bend pipes

[FranktheWelder]

If you live within a practical distance of southern Vermont and have a need, I invite you inquire about hand formed exhaust headers. I first learned this craft some years ago and really enjoyed a recent project on my own bike which came out pretty well. I can also do an exceptional job of "cut splice" stainless/Ti/Inconel pipes also having a good purge apparatus and ample experience TIG welding thin tubes . also mandrel bending, rotary swage, forming, production welding etc. Thanks

Untitled by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

Untitled by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

[Jack Gifford]

Nice work!
Is the engine's displacement increased in the same proportion as the exhaust ID area?

[FranktheWelder]

Nice work!
Is the engine's displacement increased in the same proportion as the exhaust ID area?

Thanks but no, 1-7/16" is a weird size tube and not very available in job shop quantities so I went up to 1.5".

[beat]

Nice work!

[FranktheWelder]

Nice work!

Thanks, did another today, much nicer.

Untitled by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

[madsundaysurvivor]

Beautyfull work!
I wish Could make my own bent exhaust pipes. but I have to settle for standard welded curves
I would like to ask you for advice about your welding experience.
I am a amateur of tig welding with argon since many years (always as a hobby) but I am not very good, for this you have to be born.
when I do my structures normally on a motorcycle with 4130 and bicycles with columbus tube. some thin-walled tubes, break next to the weld, due to vibrations, at the ZAT zone.
what can be my problem?
Do I weld too slowly and heat too much?
Do I need to pre-heat the parts with a torch Before weld?

[Momus]

Crikey! Is that exhaust flange going to be strong enough?

[beat]

some thin-walled tubes, break next to the weld, due to vibrations

hi mad

as far as I can see, yes, you are to hot.

for a 2.0mm tube, I go by around 38 Amps. and I take care NOT to melt the 2 mm right trough, no, I keep on the surface of the 2mm !

exeptional, when I filling tube with Argon at the inside as well, ( formieren in german language ), then I melt the 2 mm right trough.

a other tip: try to use the Rod in V2 SST quality, - evan on order " black " Steel Tubes.

beat

[madsundaysurvivor]

Thanks Beat, I agree with you.
Basically I have two problems:
1-I am not very good at welding with one hand and adding with another, I tremble a little and I go too slow and I get too hot.
2-my instrument is old and basic, it does not have refrigeration in the torch (I want to buy a lincoln welder, but when I save some money, the vice wins me and Theend up buying a motorcycle basket case )
I do not know the nomenclature of the rod that you tell me. In carbon steel I use Er70s or Er80s, in 4130 I use 4130 filler rods

[beat]

and I go too slow and I get too hot.

guess this is your main problem

my instrument is old and basic, it does not have refrigeration in the torch

up to 100 + Amps you do not need refrigeration in the torch, - I do not have it aider and I do welding up to 200 Amps. ( in Aluminium )

for the filler rod, I mean the 4130 , and yes, I mean it to use for the carbon steel !
( this is what I am doing )

beat

[madsundaysurvivor]

I know it, I need many more hours of experience to go faster, at the moment my jobs are not good, but at least acceptable...

[beat]

more hours of experience to go faster

you may go lower in the Amp's ?

[madsundaysurvivor]

Yes, normally I work with few amps, but I get high cords instead of flatter.
I remember my teacher telling me more amps and faster, but for this I have to be more skillful....

[FranktheWelder]

Yes, normally I work with few amps, but I get high cords instead of flatter.
I remember my teacher telling me more amps and faster, but for this I have to be more skillful....

I am sorry I didn't see your post.

I weld bicycles also, sometimes very thin material. I weld very cold and do one pass. Keep the arc very short, the weld should not be grey or black upon completion. For mild steel and 4130, I use a 70 series wire unless the part is 4130 material and will be stress relieved through heat treatment. The material must be very clean and no moving air in the room. Begin gas flow before arc and continue gas (argon only) after for a few seconds. While welding prevent filler from getting hot but try to keep it in gas cloud. very difficult in practice.

[beat]

. I weld very cold and do one pass. Keep the arc very short, the weld should not be grey or black upon completion. For mild steel and 4130, I use a 70 series wire unless the part is 4130 material and will be stress relieved through heat treatment. The material must be very clean and no moving air in the room. Begin gas flow before arc and continue gas (argon only) after for a few seconds. While welding prevent filler from getting hot but try to keep it in gas cloud. very difficult in practice.

[madsundaysurvivor]

Thanks, I know the theory, I have been welding many years with differents types, always like hobby, four or five times at month (nothing for a professional) my preffer is TIG, built and repair oil tanks, frames, exhaust, parts, estructures, and some time 2 stroke exhaust of 0,8mm of wall, but many times ugly welds, and I think that ugly cord is a bad and weak weld.

[FranktheWelder]

Welding is a great skill and can make you very popular in paddock! Your bike is a work of art!