< PLASMA CUTTING
STUDIO WELDING AND CUTTING
Basic metalworking skills are useful to almost any sculptor, even if the artist’s preferred medium is non-metallic. A facility to fabricate armatures, supports and lifting aids in the studio can yield considerable savings of both time and money for the modeller and stone carver alike. With a little research and care, artists should be able to obtain appropriate welding equipment at moderate expense. With practice, sound joints can be made with the minimum of effort. The following tips are directed at those artists and designers who are considering investing in some basic welding equipment.
Initially, it is worth spending a little time considering the range of metal alloys and material thicknesses likely to be used in the studio. Bear in mind that over-purchasing for your requirements is almost as bad as under-purchasing - and always much more expensive. Remember also, that joining some alloys requires you to have access to equipment with specific features that is not always fitted on basic models (for example, the availability of an AC/high frequency facility for TIG welding aluminium) – so give some thought as to the materials you are most likley to work with. If at all possible, seek the advice of a professional fabricator or founder, they will be familiar with the type of equipment you intend to use in your studio.
Prior to visiting a welding products supplier, determine as far as possible which welding process and what level of equipment is likely to be needed. Also, fix in advance a realistic budget, preferably based on more than one recent quotation (be sure that any such quotation includes essential ancillaries like leads, torches, gas regulators and so on). Enquire into the levels of after-sales service and warranty offered, and remember that additional expenses such as sales taxes (GST, VAT etc), delivery and installation may not always be included in a verbal or written quotation.
Many welding processes require the rental of one or more pressurised gas cylinders. The rental, delivery and recharging of these containers is an ongoing overhead and one which should be allowed for when determining what is the most appropriate equipment for personal use (don’t rely on ‘cheap’ disposable welding gas canisters – in terms of cost by volume these aerosol sized gases are usually anything but cheap).
Resist being seduced by equipment that includes elaborate features and facilities above and beyond those offered by a basic or intermediate model. Many of these controls will probably never be of practical use to an artist, they can be confusing, and may even lead to long term reliability problems (if you apply the ‘more to go wrong’ principal). Bear in mind that most professional welders, working under normal operating conditions, will almost certainly bypass many of the more exotic possibilities offered by their equipment.
On a similar note, don’t let yourself be talked into purchasing expensive accessories – stick to the basics to begin with. Electronic face shields with variable shades for arc welding can be very helpful, especially when working single handed, or working delicate design elements that demand accurate tacking – but this is by no means an essential bit of kit; given the initial purchase cost, items such as this are not really justifiable for very occasional studio use. TIG welding most metals, even at low amps (<100A), requires a full face shield fitted with an eye shade protection of not less than 11 EWS, many welders prefer to use a 12 or 13 EWS shade.
A trolly mounted oxy-gas welding/cutting set, in combination with a small 130A+ MMA (STICK) domestic mains supplied arc welder (ie 110 or 240v power supply), will more than suffice for most occasional heating, cutting and welding needs. A simple equipment combination like this gives an artist the ability to cut, manipulate and join mild carbon steels up to about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness with relative ease, at reasonable cost without upgrading to industrial electrical supplies. If thin gauge sheet metal or very light aluminium sheeting is likely to feature regularly, a small MIG set may prove to be a preferable alternative to MMA equipment.
Once the appropriate welding equipment has been decided upon, it is important to ensure that the incoming services into the studio are adequate and that some provision is made for a suitable work environment. This includes amongst many possible items, ensuring the availability of an adequate power supply, installing good ventilation and extraction systems as well as provision for safe and secure storage facilities for gas cylinders. Consider carefully the potential hazards of working in proximity to living quarters and be especially aware of the presence of flammable material (wooden flooring, stored resins, paints etc).
Arc welding heavy gauge metal plate using equipment designed to run on a domestic 240v or 110v system will eventually trip thermal cut outs or blow fuses. It is better to work out in advance the average welding current you are likely to be working at, and purchase equipment with the appropriate DUTY CYCLE (a good welding equipment supplier will help you identify your exact needs). In some circumstances the domestic 110 or 240v electric supply and fuse box to the studio will prove inadequate and therefore require upgrading to a light industrial standard. All electrical equipment and up-rated supplies should be installed and tested by a qualified and competent professional to the latest IEE or relevant national specifications.
Further expert advice should be sought if any doubts exist about the purchase or use of any type of welding or cutting equipment. Understand and use personal protection measures, and consider always the safety of yourself and others. Be realistic, and aware of your skill limitations – if the failure of a welded joint could potentially lead to an injury or death, then get the work carried out by a qualified professional.
If appropriate, enroll on a dedicated training course. Whilst professionally orientated welding courses can be prohibitively expensive (and for most artist’s purposes, these will be far too highly specialised and technical), many adult education colleges offer some form of basic welding and fabrication day course or evening class. Some of these courses are specifically aimed at the needs of the studio based artist and designer.
INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE FINISHING >
|
