There’s a lot of interest in titanium welding. It’s a very corrosion resistant metal and it looks nice but it has a reputation for being difficult to weld. Titanium is very sensitive to oxygen contamination, so one important factor is maintaining the proper shield gas coverage, and allowing the weld to cool without letting oxygen in. Otherwise the titanium can become brittle.

At Arc-Zone we recommend using a gas lens and a super large gas nozzle. The gas lens diffuses the flow of gas so that turbulence doesn’t pull oxygen into the weld zone. As for shield cups for TIG Welding, choose from the Gas Saver clear glass nozzles, high-tech flooding cups and the popular (low-cost) Monster™ TIG Nozzle.

And once you’ve got your torch set up, check out this great article over at The Tube & Pipe Journal online:

TIG for titanium tubing: Success hinges on filler metal selection, cleanness, gas coverage
By Jack Fulcer

Jack covers the the basics, including cleaning the base metal, joint fit-up, shield gas coverage, filler metal selection, choosing the right TIG Torch, and even color acceptance criteria for the welded titanium.

You may wonder what a motorcycle exhibition has to do with President Clinton. Or Joe Welder for that matter. But we came across this news item and thought we’d share it. The custom chopper has been instrumental in showcasing the art of welding in recent years, and sparked (no pun intended) renewed interest in metal fabrication, especially TIG welding, a refined skill that produces the beautiful welds that hold these custom fabricated bikes together.

Art of the Chopper

September 20, 2008 | Little Rock, AR | Clinton Foundation

Rolling sculptures that capture the American spirit—not to be missed! On September 20, 2008, the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, unveiled one of the most amazing motorcycle exhibitions ever presented…with the world premiere of Art of the Chopper. This exhibition will be displayed through Feb 8, 2009, and will feature 30 of the finest, most exceptional, custom motorcycles ever built.

Art of the Chopper is the first comprehensive collection of custom motorcycles created explicitly for contemporary art and curated for exhibition. The Clinton Center is proud to host this extraordinary exhibit, based on the best-selling books, “Art of the Chopper” and “Art of the Chopper II,” by Tom Zimberoff,

The “chopper” is a uniquely American icon, a creation that demands remarkable design and engineering while clearly expressing the artistry and personalities of their builders and owners. The exhibition will also include an extensive photo gallery of each builder’s creations and will provide an in-depth analysis of their design philosophies and unique style.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Center & Park, located on the banks of the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Arkansas, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to its grounds each year.

Opened in 2004, the Center is home to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and the Little Rock offices of the Clinton Foundation.

Presidential Libraries promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience. We preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire. To learn more about our presidential libraries, visit the National Archives website.

How Low Can You Go???

Miller Adds Blue Lightning™ to Dynasty® 200 and Maxstar® 200 TIG Power Sources For Improved HF Arc Starts From 1 to 200 Amps

With the introduction of Blue Lightning, Miller has improved High Frequency AC and DC TIG arc starting on the Maxstar and Dynasty 200s, from 200-amp applications to micro-thin, 1-amp applications. Blue Lighting sets optimal parameters based on tungsten diameter, eliminating operator guesswork.

In addition, the Dynasty 200 now has advanced AC waveform capabilities for increased aluminum welding productivity.

Highlights/Key Facts
• Blue Lightning provides reliable, consistent arc starts over the entire output range, from 1 amp (micro-thin applications) to 200 amps.
• Preset parameters for .020- to .125-in. tungsten sizes eliminate operator guesswork.
• Dynasty 200 now contains advanced AC waveforms for tailoring arc preferences when welding aluminum.
• Ideal for portable applications and in precision fabrication, petro/chemical, aerospace, food/beverage, dairy and similar applications.

(more…)

There’s a new website it town, FFJournal.net from the folks who publish (print) FFJournal, and Modern Metals magazine. It looks like they’re still adding content, but the WOMEN IN WELDING article looks pretty good!

FFJournal reports on breakthrough technology and innovative manufacturing systems from both a technical and creative point of view. Each issue features in-depth articles focusing on product development and innovation–two of the driving forces pushing the limits of metal fabricating and forming worldwide.

One more reason to go to the American Welding Society / Fabtech International Trade Show….

Renowned auto designer, Chip Foose, will sign autographs at Lincoln Electric’s 2008 AWS/Fabtech booth #15025.

Foose stars in TLC hit shows Overhaulin’ and Rides and designs cars and wheels for several automotive companies and other clients, including NASCAR racing great Jeff Gordon.

When: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: AWS/Fabtech Lincoln Electric’s 2008 Booth #15025…. in Las Vegas!

The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic, arc welding systems, fume extraction equipment, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market.