How To TIG Weld

[Ji Gantor]

If you want to increase your compression on your old Bultaco break out the TIG tourch.
Oh yeah you also have to mill the weld down.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

Hi Shane,
I purchased the Alloy from Action Aluminium.
They have great stock and are open on Saturdays.

I like TIG welding and when Mrs Gantor lends a helping hand I jump at the chance.
Thanks for your advice.
Keep well.
Ji

[Lozza]

How gets the top bunk? The head looks like it wants lots of help

[Ji Gantor]

Hi Lozza,
Yes that head needs a lot of help.
Who gets the top bunk, well I also designed it so the mezzanine floor can be lowered to just above the handlebars of the bikes and become a bed if required. We may need this next year if the Tri Series takes off.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

On Sunday we sat back and just looked at the mezzanine floor Mrs G and I and brainstormed about what could go up on top.
List includded,
Gazebo,
50 litres of water for drinking, gerniing bikes and dish washing,
Spare parts boxes,
beds,
chairs,
sleeping bags,
cooking utensiles,
riding gear, boots, helmets....,
clothes,
food.
after all there is 1.15m3 of volume to fill rather than the boot of the four wheel drive.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The next thing I have to do is replace the old ply hatch door with 5mm thick Alloy tread plate.
The price of the stuff is what has prevented me from doing it so far as a sheet costs around $280.00.
But if the Tri series does breath life next year I feel the old ply one will be lost somewhere between Brisbane and Sydney.

The Horsepower float already has a 4mm thick Alloy tread plate floor.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The week before Coles Creek I TIG welded up a steel third bike carrier for the Horsepower float.
I wanted to use Alloy but the members would have been to large and also fatigue would have been an issue so steel it are.

Ji

[VMX247]

We have just purchased a trailer for our Vic trip and other MX events,the Alumina Checker plate on the inside of the tail gate is deadly slippery,   just a warning in case that's what the eastern staters call alloy tread plate.
The inside walls have small sized mesh attached ,great for handing bits and bobs on 
Ji great bike hauler-don't sleep up there on the new shelving or you may have icecaps on places you never knew possible   
cheers

[Ji Gantor]

Hi VMX247,
Yes the Alloy tread plate is very slippery and that is why we use the rubber matt on top of it.
I am going to replace the ply tailgate as well with 5mm Alloy tread plate but that too will have rubber conveyor belt over the top for grip.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The gas saver kit with a see more pyrex cup after two weeks of solid TIG welding.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The pyrex does start to crack and chip on the end. This torch was never dropped. But you can still see through the cup. I now need to rotate the cup so I have a nice clean face to work with.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The third bike carrier was TIG welded.
The steel brackets that hold it to the Horsepower float allow it to hinge out away from the tailgate.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

The metal I used  was Galzanized. I did grind all the zinc off prior to welding or so I believed.
The zinc vapourises as the heat rises and droplets form on the electrode, very frustrating.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

I also TIG welded a steel latch for the locking system for the ply hatch.
This allows the lock to be non-locked but secure while travelling.

Ji

[Ji Gantor]

More aluminium TIG welding.
Tomorrow I have to TIG weld two aluminium brackets that will restrain the cargo on the mezzanine floor while travelling.
The brackets will consist of CHS sockets.
This will be my first time TIG welding tube.

Ji