face shield!!!!" ..

i don't know what's worse!... having that happen the first time or knowing that you are going to put another one on right after it happens & then now expecting it too!!!!

thanks for all the feedback!

[WAFFLE]

Do your self a big favor and get this bottle, $100 shipped. Best deal around that I've found, take it to your local weld supply and exchange it for a full tank of C25 for about $40. You welder should have came with the regulator and hose.
Gas Bottle - Refurbished, Metal Working, Welder Supplies, Welding Accessories | USAWeld.com

Get the .025 solid wire and .025 tips

set your gas regulator to flow at 20cfm when welding.

C25 is night and day, I welded for years with flux wire and kicked myself real hard once I realized what I was missing.

only thing flux core is good for is welding outside, with gas you want to stay inside cause you don't want the wind to blow you shielding gas away. Also stay away from drafts inside.

But there are plenty of guys that build with flux wire and have good results, but that requires lots of grinding cause there is so much spatter.

[1tonscout]

Originally Posted by WAFFLE

Don't let these guys discourage you, some of the best builders on here use a mig

mg200
grizzly4x4
carter fab

lets see some pics of a nice flux core welded chassis

[MG200]

Originally Posted by 1tonscout

lets see some pics of a nice flux core welded chassis

This is MIG welded just like all my chassis. Flux core =