next few weeks at work i’m planning on turning a bunch of steel and aluminum bars (from the scrap heap) into different sized metal shelves using a TIG welder. i haven’t used the welder in awhile but i planned to be supervised by an expert. So my question is really asking for tips/pointers into putting a metal shelf together.
I understand that steel and aluminum will not combine.
The shelves will be used to hold computers and monitors and other necessary equipment for a combustion experiment.
Is there a systematic process (for a shelf specifically) into assembling the bars? How will i be able to clamp it down if the bars are going to be different widths and at right angles? Once the frame is built, there may be an option to weld metal boards, how can that be done? When will a tack weld be more useful than a line weld?
This is the first time that I will be making metal shelves, so any extra tips beyond the questions posted will benefit me greatly.
I hate to bring problems up for you, but you can’t weld aluminum to steel or vice versa. The two metals will not mix.
Also to weld aluminum your tig welder must have high freqincy on it also. Mosy welders don’t.
If you are going to use sheet steel for the shelves and want to use the aluminum bars as the post, there is a way you can do so, however it will require buying some steel pipe with the inside diameter a hair larger than the aluminum bars.
drill a series of small holes 1″ apart down one side of the pipe and then cut into small nipples between the holes. leave about 3/4″ on one side of the hole and 1/4″ on the other. Tig the pipe to the plate metal with the 3/4″ toward the plate where you want the post to go on top and bottom of the bottom shelves,( if you want some short legs on the bottom of the rack) on bottom of the top shelves and on top and bottom of all the shelves in between.
Cut the bars to fit and then use self tapping screws to attach them as you put them together.
All it will only take is a small tack weld on both sides of the pipe. Maybe a 10% to 15% weld. There isn’t any sense using up a lot of argone gas, welding rods and time welding them 100%.
It is also a question of how heavy the sheet steel is, how far between the uprights, and what will be put on them as to whether you will need bracing such as angle iron under the front and rear lip of the shelves. The heaver the load, the bigger the angle needs to be but 3/4″ x 3/4″ should be enough even if you have something as thin as 20 gauge sheet for the shelves.
If you are useing something like 1/4″ plate for the shelves, you shouldn’t even nee the angle at all unless you want the post spread a part a long ways.
Good luck and God Bless
Dennis.
P.S. If you have any more questions e-mail me and I will be happy to help.
The extra that you added didn’t help me and I doubt anyone else at fifureing out what you are trying to do. If you will e-mail me, I will give you my home number and you can call me and then maybe we can figure out what you need to know. I mean I have some questions about what you are talking about and can’t give you a correct answer with out my questions being answered and it will be a series of question, answer, question, answer, etc.
I’ll be happy to help you if you will e-mail me. If I can that is. lol.
I did find out from someone that read your question that you don’t have to have Hi Fre. if you use helium gas instead if argon gas. First time I ever heard of it after 35 years of welding but the guy seemed like he was correct. Learn some new trying to answer someone elses question. Oh well. lol
Hi, if you are not experienced in welding you will alot farther ahead with a MIG welder. Much easier to use and it doesn’t require as much technique as TIG. All you really have to do (with steel) is turn the machine up till it burns through, then turn it down a bit. Get your settings down on a scrap piece first, of course. Your project probably won’t require anything more than a little “stitch” placed at strategic locations. Aluminum is a bit more difficult and will require changing your “wire” and reversing polarity, might require help of your welder friend. Try to stick to steel if possible, much easier to work with. Good Luck.