DIY Network

Welding Information (Web Extra) Tips to assist your next welding project From "Freeform Furniture" episode DFFF-107

Host Amy Devers shares some bonus information on tack welds, filling and cleaning welds.

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	Host Amy Devers explains the welding process...
	and reveals how to get your project water-cut.

The Welding Process

The welding process was developed in the early 40's for the aircraft industry. In Freeform Furniture a TIG (tungsten inert gas) welder was used. The TIG welder generates heat from an electric arc between the electrode at the tip of the torch, the filler rod, and the metal part that is being welded. The electrode is made from tungsten. Tungsten is the same material in light bulbs, but instead of creating light, it's creating heat--enough heat to melt metal. Basically, welding is the process of melting metal. There is also a grounding cable that clips onto the work piece itself, or to the welding table. It acts like the lightning rod on the top of a building. It takes the excess electricity, conducts it down the cable to the frame of the welder and neutralizes it.

In order to create a strong weld, you don't want any contaminates to get into the metal while it's in liquid form because that will weaken the weld and cause cracking over time. Inert gases are gases that don't combine easily with other elements--like metal. The inert, argon gas in the tank is pumped through the welder to the tip of the torch where a small amount is released. This creates a gas shield around the weld keeping out any contaminates until the metal hardens.

TIG welders range in price from $1,000 to $3,500. The one in Freeform Furniture cost around $2,800, but you can rent one from an industrial rental supply for about $60 a day and that includes safety equipment.

Welding has its own inherent dangers. You're dealing with an electric current that instantly generates 1,600 degrees of heat and a flash of light that's so bright it could blind you. A welding mask not only protects your eyes from the flash of light, but it covers your entire face and part of your neck as well. This is important because that bright light can actually burn you just like a sunburn. Protect your hands and arms with leather welding gloves and a long-sleeved leather welding jacket.

A great feature of the welder on Freeform Furniture is the remote amperage control that allows one to adjust the amount of heat while welding using a foot pedal.

The welding process involves tack welding the metal pieces together, filling in the weld, and then finally cleaning the weld.

Tack Welds

The purpose of tack weld is to hold parts of an assembly in proper alignment temporarily until the final welds are made. Although the sizes of tack welds are not specified, they are normally between 1/2" to 3/4" in length, but never more than 1" in length. When determining the size and number of tack welds for a specific job, you should consider the thicknesses of the metals being joined and the complexity of the object being assembled.

Place small tack welds on one side of the joint with the filler rod. When the weld cools down, weld the other side of the joint. Tack welding involves welding two or more metal pieces together by merely applying pressure and heat to the area to be welded. Tack welding joins the two pieces of metal by using electrodes to send electrical current through the work pieces. The parts are locally heated. These small welds keep the work piece from over heating and warping until the permanent weld is made.

Filling Welds

In Freeform Furniture all of the joints were tack welded first and then welded completely and filled in with the welding rod. The melted metal fills in the space between the joint creating a strong weld--hence the name filler rod. The welds used here are technically called fillet welds--metal fused into a corner formed by two pieces of metal whose welded surfaces are approximately 90 degrees to each other. A fillet weld is very common in welded furniture. It is also one of the most difficult to weld with consistency. Fillet welds require a high heat input. With novice welders, this can lead to a lack of penetration and/or fusion defects that can't be visually detected.

Cleaning Welds

After each weld, take a wire brush and clean off the blue burn mark from the weld. This reduces the amount of polishing needed to remove the discoloration later.

How to Get Your Own Project Water-Jet Cut

If you want to get your own project water-jet cut, make sure to have a technical drawing of the project. Go to the yellow pages, Any place that cuts steel or marble should have a water-jet cutter. If there is nothing in your area, you can also consider laser cutting as an alternative.

RESOURCES :

Delta Woodworking Power Tools
Website: www.deltawoodworking.com

Festool
Website: www.festoolusa.com

Gladiator Garageworks by Whirlpool
Website: www.gladiatorgw.com

Stanley Tools Product Group
Website: www.stanleytools.com

WMH Tool Group
Website: www.wmhtoolgroup.com

Power Tools (Porter Cable)
Porter Cable Power Tools
Website: www.portercable.com

Hand Tools
Garrett Wade Co., Inc.
Website: www.garrettwade.com

The Peck Tool Company
Website: www.pecktool.com

Biesemeyer
Website: www.biesemeyer.com

Saw Blades
Forrest Manufacturing Company
Website: www.vacupress.com

Jogensen Adjustable Clamp Company
Website: www.adjustableclamp.com

Adhesives, Abrasives and Safety Equipment
The 3M Company
Website: www.3m.com

Klein Tools
Website: www.kleintools.com

Ulmia GmbH
Website: www.ulmia.de

Woodcraft
Website: www.woodcraft.com

Shop Equipment
Eagle Manufacturing Company
Website: www.eagle-mfg.com

Plastics
Poly Hi Solidur
Website: www.polyhisolidur.com

Welding Tools and Accessories
Steiner Industries
Website: www.steinerindustries.com

Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.
Website: www.millerwelds.com

Smith Equipment
Website: www.smithequipment.com

Waterjet Services
Flow International Corp.
Website: www.flowcorp.com

Greek Marble, Inc.
Phone: 323-221-6624