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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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