This is more of a hypothetical question, but anyways, I'm buying an '85 VFR 700 this weekend for dirt cheap. The guy says the frame is straight but if I happen to have to end up doing frame work, what welder is the best to use? I am a complete amateur when it comes to welding, would I be better off taking it to a shop? The thing is, I want to learn how to weld and I figured this bike would be a good opportunity for me (its only $150). What do you guys think? Thanks. -Lucas
IMO....easiest for you to use is MIG (metal inert gas, such as argon, or helium)....as long as you have your wirespeed correct, and a good gas shield (or flux core wire on the cheaper models, gas is preferred though)...I could have taught my Grandma to run nice beads in a day. So hard to F up a MIG weld once you practice a little, and the worst you will do is occasionally stick the wire to the metal. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) is a preferred method, as it is much more precise, and you have more control over it (you control voltage with a foot pedal), and usually stronger welds not to mention a lot prettier welds Nothing like seeing a nice beautifully rippled TIG bead. TIG is harder to run a nice bead with than MIG, but not too bad for steel once you practice. It is easy for a newbie to keep contaminating the tungsten electrode with the base metal. TIG aluminum is much harder for most than steel....very easy to F up those welds because you cannot read the metal like you can steel. Goes from shiny to blob in like 2 seconds if you are not careful. Just regular old oxy-acetylene gas welding (torch and filler rod) is pretty simple to do as well. ARC(stick) welding is for heavier gauge/ larger welds mostly. Lincoln is one good brand of welder, but there are many other (cheaper) brands that run a good bead as well. MIG welders are pretty cheap.
I am certainly not a welder. Last time I welded was in high school shops back....oh shit I can't remember now. Might have been over 40 years ago. OOOPS! I will bow to Stuke. He seems to know more than me. BUT, do you really want to practice on anything that you may be riding at a what is more than likely be a higher rate of speed, and going into corners on the hot side? Hey Stuke. You had better save this one. May never bow to you again!
Aluminum I'd GTAW. If you have a MIG worthy of good aluminum welding in your garage, you're not a novice. Steel GTAW or GMAW. I'd stay out of the wind and do it with gas, not fluxcore IMHO. The only time I need He gas is to GMAW on Co or Ni superalloy for arc stability. Ar will do you fine. And yes, with short practice you can lay a good bead with GMAW, but if you're going to ride it afterward and you are a novice, I'd get some help to make sure you're not endangering yourself. Otherwise, practice like hell on similar materials for some time before you move on to something that will be conveying your backside at 100 mph.
If you need welding practice....do it on your broken lawn mower or something. Would you feel good about running a bead of "chicken shit" or poor penetration or warping some structural part of the bike your life depends on? Take 'er to a pro and have one less thing to worry about!
+1 Sounds like stuka has done a little welding (or at least has read some good books on the subject). Being in the semi-trailer repair business, I have several welders...mig, tig, heliarc and stick. You need to have a GOOD welder do any frame welding for you. TIG, or heliarc, is the only way to go. It is much stronger and looks better. But, a good water-cooled TIG rig will cost thousands of dollars to buy. A motorcycle frame is NOT the place to learn. If you do it wrong, and it breaks, you CRASH!!! If you just want to learn to weld, take a class at your local Vo-Tech or High School in the evenings. I'd start with a simple MIG welder. I like Miller, Hobart and Esab welders as well as Lincoln. Stay away from the chineese no-name models though.:biggrin:
If you want to learn to weld -> sign up for a night course at the closest vocational school. They will hopefully get you hands-on with each process...though sometimes only OA and Stick w/ academic coverage of MIG/TIG. If you want to do any structural components, look into taking courses for certification. Becoming a good weldor does rely on LOTS of practice, but first you need instruction as well as feedback from someone who knows what they are doing. Out of all processes, MIG can be the most deceiving in the hands of a novice since its easy to lay a bead which is weak and of poor quality. Why do you mention welding in regards to this bike purchase? Is there reason to believe the frame is damaged and/or not straight? If so, I'd not only want a certified weldor but a weldor who specializes in motorcycles. Not something you learn overnight or by tinkering.
