New to tig, Help me repair my boat!

[cw021382]

Hi everyone this is my first post. I am also new to tig welding, so please have patience with me.

I damaged my boat about 3 weeks ago, and just bought a miller diversion 165 to repair it. I got a deal on the welder. It's 3 years old and was only used a couple times so it's like new. Came with cart, cover, manuals, gauges, bottle of argon, pack of 2% thoriated tungstens, and a mix of ss, alum, and steel rods. I paid $1000 for all.

I ordered a northern tool auto dark hood, tig finger, and 50' 8/3 50amp extension cord, and am waiting for them to arrive so I can start practicing. I am going to post pictures of the boat and damage, and I hope some pros will help guide me on how best to repair it. Maybe this thread will help some new folks like me learn to tig weld as I plan to post pics and updates along the way.

[H80N]

Here is a good place to start..

http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/gtawbook.pdf

Aluminum videos..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FadO0hqTaN0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ay_oYg0LUo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZfDndPkl0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpxzVq6YsoM

other TIG resources..

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/tig/

AND... Practice... Practice... Practice....

do not try to learn on your boat... or you will be sorry...
(if the welds look like crap on your practice pieces... you can be assured that they will look twice as bad on our boat..)

practice and build your skill level till you can build a TIG bead that you are proud to look at... THEN... go after the boat...
Boats tend to be riveted from VERY thin sheet.... so you REALLY need to get your skill level up there before you tackle it..

Most marine aluminum boats are 5000 series aluminum... (like 5052)...

So chose a compatible filler like 4943...

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?30751-Tig-welding-5052-Aluminum-which-filler

pls post BOAT pics..

[cw021382]

Boat pics

Here are some pics of the boat. It is a '99 Legend SS, .100 welded hull, 17x52. Engine is a 2003 115/80 Johnson Jet. H80N thanks for the information. I was wondering what type of aluminum the hull was made of. I was thinking 4043 filler, but will read up on 4943. This is all theory to me at this point. I am still waiting on stuff to arrive to start practice welding. I did manage to get the motor and all the rest of the interior out of the boat today. I will post some pics of the damage this evening if I can.

[cw021382]

Pics: removing motor and interior

Here are some pics of work done today.

[H80N]

on the tungsten....

give the Thoriated to somebody with a transformer machine...

you want to get some Lanthanated or Ceriated tung for your Diversion...

it is an inverter

This tungsten guidebook should be helpful...

http://www.diamondground.com/TungstenGuidebook2013.pdf

and why you do not want Thoriated...

http://www.diamondground.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/RadioactiveWarning.pdf

[H80N]

How about a few higher rez closeups of the damage....??

[cw021382]

Boat damage pics

Does anyone know if there is a better way to post pics? I use my iphone, and email them using small option (30-40kb) to my computer. This makes the pics small and hard to see when I post them.

[H80N]

Here... try this pic thread..

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/showthread.php?14055-Posting-Pictures-on-the-Forums

[cw021382]

More damage pics

Here are some more pics of the damage. H80N how can I upload hi rez photos? Here is a breakdown of the damage. 3 large dents on strakes. 1 half dollar size hole on flat. Transom now has a hook to it, and some cracking at the weld to the bottom. Transom also has a small wave to it. Center strake has a lot of small cracks running across it. All the damage is to the back half of the boat. Only one question for now. How do you repair a cracked weld like on the ribs? Do you have to grind away the old weld or do you clean and weld over it? Thanks guys, I am glad I found this forum.

[cw021382]

tungsten

H80N thanks for the advise about not using the thoriated tungsten. I had read that ceriated is what miller recommends for the 165. Not sure exactly what type I will end up using. I am still learning about the different types.

[H80N]

Car accident??? or on the water??

typically you can cut aluminum with a carbide cutter(burr) on a die grinder to prep for v-ing the joint and rewelding...

your damage seems to cover the whole spectrum...

the guy you really need to to consult on this is "FUSIONKING"

he is our resident aluminum boat WIZARD.....

https://www.facebook.com/OutBackAluminumWelding

[cw021382]

fusionking (WoW)

Thanks for the link H80N. I spent a lot of time looking at their site, and I am amazed at their abilities. Professional for sure. Funny thing is their shop is only about 1.5 hours north of me at LOZ. I fish up there sometimes. I damaged my boat on the water. The rivers are really low here right now, and I had the family out fishing and relaxing for the day. My motor started acting up and not running full throttle. We hit a shallow area 10mi up river from the ramp. Not shoal gravel, but little mini boulders. I left 20' of aluminum and broken rocks in the river when I came off plane in 6" of water. No one was hurt and we managed to drag the boat to a gravel bar. We bailed with the battery box until I found the main hole, which is located under a cross brace. I cut a stick into a plug for that. I thought my fuel filter was plugged so I managed to bypass the filter by cutting a section of fishing pole from one we found earlier in the day. No luck. Still only about 1/2 throttle or it would die. I replaced the line later because I found out the entire inside of the line was deteriorated from ethanol use by the previous owner. It took us 5 hours to limp back to the ramp. Anyway the insurance totaled the boat and I bought it back.

[H80N]

Thanks for the link H80N. I spent a lot of time looking at their site, and I am amazed at their abilities. Professional for sure. Funny thing is their shop is only about 1.5 hours north of me at LOZ. I fish up there sometimes. I damaged my boat on the water. The rivers are really low here right now, and I had the family out fishing and relaxing for the day. My motor started acting up and not running full throttle. We hit a shallow area 10mi up river from the ramp. Not shoal gravel, but little mini boulders. I left 20' of aluminum and broken rocks in the river when I came off plane in 6" of water. No one was hurt and we managed to drag the boat to a gravel bar. We bailed with the battery box until I found the main hole, which is located under a cross brace. I cut a stick into a plug for that. I thought my fuel filter was plugged so I managed to bypass the filter by cutting a section of fishing pole from one we found earlier in the day. No luck. Still only about 1/2 throttle or it would die. I replaced the line later because I found out the entire inside of the line was deteriorated from ethanol use by the previous owner. It took us 5 hours to limp back to the ramp. Anyway the insurance totaled the boat and I bought it back.

FusionKing is an artisan and his work is beautiful to behold.... I believe he has a bunch of picture albums as well...

Again..I suggest that you master your technique on scrap before you tackle the boat.... and expect it to take weeks to months NOT hours to develop enough skill to be acceptable....
TIG requires skill and practice... so be patient and keep practicing... it will be worth it...

[cw021382]

Better pics (I hope)

Hi guys, I am playing with editing tools trying to post better pics. Sorry if some of these are not viewable.

[cw021382]

full size

full size pic