all welded up

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:58 pm

Gunner. I intended to buy one from brp but could not get them on the phone so I went at it with the welder.

I lost almost 2 nubs so I layed a heavy bead across the top. then I took the caliper and layed out centers and made divideing cuts with fiber wheel on the dremel. once I had a square I started on the ouside of the square and drew the fiber wheel in and up at the same time. after not too long I had new buttons, then touched them up with the emory wheel.
tried to take pics but they were too shiney so I'll blast it first then try again.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:04 pm

can anyone tell me why I spent so much time making the nubs? I cant figure out why they used the nubs because the detent link seems to ride on top of them. wouldent a raised area on the ratchet plate serve the same purpose or am I missing something

MDMike · Post by **MDMike** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:01 pm

Jason, had you ever welded before you tackled this project? Your results look great. I myself have never welded before (although I have a basic understanding of how it works) and wold like to purchase a TIG machine to practice on before taking on a semi conversion. How much practice and what did you proctice on? TIA Mike

Karbinator · Post by **Karbinator** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:26 pm

After discussing using mig on the Reciever, I talked with a client that welds as a profession on the matter. It happened to be a subject (guns) that he enjoyed----long,

long conversation--- So to make this story short, He wouldn't dare work a reciever with a mig. I must admit, anytime the subject had been discussed on various sites, our good friend AK47 would pop up and make us aware of the danger. Now that I'm secure with PROPER knowledge, I owe you (ak) an apology

, as I have always had great success with mig---- But it was never on work I'd have to trust up next to my face/brain

.

ak47dennis · Post by **ak47dennis** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:37 pm

Karbinator, awe stops it your making me blush

. I am only so redundant cause I doesn’t want to see one of my gun buddies hurt or worse yet killed.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:07 am

MDMike, I had never welded before. I practiced over and over on various pcs. of metal that I liberated from an abandoned farm were I trap. thickness and size varied. the reciever went really smooth but the guys here have convinced me that I need to do more (thank you everyone for all the great info). this weekend I'll haul the reciever to a welding shop in the next town over and see if he can run his tig over my welds.

MDMike · Post by **MDMike** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:25 am

Yes, that is what I am planning to buy is a TIG machine. How difficult were the gaps to fill?

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:36 am

the gaps were easy. the hardest part was making sure everything was lined up, square, and the length was correct. spent a lot of time eye-balling and fitting things togeather before I got too wild with the welding.

MDMike · Post by **MDMike** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:47 pm

OK, and thanks for the information there Jason. I am looking at a Hobart #500424 machine. Anyone had any experence with them? Thanks, Mike

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:43 pm

The reason your having voids in your MIG welds is because your using the wrong gas.My local Welding supply store told me to never use argon or CO2 for welding steel because it will contaminate the weld.He told me to use "Stargon" only for welding steel.It contains around 96%Argon and the remaining mixture has Oxygen.100%Argon and CO2 are for Aluminum only.

M/W · Post by **M/W** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:35 am

Could your welding supply store be making extra money off you? I don't see were Stargon is listed for TIG welding at all. You would have the same voids in TIG as with MIG if it was the gas. There are several different blends of Stargon. Unless they are cheaper then Argon (because of being a blend of gasses) I'll stick with Argon.

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:05 pm

I thoght about the possibility of the owner just trying to sell a different tank.So I looked in my attic for my old welding reference book from the welding class I took seven years ago and I found a MIG welding gas table in the Welding Technology Welding book.Stargon is a relatively newer gas that the owner recommends and it isn't listed in my book which is copyrighted 1991.But it does specify 100%Argon for aluminum and other metals but not recommended for steel.Stargon has a CO2 mixture for deeper penetration.

http://www.picturerack.com/ims/beltlead/10264.jpg

http://www.picturerack.com/ims/beltlead/10265.jpg

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:46 pm

If anyone owns a DC output ARC welder,it can be converted into a TIG too.All you need is a TIG air or water cooled torch.My local welding store owner is a retired union welder who went thru welding school thru his local and he told me you only need high frequency TIG welders for welding aluminum.He told me that high frequency only helps start the initial weld on steel,but you can get around that by using the scratch-start method by starting the weld next to the area to be welded.I have an older Lincoln Idealarc 250 DC welder that can do ARC or TIG scratch-start welding.When I attended welding class at a Vocational School,we had an $8000 TIG machine.I experimented with the high frequency feature.I welded steel with the high frequency turned on and then with it off and I couldn't notice a difference in the weld.

