welding old bicycle frames (gocart)

**alwayscurious** · 25th July 2009, 11:07 PM

Hi All.

Love this forum!

today I had a fun day making a billy-cart for the lads, out of wood - which was nice. I whacked a couple of pram wheels on - and a seat, and a rope, and they were off and racing.

I am considering phase II - cut up and weld up old bicycle frames - front forks (horizontal) at the front, welded, and welding a sprocket to the axle, etc

I want to attach an engine to the second model, so it needs to be sturdily welded, not just bolted etc.

So I am considering a cheapy arc welder - CIG weld 2.6 / 3.2mm welder.
less than $100 second hand.

After reading through this - it's MIG that is the popular one.

Any comments on welding bicycle frames with a stick welder (Arc "CIG" welder?)

Before I go and get a welder, a packet of 2.6 mm rods and a helmet I want to make sure I am not wasting my money.

I'd probably use it occasionally to weld square 4mm steel pipe and stuff as well for other stuff.

cheers
Alwayscurious

**wheelinround** · 26th July 2009, 01:52 PM

much bike tube of good quality bikes over the last few years is Chrome-molly tube and thin as blazes Mig or Oxy brazzing best way.

**alwayscurious** · 26th July 2009, 06:22 PM

Well, I bit the bullet and bought a stick welder - CIGWELD 120.

After a few false starts I had a great arc bead going and did a rather good job.

I belted the slag off and was rather happy with the result.

I fixed a busted vice (Cast Iron), and a mower - welded the bolts where the thing folds - could never get it tight because the bolts just spun around. So welded them to the pipe.

Fairly good job, and yes, it looked like chook poo!!

The bikes I got were all cheaper Kiddy bikes, mostly made of some heavy steel - fairly thick so after this afternoon's happy buzzing, I should be right on the Go-Cart.

Happy days.

2.0mm rods by the way, with a slightly higher than 2.0 mm amperage set, and I was right.
Hate the hand-held mask though. anyone know where I can get an auto darkening one cheapish??

Cheers
A/c

**Marc** · 26th July 2009, 08:04 PM

You must have a steady hand if you can weld bicycle frames with an arc welder. May be the children bike frames are thicker?
As for auto darkening helmet, you can buy one for $40 but you will do to it what the other guy did to his 3 way welder, take to it with a hammer. You can buy a Cigweld autodarkening helmet that has a 1/30,000 second response for $100 in welding supply shops.
Post a photo of your motorized gocart. I would like to make one for my g.kids with the motor off a whippersnipper.
Bicyle frames sounds like a good idea.

**johnjohnmulley** · 29th July 2009, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Marc

Post a photo of your motorized gocart. I would like to make one for my g.kids with the motor off a whippersnipper.
Bicyle frames sounds like a good idea.

Same, but for me.

post some pics for us to see!

**DeltaNegative** · 30th July 2009, 01:15 AM

You welded a cast iron vice with a GP steel electrode

**BobL** · 30th July 2009, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by Marc

You must have a steady hand if you can weld bicycle frames with an arc welder. May be the children bike frames are thicker?

Old narrow tubing mountain bikes are a bit thicker and weldable with a bit of practice.

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kewl. CIGWELD 120 = !!

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