Computer Problems

Some time has passed since our last posting , here's the deal. We have had an electronic apocalypse at Metalworks. We have been trying to recover as well as keeping the welders humming and customers happy. The new hard drive is on the way and I should have everything back in place early next week. Then I should resume regular postings.
In the past couple of weeks we have welded broken shotguns, fabricated racing snowmobile suspension parts, Worked on Sleeveless Bob's '46 Harley and moved in a new (old) band saw. Now it's back to work. I hate computer problems!

Metalworks Exhaust

This photo shows a 304 stainless steel intermediate pipe from a NASCAR Nextel Cup Super Speedway Car that I fabricated last year. The front ends of the tubes are expanded and slip on the header collectors. The center merges directly behind the transmission and the outlet end of the tubes have been “ ovalized” for ground clearance and connect to 1 1/2" thick fabricated tail pipes. The material choice is 304 Stainless Steel because of its durability in the extreme heat environment of stock car racing. Mild steel in this application is prone to overheating and cracking.

Internal and external views of the center merge.

TIG Welding

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is more commonly known as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding. Although technically incorrect. Old timers still call in Heliarc due to Helium being used as the shielding gas. Helium is an inert gas and was originally used when TIG was developed during the 1940's. Helium is still used in specialty applications. Today Argon is the gas of choice, mainly due to cost.

TIG is the most versatile kind of welding there is. You can weld 4130 chromoly, mild steel, stainless steel, tool steel, copper, nickel alloys like inconel and hastelloy, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. TIG welding, is an arc welding process that uses a nonconsumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. The weld area is protected from atmospheric contamination by a shielding gas, and a filler metal is normally used. A constant-current welding power supply produces energy which is conducted across the arc through a column of highly ionized gas and metal vapors known as a plasma. AC current is used for welding Aluminum and Magnesium. DC current is is for most other metals.


The above is an example of a TIG weld on Aluminum. A TIG weld has a very neat appearance and if done correctly should end up shiny. The weld nearly looks as if it were a row of coins.

An example of a copper TIG weld.


This is a complex joint in steel and the result is why I use TIG welding extensively on projects that we do. TIG welding is like playing the guitar, anyone can pick it up and make it work but to be proficient at it you must practice, practice, practice! Got questions? Feel free. I'll be happy to help.

Election Day

I lifted this from my brothers blog.

Election Day. Please vote. It’s not hard.
Show up. Wait on line. Enter the booth. Flip the tabs. Pull the lever. Done.
In order to make it even easier, here are a few tools to help.

* Find your voting information using the new Google Maps Voting Tool.

* Google also has full Election 2008 coverage.

I will add: I live in NC and I voted early, last week. No lines and at my convenience. If you don't vote, do it and register. If your man or woman doesn't win then you can bitch for years.

Safety

No "soft walls" here!

Lets just say racing is a little safer today. Notice the track is "paved" with wood. I will post in the future about Boardtracks. Think how far we have come. Today I think our couch sitting "I" know whats good for "YOU" society gets a little safety crazy. Racing, Football and riding motorcycles along with countless other activities responsible adults CHOOSE to do is dangerous and life threating, always was always will be. My best safety tip if you are not willing to get hurt don't do it stay on the couch covered in bubble wrap. For the rest of us we will be having fun living dangerously!

Specialty Metal Fabricators

Wheels Through Time Museum

Last Saturday I took a day trip to the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum in Maggie Valley, NC. This is what I found