Recent content by MrCreosote

The first 2 questions are: 1) how much distortion can you tolerate and 2) do you need full penetration/full strength at the weld (what are the loads on the table? More welded material, more distortion.) The high aspect ratio of the pieces (long and narrow) is going to very distortion prone.

German aviation certified welder, car restorer, inventor and B25 bomber pilot in WWII was God with the oxy-acetylene torch. He o-a welded roll cages I believe out of 4340 - definitely not the common 4140. He was a superb stick welder but back then in the 40's and 50's, critical welds were...

20 ga sounds light. Studebakers in the 60's used 18 ga which is .048 inches. Metal fabrication shops can sell you that - cheap if they have drops. If I have a quick rough repair with laps, I use new metal that is thicker. When the water gets into the lap, the thinner original metal will...

If you want to be 110% explosion safe, use a Sawzall w/12" blade and cut while full of water. Once you have it cut open, if you can still smell the skunking, I'd build a bonfire and roast the pieces - lots of heat should get rid of that oil. (or use one of those million BTU propane torches -...

KEMPPI is a top level product that has been used in industrial settings here in the USA for years. Some have found their way into individuals' hands and it is extremely difficult to find information and support for them. They are starting to show up at the "retail" level. The quality of their...

I'd like to have this system, is supposed to be a really fine aircraft torch. I have the Smiths and it shames the Victor J27. I don't know how it would compare to a Henrob. When in high school, had this old German god-level o-a welder (was a B25 pilot in WWII) and he had this torch that had...

Since you're welding 3/8" plate, sounds like you have a good torch that is not prone to popping. I have one scar in particular that resulted from that (!) Back in the 70's I was pretty adept at welding autobody and was developing a wicked skill of judging the right amount of preheat so that...

Use the largest tip or cutting head you can so that the nut heats up before the bolt, expands relative to the bolt and breaks the rust crystals. If you use small tip, you don't get a big temp differential between them. Another trick is to use an impact gun at a very low setting - the "hammer"...

Is your torch the CA27-V or the CA270-V? What handle do you have? is it an aircraft style? I have the J27 aircraft handle, many tips, and the C100 cutting attachment since the 70's. I know if you adjust the pressure for laminar flow (no turbulant "roar"), the torch will pop like crazy when...