By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more

Member postings for Ron Laden

Here is a list of all the postings Ron Laden has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

Thread: Inexpensive inverter mig welders
01/06/2021 05:44:51

Can I assume that "you get what you pay for" i.e. cheap versus more expensive which applies to most things also applies to electrodes and can there be a lot of difference in their performance.

The Sip welder came with some 6013 rods and I guess they will be of the cheaper variety but they work and despite my inexperience I am producing welds which are much cleaner, neater and more presentable (though not perfect) than I imagined I would get when starting out. I have also cut through some of my practice welds and the penetration seems half decent, my worry was am I just laying a line of surface weld with no strength.

So is it worth always buying the more expensive brands, do they perform better, can they be easier to use I suspect they probably do and for a beginner it would be good to know that any issues are not the fault of the rods.

Ron

Thread: Removing Column form SX2.7
31/05/2021 13:26:42

Post crossed with Jason's didn't know the pins are angled.

31/05/2021 13:24:47

I have not split a SX2.7 but pretty sure there is two location dowel pins as well as the 4 bolts, so probably tight on the pins. Is there a gap anywhere around the column/base connection where you can get a flat blade in as a lever..?

Thread: Inexpensive inverter mig welders
30/05/2021 12:27:12

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.

A couple of questions:

Keeping the electrodes dry..? My workshop is reasonably dry in that I never see condensation on my machines and my tools don't rust. Is that dry enough or do I need to store them in some way to make certain?

In the videos I have been watching I have seen a couple of people holding the rod holder in one hand and using the other hand to hold the electrode. I can see that it makes sense in keeping the rod very steady but is it advisable or bad practice.

Ron

30/05/2021 09:42:33

Thanks PGK, yes I can see that lots of practice is needed and an auto darkening mask will be a help in leaving both hands free. I have got the sticking rod down to 3 or 4 before achieving the arc which is better than the dozen or more I was getting.

A close up picture of a weld from this morning which I thought not too bad, it's a bit neater than I thought I would get though it could be better I know. The driving seat I am going to build will be 1 inch x 14swg box so have ordered some 2.0mm and 2.5mm rods as I think the 1/8th rods I have will be too heavy.

img_20210530_085514.jpg

29/05/2021 20:48:40

Well I have a welder I went for new in the end. I was looking at second hand but most of them far too big for my small shop plus I couldnt find anything local. The first job for the welder is building a driving trolley for the class 22 and I want to get on with it so rather than wait for the right second hand machine to come along I bought new.

Its a Sip T141P stick welder, although new its a transformer type 40-140 amps, it came with a pair of gloves, wire brush some 6013 rods and a mask for £80. The mask is really basic but it works though I will order an auto mask.

I have been having a bit of a practice but a quarter of that time was spent trying to avoid sticking rods...lol.

Once I had an arc it went quite well though but I can see it will need a fair amount of practice to become a half decent welder, good fun though.

img_20210529_102120.jpg

Edited By Ron Laden on 29/05/2021 20:50:34

Thread: Class 22 Diesel (next project)
25/05/2021 10:19:44

Ready for a track test, a short video where I had the loco jacked on the bench for a motor/controller test, not much to see but it gives the sound and the headlights and rear lights changing with the direction switch. The two lower rear lights are red but they only show as white in the video..? I dont know why but I,m sure someone will.

I did have a sound system for the loco but it unfortunately went pop and I doubt I will buy another one and just go for a two tone horn.

With the loco jacked on the bench I took a maximum rpm reading at the wheels which comes out at 7.5 mph but that is unloaded of course. I would think though with the 500 + watts across 4 motors it should be capable of 7mph (ish) with half a dozen passengers but the club track limit is restricted to 5mph anyway.

It will be interesting to see how it pulls especially when pulling away from standstill, I have gone with the 16T pulleys that came fitted to the motors which gives a 4.5/1 ratio. I would have gone with 6.0/1 by choice but as the motors had the fitted pulleys and apparently they are a bugger to remove I thought I will see how it goes. Should it need lower gearing I can change the pulleys to 12T.

Ron

Edited By Ron Laden on 25/05/2021 10:34:24

Thread: Inexpensive inverter mig welders
24/05/2021 09:18:11

Sorry double post.

Edited By Ron Laden on 24/05/2021 09:19:51

24/05/2021 09:17:46

Thanks guys for the advice, appreciated.

I have been watching and reading beginners guides and reviews on the small inverter type welders, it seems to be a real mixed bag. Some units seem to be ok (ish) and others not very good to the point of been dangerous, one review on a "new" welder (cost £83) found there to be no fuse in the 13amp plug but a piece of thick copper wire soldered across the fuse connectors.."scary"

I am thinking of going with a stick welder to make a start and following Noels advice and finding a second hand older type welder. I have had a quick look and there seems to be a fair number of them for sale at very reasonable prices. I dont have the space for a large unit so it will have to be smallish to medium size if I can find one.

I appreciate that whatever type of welder I go with it is going to take some practice and learning to become anything like reasonable and able to produce a decent weld, should be fun though.

Thanks again for the advice.

Ron

23/05/2021 09:29:08

Morning Guys

I would appreciate any thoughts good or bad on the small inexpensive (£50 - £75) inverter type mig welders, does anyone have or use one and if so their experience with it.

I guess I,m asking are they any good for light work say up to 3mm or are they a waste of money and best avoided. I am a beginner when it comes to welding so I suppose that needs taking into account.

Thanks

Ron

Thread: Thompstone Engine
18/05/2021 07:28:35

Just shows how attention to detail no matter how small makes all the difference, the internal corners on the legs of the lower guides look much better than plain 90 degree corners.

Nice Jason.

Thread: Another Engine Build
12/05/2021 14:07:55

Thanks Jason,

I will go with studs also.

I need to make a new eccentric had a mishap with the original this morning, I was going through all the parts checking them against the drawings and for fit with mating parts. I found the groove in the eccentric measured 1.35 and not 1.5mm, dont quite understand that. It was some time back that I made the part but I was pretty sure I used a 1.5mm parting blade but it certainly is undersize.

I set it up in the 4 jaw to widen the slot and took it steady (probably too steady) and the tool grabbed making a mess of it. I could repair it but thought it better and probably quicker to produce a replacement.

These things are sent to try us.

Thread: How to countersink on a Mill?
12/05/2021 13:21:43

Just my own taste but I much prefer csk screws to finish looking like Jason shows on the second hole in his video, I think it looks a lot neater than having the band around the screw head. I have a set of 3 flute csk bits which work well enough but for M3 to M8 I mainly use a set of stub drills which I reground to 90 degree and are sized to the screw head diameter plus a tad. They work really well, always cut clean, no chatter and leave a good finish.

Thread: Another Engine Build
07/05/2021 09:22:09

Thanks Jason

Don't know if I am missing something but GHW only seem to list High Head Hex Steel M2.5 in one length 12mm, the ones I had from Polly were 15mm long.

07/05/2021 07:28:18
Posted by Ron Laden on 06/05/2021 09:36:18:

Hi Jason

I have a memory like a sieve can you please remind me of the UK supplier for the small head metric screws.

Thanks

Ron

Found it Jason, Polly models, does the German supplier carry a larger range than Polly?

Ron

06/05/2021 09:36:18

Hi Jason

I have a memory like a sieve can you please remind me of the UK supplier for the small head metric screws.

Thanks

Ron

05/05/2021 13:22:57

Oil cups made, they are a tad under size as I didn't have any 5mm hex brass only 3/16" hex so used that, should be ok.

Just waiting for a M2.5 die to arrive so I can make the eccentric and valve rods.

img_20210505_104923.jpg

Thread: Protective film for polished metal.
04/05/2021 13:54:25

ARC list MetalGuard, Ultra, not used it but it reads well.

Leaves a 2 micron clear film that does not yellow contains corrosion inhibitors for ferrous and yellow metal.

Thread: Another Engine Build
04/05/2021 10:35:10

No not much now Jason though I had forgotten the exhaust so I made that this morning. A bit of trial and error and a couple of failed attempts but got there in the end. I used some thick wall 1/4 o/d copper tube which I opened up to 4mm i/d. Clamped a 1/4 dowel to a block, heated the tube and formed it around the dowel. It did leave a slight flat on the outside of the bend but a smear of JB should cure that.

img_20210504_101410.jpg

Thread: The Workshop Progress Thread 2021
03/05/2021 07:08:02

Looking good Jason, what type of hot glue did you use to hold the packer, I know its only temporary but surprised it grabs on metal I can see that been handy to know.

Ron

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate