QUESTION (Help) For the Streetfox

Ace

Ace

G'Day All just a question or 2 in the Way Of help is it important to use 20" 48 spokes 14 mm axle wheels or can I use 20" 36 spoke 14mm axle as I have 4 of the 36 spoke and I have 2 of the 48 just in case it is. Question 2 what type of Welders is best ( Mig -Stick -Tig ) Hope someone call help
Thank You. Ace
 
36 spoke should be fine. I have used 36 spoke a few times and I'm a porker. Rim design is important too. A boxed design is desirable rather than a cheap simple U shape. Tadpole trikes put side loadings into wheels not designed to take them and strength is needed.

Mig is undoubtedly the easiest to use and learn. Stick is hardest to use on thin metal without blowing holes and harder to learn. Tig is good on thin metal but harder to learn and needs two hands leaving none for holding one bit of metal while you tack it to another. You can tack one handed with tig but without filler so small tacks only and perfect cuts without gaps. Mig spatters more than tig meaning a lot of balls of weld to kiss off with a flap disc. Mig, tig, stick in that order for this type of work would be my recommendation. Others will have other views and may suggest tig, mig, stick. I doubt you'll get many recommendating stick BUT Brad built all his designs with stick so it can be done.

Even a low power mig will be fine but try to get one with a euro torch connector as it offers better replacement options. Mig tips, shrouds and even occasionally whole torches can be classed as consumable parts. Tigs have a similar list of consumables.

Co2 is fine as shrouding gas but an argon mix is slightly better. You can get fluxed wire for migs but I've never used it. Tigs use an argon mix. Investigate what you can get locally as supply may dictate what you choose.
 
Last edited:
I've settled on TIG for work with thin tubing, or anything up to 3/16", mostly because I learned to gas weld (OA) many years ago, and I'm comfortable working 2 handed.
Handling rod and torch is just intuitive to me at this point, but as Popshot says, it has limitations, and requirements.
It certainly does make a nice clean weld, with a lot of control.
Straight argon, for steel - The mixes are really for "exotic" stuff, or aluminum.
I use a stick welder for anything heavy.
 
Last edited:
G'Day And thank you for your advice it we help me I have a 180 Amp Mig Gas/Gasless and a Stick welder but I am still a Crap welder so I guess I need lots of Practice

Thank You Ace
 
With a 180 amp mig you'll want a low to medium power setting ( say 2 or 3 out of 6 - I'd opt for 3) then tune the wire speed until you get good looking welds. When you have the correct speed you'll get a noise like bacon frying. The thicker the wire the slower the speed will need to be. 0.6mm wire is better suited to thinner stuff but 0.8mm can be used if you already have it.
 
Last edited:
Also, if you're using flux-core wire in the MIG now, treat yourself, and get it set up with gas and solid wire - You'll like it much better.
 
Can't speak to what's "best" for welding, there are plenty of others here for that. I can offer, that I have finished 4 AZ builds, all were with MIG and shielding gas. The first was 100% CO2, the other 3 were using a mix of CO2/Argon, all 4 have held up without any problems.

I'm not a welder, I learned specifically so I could make these trikes. I practiced for a few weeks every evening for a little while and would also work on cutting the steel for the first trike so I kept the build moving. Once I was able to successfully perform a few break and cut tests, I started welding on the trikes.
 
Good luck i agree lots of practice.
Every joint is different and practice on scrap really helps it takes time to get confident enough. There are several good welding channels to get started or better if you have an instructor but putting in the time with practice joints is worth it. I have only learnt tig i like the accuracy, it took me time though.
 
I can not use any electric welder due to a pacemaker, so I will use gas torch. Any suggestions as to type of gas, wire, tip size? It has been a long time since I have done any gas welding and any advise on improvements over the years would be appreciated.
 
I have only learnt tig welding, but I know of a few professional frame builders who only swear by oxy-acetylene brazing.
Rationale is larger fillet joints to take the stress and less heat into the thin tubes. It seems to make a difference for high end super thin steel not so much for thicker mild steel. Hope this helps
 
Gas is very old school these days and is hard to get the gas for in the UK for domestic use so finding tips will likely mean non UK welders.
 
Old and Slow said:
I can not use any electric welder due to a pacemaker, so I will use gas torch
Click to expand...
As Popshot says, depending on where you live, it might be more or less practical.
It's a very old technology, and all the basic parts of it are pretty much the same - Whatever you knew before about it, still applies.

But, from your post, it sounds like you're unfamiliar with it - Gas welding (or brazing) uses an oxygen / acetylene mixture.
So you need 2 tanks, hoses, regulators, and a torch set - The torch has valves that control the gas flow, and the user controls the resulting flame.
You use a bare steel welding rod, making a molten weld puddle with the flame, and dipping the rod into the puddle, just like TIG.

For tubing, you only need smaller tips, maybe #0 - #2, depending on the make of the torch head.
You should look for an "aircraft size" torch set - I particularly like Smith brand equipment, and their AW1A torch is ideal for tubing use.
Good quality gas welding stuff is not cheap, and the torch I mentioned will cost more than some cheap electric welders.

Just like any welding technology, there is a huge area of subtle technique involved with gas welding - Way too much to cover here.
There is much to learn - It's not difficult, but it will take much practice to get good with it - Just like any welding.
But, with practice, you can get very good welds on steel tubing with it - They used it to weld airplane frames, after all.

I was thinking, your question about it sounds very familiar - Did you ask about this before, or on a different forum ?
If I had replied before, then my response probably sounds familiar, also :)
 
Last edited:
Hello undertoad thanks for sharing your knowlege about oxy acetylene experience. Do you think it it worth learning to complement tig in some situations or stay with one welding process ?
 
Trickytrike said:
Do you think it it worth learning to complement tig
Click to expand...
The hand-eye coordination and technique with torch and rod are very similar, and if you learn gas welding early on, TIG comes a bit easier.
Gas welding won't really be used much (for welding), though, once you become proficient with TIG.
TIG is very convenient- If your set up is a permanent, with the welder ready at a table, all you need is to open the gas, turn on the machine and go.
Also, very minimal fumes, if the metal is clean - Not like gas, where you start with a smoky flame and adjust from there.
And you have a huge amount of control and adjustment of the process, as well as being able to weld other metals.

BUT, I wouldn't be without a gas torch, as it has many other uses -
You can braze with TIG, but I like it much better with gas, as you can pre-heat easily.
You can heat metal for forming and bending, loosen seized parts on old machinery, etc, etc.
If you have a cutting head, you can certainly use it for that - Many people only think to use it for that.
AND, you can weld with it, if the power goes out, you run out of Argon, or need to weld something outdoors.
 
Last edited:
Thanks so the torch would come in handy for a lot of jobs like any forming, cutting and brazing. I guess it would take a long learning curve to braze and would need proper training. Also as you said tig is so convenient in a small garage compared to a flamethrower making fumes, it might not receive a warm welcome from the family. Something to keep in mind for the future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Click for DIY Plans!
Back
Top