Welders

[Max Power]

What type of welder would be best for welding the ends of the tyres on wooden cart wheels together?
I use two types one is solid steel about 45 x 12 mm , the other is a C shaped section of about 2.5mm thickness, which is designed to hold a solid rubber tyre onto the wheell.

Ive never welded, so easy to use would be good

 

[Racers]

Hi,

MIG welders are said to be the easiest ones to use.


Pete

 

[Lowlife]

Do they definitely need to be welded, would brazing do? If so then all you need is a decent propane torch. I used this method to make a steel tyre for a wheelbarrow, I ground a taper on each end of the steel strip and overlapped them, it's lasted years, although it is only a wheelbarrow!

Can't really comment on Migs as they appeared some time after I learnt to weld and I've never used one, only arc and oxy acetylene, the latter is what I personally would use if they had to be welded, but it's expensive to set up, apart from buying the welding torch etc... you have to rent the cylinders.

 

[Digit]

They used to be hot riveted

Roy.

 

[Lowlife]

That's true, I remember seeing it done on some history program a while back, that would be quite easy to do.

 

[No skills]

MIG is certainly easier imo, you would need something with a fair few amps to get good weld penetration on 12mm thick steel tho (even given proper preparation of the two bits being joined). Would be tempted to mig the channel one and arc the solid one.

JMO

 

[Richard T]

Yup. Feathered down, punched, lapped and hot riveted. Though cold riveting would work with drilling substituting the punching..
Something I've not yet done myself but would love to have a go at some point.

 

[barkwindjammer]

Hire a 30 Amp stick welder from a local hire shop, most novices draw a stick away from a weld, the trick is driving 'through the pool', the thinner C section you could weld too, match the rod to steel thickness or slightly below, say a 10mm trode for 12mm, or cold rivet a 'fishplate' across the join

 

[chunkolini]

You could Mig weld both of them, if you grind both edges of the thicker one to an 45 degree angle and weld over it in several passes it would be straightforward to do but you would need at least a 150amp welder for the job.
It would probably be easier to get the job done by a welder, if you do all the prep yourself it is only a few minutes work for them.
Of all the welding techniques I would say that Mig is the most versatile, I do loads of it.
if you have other uses for a welder it would be a good excuse to buy one.
Avoid buying SIP welders, they have a universal reputation for being very poor.
if you want to browse the werid worls of welding here is an excellent forum http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php it covers a whole range of metal bothering, from cars tosculpture to all sorts. Some very experienced people on there.