Welding equipment?

[Mike Freeman]

Hi

One of the skills I would like to learn, in order to build my aircraft is welding. I know that this would need doing by an LAA qualified welded and so wouldnt be able to do it myself, however I would still like to buy a welding set and practice on bits of scrap maybe one day going for certification myself eventually.

My question is what type and size of welder would be best for aircraft construction? I dont want to by a set that is no good but there is alot of choice.

Regards

[Bill McCarthy]

"Google" welding courses, and fix yourself up with one in your area. TIG weld process is the one to apply for.

[Ian Melville]

This thread may also be useful reading
http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co. ... php?t=2033

[Mike Freeman]

Thanks for the replies.

Do you think it is possible to teach yourself to weld? I would find it hard to commit to a course deue to my job. I was thinking of just getting a 2nd hand welder and some scrap metal and building a few things to practice.

[rans6andrew]

I have been thinking along the same lines. I tried the local colleges and they wanted silly money for a whole year of welding tuition covering all types of welding. When I suggested that I only really wanted to do a taster day of TIG they could not manage it.

I looked at the cost of TIG equipment as well. To do all of the materials you might see in aircraft construction work you need a versatile welding set, able to do both AC and DC work, variable cycles for the half waveforms on the AC settings. HF start and ramp up are nice to haves but do speed the learning curve. Once all of that is taken into the equation I was going to have little change from £2K. I still have not got the figures for the gas bottle contract.

My solution, for the time being, has been to talk to welding outfits local to me (Reading, Berks), tell them where I am coming from and ask what they might do. A small welding business near to me is prepared to let me go for a taster day with them for £200. When you look at the equipment outlay and the amount of scrap you might blow holes in as you go I think this is a good way forwards. I hope to do this in September.

Felixflyer, where are you based?

Rans6...

ps I did ask the LAA if they might put on a TIG course but they were non-committal at the time. Perhaps there would be sufficient demand. Anyone else?

[Mike Freeman]

Hi

That sounds good. Im in Windsor so not far from you. What I dont understand is how all these people are building aircraft that require a metal tubular frame welding together. Are they all certified?

Mike

[Nick Allen]

I did a two-day welding course at Reading College a couple of years ago. It was called "Welding for Boaters", but don't let that put you off! It covered all the basics, and if you were interested in concentrating on a particular technique, the (excellent) tutors were happy to let you run with it. Very reasonable price: if it's still running I'd recommend it highly as a "primer".

Edited to add: try this link for contact details:
http://www.waterscape.com/services-dire ... ng-college

[Mike Freeman]

Maybe the LAA could do a beginners course. Obviously it would not allow you to go out and weld your aircraft together afterwards but may be enough to let you tack weld things together.

[Ian Melville]

Maybe the LAA could do a beginners course. Obviously it would not allow you to go out and weld your aircraft together afterwards but may be enough to let you tack weld things together.

Um, er The LAA does do basic a course
◦Welding - one on one courses are available and run by Robin James based in Herefordshire.
◦Cost of course: £235.00 incl VAT. Please contact us if you are interested.
I'm sure the winter courses will be anounced soon

[Mike Freeman]

Excellent, I will try and get on that one.

[Ian Melville]

Mike, Since the course is one-on-one, I would just call up Penny Or Sheila in the office and get them to put you in contact with Robin.

As the owner of a MIG welder, I'm tempted to learn beyond blasting two bits of metal together My first attempts with car panels were not pretty, but I did get four more years life out of the old banger, and even then it was nicked!!

[Nigel Ramsay]

An excellent 'Primer' is "Welder's Handbook" by Richard Finch. If you want to depress yourself, read "Welding Guidelines with Aircraft Supplement" by Jeppesen Sanderson Training Products!

Welding is definitely a skill that needs a lot of practice to be consistently good. I did a C&G course about 30 years ago (!) and specialised in Oxy-Acetylene, which is actually a very useful form of welding (it also prepares you for the hand/eye co-ordination required of TIG).

I can't warrant the cost of a decent TIG outfit and use MIG instead for general stuff, but I wouldn't attempt to weld an airframe using any technique, preferring to leave it to a pro who does it all the time.

To become a certified welder would require a lot of effort, probably too much unless you want a job at the end of it!

My only advice as far as equipment is concerned is to avoid cheap kit. Hobby welders are awful things, have poor wire feed and power control and the cost of the tiddly bottles is extortionate!

Having said that, it's a very useful skill for making 'things' and worth going on a course for that purpose. I'm currently knocking up a 'sideways' trolley to get a 36' span into a 30' foot Polytunnel!

[Bill McCarthy]

PFA Metals offer an "off cuts" pack containing various sizes of chrome moly tubing. It would be worth while getting hold of some of that for trial sessions is weld prepping, gap setting and actual welding. I see that TIG outfits start at about £300 and add another nought for top line stuff.

[johnhatyai]

I just have two questions..Why TIG as opposed to MIG?
and If one is already a quality welder how does one become CAA approved?

[Nick Allen]

You might find this thread useful:
http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co. ... php?t=2033