Eagler's Nest

General Category => Off Topics and General Interest => Topic started by: Richard Riddick on March 19, 2023, 08:49:57 AM

Title: fuselauge welding
Post by: Richard Riddick on March 19, 2023, 08:49:57 AM

Gents; My first post ever! I have plans 88-L and have two questions.
#1. Does anyone still sell a materials kit?
#2. Is TIG welding a substitute for acetylene?

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: Kamcoman77 on March 19, 2023, 11:06:49 AM

Welcome to the Forum!
#1 No - John Bolding doesn't offer kits any more.
#2 Yes - Quite a few Legal Eagles have been TIG welded.

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: CHARLES DEBOER on March 19, 2023, 10:34:45 PM

A gas torch will make it easier to bend the bottom longhorns.

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on March 21, 2023, 05:15:57 AM

If you are not an accomplished TIG welder, I'd recommend using gas. It is much more forgiving, especially when you are laying on your back with the pedal between your knees.  :)

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: CHARLES DEBOER on March 21, 2023, 10:23:14 PM

The MECO Miget Torch has been recommended by several members.  It is small and allows you to get into tight cluster joints.

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: 914pete on March 22, 2023, 06:07:14 AM

I agree with Chuck. I welded my fuselage with O/A. First time using O/A and after a few hours of practicing I was able to get very good welds on my fuselage. I had very good luck with the HF standard O/A torch, hoses, regulators and flashback arrestors. The mistake I made was renting tanks. If I was doing it again, I would buy tanks. I spent WAY more $ renting them. Since I love welding I bought a TIG for aluminum projects. I've gone through 2 tanks of Argon practicing and I still don't feel proficient enough to move onto a project. I'm finding TIG welding a little more difficult to learn. I did buy a very small cheaper torch similar to the Meco midget for O/A welding that really didn't work very well. If you want to go that route spend the $ on a Meco. But I was able to get in all the tight areas pretty well with the standard HF torch.

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: DA Miller on March 22, 2023, 05:51:25 PM

I used the Henrob DHC2000 Cobra torch and have been very happy with it.

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on March 25, 2023, 03:44:40 AM

Quote

I'm finding TIG welding a lot more difficult to learn.

FIFY  :)

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: okdonn on March 25, 2023, 09:45:29 AM

I started with the Henrob DHC2000 Cobra torch, and it works very well, but I found it a bit awkward in some of the inside portions of multiple tube clusters. I bought and am now using the MECO Midget with the light weight hoses and love it. I'll keep the Henrob DHC2000 Cobra torch for heavier work.
You won't go wrong with either one, but do get the light weight hoses!

Title: Re: fuselauge welding
Post by: DA Miller on March 26, 2023, 07:54:47 AM

I do have the light weight hoses. I used the Henrob optional 4 inch? extension to reach into some of the complex clusters.