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You’re looking to save a few dollars on your build, just like everyone else. But really, in how many places can you possibly cut corners until all you’re left with is a circle? You want quality parts that look professional.
Welder Series was started to help you keep some money in your pocket and still end up with high quality, professional chassis parts. Here is a little comparison between buying parts for your project in ready to weld form (we supply the parts, you stick them together, then stick them on your frame), and welded (we weld them together and you stick them on your frame). Keep in mind that the vast majority or our product line requires welding to your frame anyways, so why not save some money while the welder’s warm? If you decide you want us to weld your parts, that’s fine! We’ll (I’ll) make sure that I’d be tickled to install every welded part going out the door on my own car.
So, a selection of parts for one frame build could save you just over $195. Some of you might say “I’d rather them weld it for $195…” but some might say “cool… sounds like fun!” Someone else might say “Did you know they filmed an adult giant squid for the first time in 2006?”
Whether you weld it or we (I) weld it, we’re sure you’ll be glad you ordered from Welder Series!
In this video, I talk about keeping the torch steady by setting up a ‘tripod’ with your wrist. I also give some reasons for my affection towards my skinny torch.
While strolling around at Performance World, I bumped into John Edwards of Dream Machines (John was the Builder of the Year for 2010). As we glanced around the show, we noticed a bit of a crowd gathered over at the Lincoln Welders booth. ‘Sheep Mode’ kicked in and we went to check out whatever it was that was so exciting… turns out it was a video game type welding simulator that Lincoln brings to shows and even shops for training in MIG welding.
A welding helmet houses virtual reality goggles, so that when you drop the helmet as if to start welding, you see a virtual landscape of a job site. There are TV screens hooked up so that passersby can see what you’re seeing. John and I decided that a Weld-Off was in order, just like the good old days.
I decided to kick off the show, and after John mentioned to the Lincoln guy in charge of the simulator that I had never welded before, he put the helmet on for me. Nice touch. As you pick up the welding gun, it appears as if floating on the screen. There is a coupon (two pieces of “steel” set up at 90 degrees) in real life, held on a sort of arm, and you have to “weld” the pieces together. To give you a bit of a guide, there are some indicators on-screen which tell you if you’re in the right range in terms of how far away you are from the material and your angle. This was especially helpful since I have “never welded before”. On my second run, John thought he would be a wise guy and hold my cable while I was welding… turns out that was my winning pass!
I’d like to thank John for the challenge, and offer some consolation: this was a video game, after all, and I hear that video games are difficult for the older generation to keep track of. It’s also not representative of the work John does in real life – he’s a top-notch fabricator, as the Builder of the Year title supports.
This is a short little video on keeping things steady when you’re tig welding… specifically the filler rod. A new rod is 3′ long and quite floppy when you’re holding it at one end, so I thought this little tip may help at least someone keep that filler rod steady.
 Welding With DW: steady that TIG rod
I’m on my way! First YouTube, now MyRideisMe.com! OK, YouTube on MyRideisMe.com. Same difference.
Welding With DW (WWDW) is a series of videos I’ll be shooting over the next 10 to 15 years (whichever Pikesan signs the contract for) focusing on little things that have helped me weld over the years. I’m even going to try and avoid calling them “how-to” videos, implying that this is how you should do it. Instead, they’re more like “how-I-do-it” videos.
This first video covers a little bit on how I hold a tig torch. Enjoy!
This is a great overview of the aluminum welding process. I need to work on my own aluminum welding – I don’t do it enough!
From Lincoln Electric
A Guide to Aluminum Welding
Reprinted courtesy of Welding Design and Fabrication magazine.
Equipment Selection, Material Prep, Welding Technique…
Either stick, MIG or TIG can be used to assemble and install Welder Series parts. The machine has to have the capacity to weld the material thickness (most Welder Series brackets are 3/16” mild steel).
Stick welders don’t need a tank of shielding gas because the electrode is coated. This coating burns and keeps the air from the weld during the fusion process. Stick welders are more forgiving than TIG if the material being welded is dirty. A good weld made with a stick welder is… a good weld.
MIG welders are convenient because the wire feeds as long as the trigger is pulled (until the spool is emptied). It is easier to get the gun in position to weld because the arc will only be created when the trigger is pulled. MIG offers greater control than stick because the arc is closer to your hand, the arc is always the same distance from your hand (a new stick electrode starts out 12” to 14” long and burns down to the holder), and it’s easy to use two hands to steady the gun. MIG welders are more forgiving than TIG if the material being welded is dirty.
TIG welding gives the greatest power control of the three types being discussed. Often a foot pedal or thumb control is used to adjust the intensity of the arc while welding. TIG requires co-ordination between both hands and, with a foot control, one foot. TIG is not tolerant of dirty material. Rust or carbon scale will “jump” from the material to the tungsten electrode and change the arc pattern. Often it’s necessary to stop welding and replace or sharpen the tungsten when this happens. TIG does produce the dainty, “etched” pattern often seen in street rod and race car products. These are made by highly skilled welders.
A Welder Series tig weld.
Welder Series Mustang II upper towers, showing a mig bead (foreground) and tig bead (around the shock cone).
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