Has anyone got any tips for welding grade 2 Ti?

I'll be welding 1" 20 guage tube and some 3mm sheet. I have a gas lens and I'm setup to purge the inside of the tube.

I'm thinking of making up something that will allow me to purge the backside of a HV fillet when welding the sheet?

Should I be trying to set something up that will allow me to purge the entire area near the weld?

This is not a job for a customer, purely practice. If this comes out ok then we will start to use Ti alot more.

 

expensive practice....

ss is very similar to Ti (welding wise) , why not practice on that

 

Sorry I should have said before, im a fairly competant tig welder. I do alot of SS and aluminium.

My manager wants me to see if its feasable for us to fabricate with Ti in house rather than contracting it out.

I managed to get a metre of 1" 20guage tube, and 200mm square of 3mm plate plus a few rods for free so its not costing anything.

It's not really the welding I'm after advice on, more the purging and prep.

 

http://www.thefabricator.com/ArcWeld...cle.cfm?ID=878

 

Thanks that was a good read!

Is there a way of telling when the weld has dropped below 500 degrees?

 

thats a good link..


just make sure your metal is super clean

 

i think welding ti is alot about your purging setup, i watched a vid, and they did a weld with and without a purge on the backside. the non purged weld, cracked as it cooled.

 

There was just a big thread about this.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/welding-fabrication-53/those-experience-titanium-2473966/

Good info.

 

I had seen that one, one of the posts is very informative.

That thread was mainly to do with wall thickness so was hoping somebody would have a bit more to add.

The Ti should be here early next week so once i've had a go i'll get some pictures up.

 

go on craigslist and pick up a stock superbike exhuast for cheap?

 

lol yeah GREAT idia

 

The titanium is already on its way to me.....

 

If its structual, make sure its clean-room spotless and you use enough gas. Titanium really doesn't like hot temps, in terms of keeping its strength.

It also doesn't conduct heat well, about half that of most SS.

 

When yo get the Ti, PM me I'll help you out.

 

Thanks man I appreciate it.

 

Get a really big cup with a gas lense and make sure you backpurge.

 

Welds just like ss as posted above, I welded some that was under a 32of and inch and was pretty easy. just seemed like the puddle was sticky when dipping

 

its easy once you do it. doesn't flow nearly as well as steel when you work it. common mistake is to overheat it. as should be obvious, you should have a good purge/post perge setup. its easy enough. a GOOD (not backyard yabo) stainless / aluminum welder should be able to make ti welds after a minimum of practice.

dcen preffered, ac with a large dcen balance will work if you must.