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Hubbell
08-05-2009, 16:11
I need to do some welding at work. It's going to involve welding a copper strip onto a steel column. The copper is about 3mm thick and about 2.5cm square. Would a ordinary mig welder be up to the job or would I need to use a tig welder, I'm a welding virgin so any advice would be appreciated. Also If I bought a mig welder I thought I may be able to sort a few car things out in future.

Would something like this do the job or be ott? with the added bonus that it's a turbo....

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/150te-turbo-mig-welder

Cheers! ;)
rs250nut
08-05-2009, 16:21
You wont be able to weld copper to steel mate, the temp that they metals melt at are miles apart:)
Mudslinger
08-05-2009, 16:22
at work we use helium gas and tig to weld copper ;)

But as mentioned above you wont be able to weld the copper to steel. We also hired in some watercooled tig welding equipment to control the temps .
rhys0_0
08-05-2009, 16:23
New poster! (less than 10 posts)

Correct me if im wrong here people. But I dont think you can weld copper to steel. You can braze it though.

If you have never done welding before you will no doubt mess it up (not this job just a normal one). It's not something you can just do. Set up is very important. If you lucky it will look good but you wont get good penatration (the weld will just be on the surface with no strength to it).

By all means get the set if the cash is spare and just practice lots first :)
Hubbell
08-05-2009, 16:28
I had feeling I might need a tig welder, are they super exspensive? :( what about arc welding?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/260te-arc-welder
rs250nut
08-05-2009, 16:32
As said above you last post you may be able to braze it but you wont be welding it
rhys0_0
08-05-2009, 16:35
New poster! (less than 10 posts)

Hub can i ask what exactly are you doing? Does it have to be copper on this steel?
Hubbell
08-05-2009, 16:35
ok sorry to be thick - what deos brazing involve? :cartman:
Hubbell
08-05-2009, 16:37
yeah I'm trying to attach a copper tape to a steel column it should have been bolted on many months ago but some twonk (not me) didn't bother, it's to earth the structure incase it's hit by lightning. It's a confined space so I can't get a drill in there anymore.
rs250nut
08-05-2009, 16:45
If its for a lightning rod and not structal cant you just hold it on with a jubliee clip?
Hubbell
08-05-2009, 16:49
The steel is completely encased in brickwork, and welding looks like the only option, if i can't weld/braze it i'm out of options...
rhys0_0
08-05-2009, 16:51
Can it only be put on the piller? Cant it go somewhere els?
Misky
08-05-2009, 16:56
What about shot fixing it?
rs250nut
08-05-2009, 17:01
What about shot fixing it?

That would work with a hilti gun:agree:
Sparkie
08-05-2009, 17:08
weld a stud onto the steel with a MIG, then bolt the copper onto the stud.
stevo clio
08-05-2009, 19:33
can you not just makt the plate out of steel instead of copper?
scratcher
08-05-2009, 19:59
can you not just makt the plate out of steel instead of copper?

It needs to be low impedance. I'm sure its classed as bonding?
Hubbell
08-05-2009, 20:52
Yeah my mate just told me about shot blasting it with a hilti gun, so I'm going to give that a try before getting into welding :scared: however I wouldn't mind giving welding a try in less taxing circumstances, and sparky your idea of welding a bolt is a superb one, if the shot blasting fails - cheers guys! :agree: