Has anybody welded a steel gas tank? Tig=$,Mig=poopy,Oxy Acet?

Question

I just finished building an English wheel and shaping the three component panels of a cafe tank for a Buell using slappers, and shrinking wheels,etc. If I do say so myself the parts fit like a glove. I want to weld them myself, mild 16 gg. steel, but would like to use Oxy. acetylene rig (I have an Miller 175 mig,no gas bottle and an AC arc welder- unsutable) Anybody used Oxigen/ Acetylene without too much warpage- what filler metal and how? All this sweat and well so far-don't want to blow it. I don't mind practicing but am afraid to start on carefully made parts- tank very complicated and not easy to reproduce. Don't want to hire welder.

Answer 1

If you use the oxy-acetylene to weld the tank the flux in the filler is very acidic and will eventually ruin the paint. You can use the MIG with gasless wire, it just doesn't make a pretty weld, which means you will have more grinding to do. If you mig it the smaller the wire the less heat it takes which means less warpage. .023 is a good size. Hope that helps

Answer 2

Use the tig if you can rent or borrow. Mig if you already own it and have gas for it. Oxy is the last resort in my book. It would be real easy to burn through while filling, and you'll need steel rods instead of brass. Many muffler shops have gotten completely away from gas welding because of burn through on new exhaust systems but an experienced man can usually do it without problems. Maybe an area machine/welding shop can TIG it for you? May be worth the money for that perfect weld? Post a pic of your project when finished? Good luck!

Answer 3

Using a mig with gas is a night and day difference.

Answer 4

Use the mig, it won't burn through as easy, chances of warping are much smaller, and you can fill better with less pitting (possible leaks). Get a small bottle of gas or take it somewhere. I would not use oxy/acet. The best would be tig, try to borrow one? I suppose oxy would work if you have to, just take it slow if you do.

Something to help with the warping: heat the pieces with a torch before you begin welding, especially along the joint. This makes a deeper weld, and minimizes warping b/c the temp difference is less.

edit: i've had much better experience with gas then the flux core, but you could give it a shot

Answer 5

Use the mig. I've welded a couple tanks with mine without using shield gas (use .035 flux wire) on 18ga steel. Works great, didn't have much warping issues, but the steel was wrapped around a light duty angle iron frame... But can't complain because a constant bead was made for over 4ft, and warping the material wasn't an issue.

In you case I would spot weld the tank, working my way around doing multiple areas at a time to help with the heat. But I would only do this if I was able to smooth down the welds, or plan on adding some filler to the tank to smooth out areas.

If it is for final to be see welds, it would be harder to be consistant bead that looked pretty, so I would try to cool the area with wet rags, or submerge the tank except for the part I was welding on to help with the heat.

Good luck

Answer 6

I also agree mig is probably your best bet.



Just about any welding device{stick tig mig etc...} could be used. It is the experience of the welder that gets it right not the welding device.