http://www.picturerack.com/ims/beltlead/10290.jpg

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 10:04 am

M/W,you are correct about TIG welding with Argon.I was responding to Jason using pure Argon with his MIG welder.The reference books recommend certain gasses for different welding applications.My chart shows Argon is recommended for TIG steel welding.

http://www.picturerack.com/ims/beltlead/10418.jpg

avanarts · Post by **avanarts** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 12:01 pm

I don't see how using pure Argon could cause contamination using MIG or any other process, but I suppose that a mix using a bit of O2 could cause a bit hotter weld. This coming from a chemist not a welder.

Beyond that, I see that the TIG unit from Harbor Freight that is currently on sale for 199.99 is getting good reviews on several forums.

Art

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 7:31 pm

I have a small 110volt Harbor Freight inverter welder rated at 80 amps for ARC and 100 amps for TIG welding.I got it on sale for $140 a few years ago.That little sucker really kicks but.I can weld 1/8" steel with it and I actually have to be careful with it because it actually punches thru the steel if I stay on the same spot to long.I see the one in my catalog that you are probably referring to.It's a 220volt 90 amp ARC and 130 amp TIG inverter.I've seen Miller inverter welders with the same Amperage (Maxtar)going for over $600.

http://www.picturerack.com/ims/beltlead/10289.jpg

Post by **Pirate** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:01 pm

I have a friend who bought one, when I first saw it I thought that there's no way you are going to weld with THAT!!
We set it up and much to my surprise the little box puts out a nice steady arc with lots of power. I used to own a shop and had a small miller TIG, this HF model while not a miller can weld. I hadn't welded for several years and it felt good to lay some beads. The only thing that may or may not be an issue is In addition to starting I think the HF helps stabilize the arc. If you have a steady hand welding with out it shouldn't be a problem.
If I do decide to get into a mg 42 project I will buy one of the HF welders to use for the build.

M/W · Post by **M/W** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:16 pm

Beltlead, I did some checking at work with a few welders. They told me that if I used pure argon with Mig there would be a lot of spatter. They also said it is more difficult to lay a good bead with pure argon. But the weld would be sound. They told me we run a mix of 75% argon and 25% CO2 for Mig. The CO2 smoothes out the weld and allows for deeper penetration. They said with the 12-14 gauge steel we were welding the penetration was not a big factor. The problem with MIG is you can have a beautiful weld but it will not blend with the parent steel. The wire from the Mig melts but, just lays on top of the steel you are welding without penetrating at all. One welder told me he blends his own argon - CO2 at home. He claimed that a gas supply store will basically charge the cost for a full bottle of argon and a full bottle of CO2. I don't know how true this is. I have never purchased mixed gas. After rereading my previous post I didn't mean to come across like such a prick

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:43 pm

M/W,

No offense taken.Your not a p___.It's good we do research because we are trying to get the best weld possible with are investments.By no means am I a welding expert!I'm glad we have guys with semi-auto receiver experience in this group like AK47Dennis,he does beautiful welding work.His MG34 receiver looks like it came out of a German factory 60 years ago.

MDMike · Post by **MDMike** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:48 pm

BELTLEAD wrote:M/W,

No offense taken.Your not a p___.It's good we do research because we are trying to get the best weld possible with are investments.By no means am I a welding expert!I'm glad we have guys with semi-auto receiver experience in this group like AK47Dennis,he does beautiful welding work.His MG34 receiver looks like it came out of a German factory 60 years ago.

Yes, it does. When I saw that I was quite impressed. A work of art.

www.MG42.us

all welded up

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Tig.....ak dennis

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Stargon not Argon for Steel Welding

Tig Welding

TIG welding with Argon

Harbor Freight Tig

Harbor freight TIG welder