'78 KZ1000 makeover

OK, I have a simple question for the more experienced welders (Leon, RSslingshot, anyone else):
Would it be a good idea to go over all my mig welds with a tig torch and some filler rod? More to the point, I don't want to completely grind down and smooth every weld, I would be happy to have a half decent tig welded joint to paint over. Will this cause any trouble with the previously mig welded joint?

you can wash the mig weld back in with tig torch,but if there was any impurities under the mig weld and you get hot enough to penetrate through the old weld the tig will cause those impurities to rise to the surface and create bugholes.
you would also need to make sure that there was no moisture trapped inside the already welded tubes and that the tubes were not rusted inside because that rust would be an impurity like i spoke of.
so try low heat and just make a small puddle and use it to just smooth out the surface.(without over penetrating).

so i am thinking
could it be done? yes
could you create more work for yourself?yes

that is my .02,maybe someone else has some better info.

leon

Thank you Leon for your input I SHOULD be working on my molds, but I had a small bit of time this evening, and I worked on a new welding cart for my Tig and plasma cutter. I got the bottom of the cart almost finished, I still want to add a couple of braces, otherwise I'm happy with it:

Any spot you see a black scorch mark is a spot where I contaminated my tungsten. The little bastards have a way of getting crapped up waaaaaaay too often. Tig welding is cooooooool! It's not a walk in the park though. It takes a steady hand and perfect rhythm to get the desired stacked dimes beads in a straight line and a consitent width. But the aluminum cart is good practice before I touch my bike with a tig torch
A diamond plate cart is gonna look cool....

nothing like jumping in on the deep end adam :laugh: !
lookin good man,i have seen a few guys buy tig welders and then get frustrated and sell them because they couldn't get the hang of it.


leon

what kinda gas are you using?

531blackbanshee wrote:

nothing like jumping in on the deep end adam :laugh: !
lookin good man,i have seen a few guys buy tig welders and then get frustrated and sell them because they couldn't get the hang of it.


leon

Thanks for the compliment Leon. I'm not the type to give up, and I'm a fast learner :laugh: I must confess though, if it wasn't for learning gas welding in H.S. shop class, it would be alot harder to pick up tig welding. As far as jumping in the deep end, I had read an interesting artical by a welding teacher that theorized it was better to start new tig welders out on aluminum. Because they don't know that aluminim is supposed to be hard to weld, they just adapt to welding it, more precise heat control, faster filler rod feed rates, ect.... So, I figured I might as well start with aluminum and see how it goes. Not to bad so far, but I'm still learning.

Joe, I'm using straight Argon for tig.

looking good. keep er going. i dont know how you do it with your shedule.

Thats the trick, isn't it? I haven't gotten crap done in the last 2 months, and in the last month, what time I did have, I've been screwing around with tig welding training. Now that this project is comming to a close this week, I'll have more time. I'm supposed to call irishwill tomorrow...my triples should be done :woohoo:

I ordered a front tire, and will pick it up tomorrow. I got a Bridgestone Battlax BT016. Decent price at $83...I think it's the cheapest street tire I have ever bought.

Now, when my triples show up (hopefully before Xmas) I'll be able to install the timkin bearings waiting on the bench and have myself a complete roller. Man, that will be an amazing milestone for me

cant wait to see that bad boy out in the light.

And now I present to you the first production set of irishwills offset triple clamps

To be shipped out tomorrow :woohoo: and if the post office is on my side, I'll have a roller by Xmas

mmmmmm, you better be ready next summer!