- Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:39 am
#30679
Hi guys--------Hi PAUL, anything dropped off that Turbine-like Hog-mobile of yours yet ?? LOL !.....yes I agree 100% with you re}----- the safety aspect....There is a world of difference between an Amateur hobbyist "---having a go 'cos it looks easy" and MiG welding as a professional......And even more so with a motorcycle as virtually ALL its' components are of a "Safety-Critical" nature.........In my own case it was a weeks' intensive training at a BoC recognised centre which included, amongst others, stitch-welding two 1/2" steel plates across a 60 degree Vee butt-joint ( Test piece was approx 6" long ) which was then ground back to a matching flat and bent through 90 degrees in a brake-press....After a visual inspection the weld was then cut longitudinally and again visually checked for slag inclusion, contained blow holes, cracks etc......finally the two halves went for scanning and only after those results came back clear were you able to continue to the next item.......That was in the morning, in the afternoon and on the same welder we had sheet metalwork down to 16g (Vehicle bodywork).. This was for Certification to weld on HGV's on the Royal Mail Commercial fleet...............................Ok, ok, I'm not trying to blow my own trumpet but merely to emphasize the safety side of things when dealing with ANY road-going vehicle............PETER 53rd, first invest in yourself and go on ANY formal, recognised training course that you can rather than let your "mate" pass-on his bad habits etc. to you..Second, as MARK M said, invest in the best possible machine because crap ones--unlike a good wine ---- don't improve with keeping !!