Henrob torch....where you been all my life!

Oh, man! I know what I want for Christmas too!

 

I've been looking for something that would make welding sheetmetal easier. I'm convinced it's on my Christmas list as well.

Good info guys, Thanks

 

For cast aluminum I use the Flux10 mentioned in the link below. I prefer to apply as a paste instead of dry and use distilled water for that to eliminate contaminants. A local welders supply carries it out here.

http://www.brazing.com/products/Fluxes/index_weldingflux.asp

Prep is very important in order to remove the oxide. Wire brush, Dremel grind or pick at it slowly with an awl or similar.

Dont skimp on the welding outfit either, the HF and some other kits use single stage regulators that are not even UL listed. Cheap Asian crap.
My setups use the mini 40 cu ft tanks on a cart which makes it nice and portable.

Its funny how things progress around here. Several years ago when I mentioned Henrob only a very few had used them. Most of the pros who own or use TIGs at work had nothing good to say about them.
My intro was some years ago in a shop at a former employer where the Henrob was used exclusively for aluminum prototypes of microwave antennas and supports. An almost NIB Miller Syncrowave 2500 TIG just gathered dust.

 

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Do either of you happen to gas weld aluminum with a regular torch or with the henrob? I want to start welding aluminum with a regular torch soon, and have been considering getting a henrob eventually. Wondering how different the procedure is with the henrob on aluminum.

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From what I read and what little aluminum welding I've tried with a gas torch, the trick seems to be very low line pressures.
IE: 2# on both Oxy and Acet.

As far as the Dillon/Henrob torch goes, I have one, like it and it's the first one I use.
Even so, I have an old all-aluminum Marquette which I really like.
I have found that running the low and equal line pressures recommended by Henrob and some welding books I have, the Marquette does just as good a job as the Henrob.

I have access to MIG and TIG, but prefer a gas torch for building headers.
There are times when the Henrob's short pistol won't reach into some of the nooks and crannies.

If you're running a regular gas torch, go to the welding shop and get some low range line pressure gauges.
With a 30# max scale.
You'll be able to dial down accurately into the ranges required and get the same performance from your regular torch as you would from a Henrob.

Double diaphragm regulators are recommended with either setup due to their more consistent regulating capabilities, but if you have single stage regulators, they should work fine.

If I was setting up a new gas torch, I think I would opt for one of the small Victors.
The set with the very small tips.
My little brother has this torch and if I remember right the tips sizes go from double ought to #2 with four tips.
More than likely the Victor has the double diaphragm regulators.
If the line pressure gauges were not the low scale one, more than likely the welding shop would swap them out for the low press ones as part of the sale.

 

Thanks for the info guys, that helps a lot. Less than a year ago I was having trouble even finding info about gas welding aluminum, so I was giddy when someone showed me the tinman site. I actually can't remember what my torch is but I think the body and regs are victor. It's a $300 portable setup that comes with the plastic tote thing and it's what I do all my welding with. The first number on the ox reg is 10, but I don't have any trouble finding 5 psi with it. Since I don't even have the stuff to weld alum with it yet, I've been real curious how thick of stuff I'll be able to weld with just the normal torch. I have a #2 and a #00 for sheet. I'd love to be able to make alum int and ex manifolds.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2349035797&category=632

 

Just to touch on what 286merc said. I learned from a metal man that builds aluminum bodies this: Use a virgin file that has never filed on anything other than aluminum, and use a stainless bristle brush, and use a hacksaw blade with all the paint completely stripped off, and use virgin rotary files, but DO NOT use a cut-off wheel or grind with any abrasive-based thing on the area you are going to weld, as these introduce contaminents.

Man, I had 6 of those Henrob sets a while back. Sold five with an ad in Metal Crafter's News, kept one for myself, and eventually sold mine on eBay when I gave up the idea of ever having a shop...

 

fab32 (or anyone who knows),

do your instructions for adjusting the flame work for all torches or is this specific to henrobs?

