hutch wrote:Seriously cool stuff, as always, also puts into perspective how much labor you have going into those pieces...
Do you have any details in any posts here about the jig you made, with what looks to be an Argon supply embedded? I'd have no clue what to do with it of course, but that looked like a cool setup.
I'm glad you appreciate the vid and work.
Handmade parts and small lots, drive making it up with labor.
The jig has been an evolution. It all started with the warping I was seeing when I used a spare gearbox as my strongback. Also having it on a case meant my position was less than ideal having it propped on a milk crate.
The base plate is a 1 1/2" blanchard (ground) plate. Tapped to accept ARP 8mm speed studs.
The argon back purge is not necessary for mild steel, but it makes the weld nicer on the backside.
There is a horizontal channel going from a barbed nipple to a vertical diffuser feeding the inside of the hump. I have a second flow meter for the back purge just barely floating the bubble to keep some positive pressure.
The current diffuser is stainless steel scruple jammed in a tapered bore. I'm going to swap it out with a sintered metal muffler. This will remove the problem of small stainless bit breaking off and potentially getting sandwiched between the jig base and cover plate.
Couple of copper pins to index the inside edge of the hump.
On the bottom of the plate is a self stick 2" square of furniture slider mover. Lets me spin the assembly with ease as I jump from opposite sides to help reduce the stress of the weld. This is in lieu of one long continuous bead. I use a wood wedge to reduce tipping if needed.
