Just wanted to post up a couple pictures of something I'm working on.

My next bike project I'm using a Buell swingarm, I initially wanted this swingarm because of the right side drive opening, since I was going to use a Roadstar Warrior engine. However, since I'm building another XS650, and I still want to use this swingarm, so I'm covering up the main opening, and cutting in an opening on the left side.

That was a serious run-on sentence....

Anyway, I haven't really worked that much with aluminum, my only experience welding it has been with a cast aluminum cover plate, and a motorcycle clip-on bar. So this is definitely a learning experience.

I'm using 1/8" aluminum- made a couple patterns with thick paper:





Cut the pieces out, and lot of trimming later they were sort of fitting. Here's a shot of my first welds:



and first fittings:





and here's after I blended the welds and trimmed more so it fits better:







Anyway, lots of work to be done still. Have to weld the finished piece in place, cut the relief in the other side (Which I will box in because the swingarm is a functional oil tank) and some other random work.

Notes: Honestly the Econotig is the only machine I have used, so I can't compare to another, but it seemed to work great to me. No real problems, especially since I expected aluminum to be a lot trickier to weld. Not like I'm amazing at it or anything, but I was happy with my results.

Hints, tips?

Thanks for looking
Sky

 

Very nice!

 

looking great homie! you are doin fine!

grinding with sanding pads or tiger paws is not the best idea for aluminum.. since it is non ferrous, it gets contaminated... use burr grinders or pads/discs made for non ferrous metals.. if you weld on that piece again, you will see a bunch of brownish black specks popping up throughout the whole weld... then you will see what i am talkin about

 

Great info! I think I already did see that, makes more sense now.