 

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2349035797&category=632

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I bought that one Curious Rash linked to on Ebay and it was barely used. I figure I got a pretty good deal. I'm going to set it up this weekend and do some practicing. I've watched ebay and they come up every once in a while.

 

its funny that I see this post today. my neighbor came over last night to ask if I could weld the lid on his ammo box.. (he's a military collector) anyhow this was the first time I have welded mild steel with the henrob.. honest to goodness the henrob puts alot of heat into a very small area it worked great..

with aluminum I havent had so much luck yet.. as I have a hard time determining when the weld stops and blowthrough begins..
Oh I have one of the "expenxive" lens's from tinmantech (kent white) it was worth the price as it makes seeing what you need to see possible..

my suggestion, see a demo at a show and insist that they let you try the welder before you buy.. the BIGGEST problem with the henrob is the LACK of formal training available..

everyone can mig weld (except tokyo!) just point and click.. but gas welding is different especially since most of use have only even known stick welders and MIG machines

later

sawzall

 

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fab32 (or anyone who knows),

do your instructions for adjusting the flame work for all torches or is this specific to henrobs?

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Never tried that exact method, but before I got the henrob I started gas welding with lower pressure (2-3 psi #ooo or #00 tip) with a standard torch. It helped alot, but still wasn't as good as the henrob.

 

Sweet videos... thats a cool tool!

 

If I was setting up a new gas torch, I think I would opt for one of the small Victors.
The set with the very small tips.
My little brother has this torch and if I remember right the tips sizes go from double ought to #2 with four tips.
More than likely the Victor has the double diaphragm regulators.
If the line pressure gauges were not the low scale one, more than likely the welding shop would swap them out for the low press ones as part of the sale.

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I use the small victor setup...I've been using a 00 tip, .045 copper coated welding wire and about 4-6 psi... i can weld well by doing spot welds until i have them 1/8" apart...then take my time zipping them up so as not to overheat...the henrob demo online looked like he just zipped up the sheet metal... wonder what guage that sheet metal was?... 10 guage i could weld solid with my setup and have a small amount of warpage....but 20 guage would be a bitch and get all squirrly on me. whats the story with the henrob?? would it solid weld 20 guage like in the demo?

 

Dunno... I was wondering that too

 

30roadster, I "chopped" an old turn signal today. You know the truck ones with the 3 glass reflectors. I didn't gauge it but it was 22 or 20 ga. Took it apart, cut and welded both sides with out rod. Tacked the ends, then welded them up in one pass, non stop. Hammered the welds while they were hot. It fit together like it was made that way. This torch is every bit as good as they claim.

 

I agree with C9 about building headers with a gas torch. About 40 years ago I bought a used Marquette welding outfit and taught myself how to weld. There were no welding classes then as there are today. Some of the first welding I did was building headers for oddball combinations that wern't covered by the header Manufacturers. There is just something about welding thin tubing with a gas outfit that seems just natural. I've got any type of welding process available to me but oxy/ace. is my choice for exhaust.

Frank

 

good enough for me

 

Can ya weld upside down with these things?

I dont have any real expierence with welding... but wouldnt the puddle drip on ya?

 

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Can ya weld upside down with these things?



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I guess you could, takes both hands to weld, so you'd have to hang from something.

Yes you can weld "overhead" just takes some practice.

 

huh?
you can weld upside down but it's not fun...no the puddle won't fall on you if your welding right...but it can on occasion spit at ya and the sparks don't feel real good...wouldn't want it in an eye or hair...
best option is turn the object over that you want to weld....if it takes 4 guys so be it...

 

I just got my Henrob a few weeks ago and decided that I didn't need the big tanks anymore. Here's my new and improved setup. I bought my Henrob kit for $339 delivered from Rob McDermid, www.henrob2000.com. Rob's a good guy and has the best prices....
BTW - the portable tanks were bought on ebay for $315 delivered and came with a set of Victor torches.

 

Thats a cool idea... one big carrying case for everything...