Author Topic: Who are the highly skilled Tig welders around here? (Read 3431 times)

Clark Badgett · « **on:** November 23, 2020, 07:07:29 PM »

Not soliciting services just yet. I got a project in mind that I need advice on.

jerrywh · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2020, 09:48:05 PM »

so what's the question?

john bohan · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2020, 11:38:47 PM »

I was a tig welder maybe I could help

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2020, 12:56:26 AM »

I am wishing to build an earlier 3 bolt English trade gun and this lock is the closet I’ve found to the right style. It is a little shorter than all the vendors have it listed as. It measures right at 5 7/8”. I am wanting to know if an extra 3/16-1/4” can be welded on the end and whether the cast in engraving could be Tigged up without warping the plate and cock. It’s a Davis lock.

rich pierce · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2020, 02:02:58 AM »

Well, The Rifle Shoppe has several locks or sets of castings that could work. The Wilson Trade Fusil lock (600) is 6 and 1/8” long. Their Type G Fusil lock (678) is 6” long. They have an even earlier model with a banana shaped lockplate (708).

Keep in mind these are cast from originals without alterations for performance improvements.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2020, 02:36:52 AM »

TRS is an option, and they have quite a few items I'm interested in. But in all honesty I will need to get a touch more advanced in my building skills for one of those, and I do have a TRS kit now. Have their turn around times gotten any better lately?

It still leaves me with this lock, which is close and with a little altering could be made to look the part. If such alterations are possible.

john bohan · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2020, 02:50:11 AM »

Clark, welding 1/4inch to the length no problem,but covering up the engraving may warp it. The only thing I can come up with would be to clamp it to a heavy piece say 1 inch or so before you weld to hold it straight.I can't promise this will work.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2020, 06:16:30 AM »

Thanks for all the replies. I'll give TRS a call or email as soon as I can and see what the time for a Lock kit would be.

Not English · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2020, 06:38:47 AM »

Clark, as John said It can be done. I'd sandwich a piece of copper between the lock plate and the chunk of steel. To weld up the engraving you will need to get in and out very quickly before the plate starts to warp. Basically you don't want to run a long enough bead for it to contract as it cools. Another option is to cut the tail off and weld on a whole new piece of flat stock and then shape it as you need to.

Dave

rich pierce · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2020, 07:24:52 AM »

It’s time for Jerry to remind us that engraving can be recut, undercut, and filled with wire.

Curtis · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2020, 07:38:08 AM »

I would just file of the engraving, and then re-cut the border if you get into it too badly. That engraving is not that deep.

Curtis

smallpatch · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2020, 06:06:42 PM »

Clark,
Will it change the architecture if you leave it like it is? Is that what you’re trying to accomplish?

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2020, 07:14:31 PM »

I would sell this lock and not waste my time fiddling with welding it. I would then go buy the one that will fit your project and needs

rich pierce · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2020, 09:00:11 PM »

I’ve got one of those that sparks with anything else I’ve got.

jerrywh · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2020, 12:01:33 AM »

Quote from: rich pierce on November 24, 2020, 07:24:52 AM

It’s time for Jerry to remind us that engraving can be recut, undercut, and filled with wire.

Yes it can be welded without warping the lockplate. The engraving can be either filed off and recut or filled with iron inlays easier than tig welding it up. Anything can be and has been done. That is not a difficult tig welding job just average. The question should be are you willing to pay the price. It would be a lot cheaper to buy another lock.

Woodland · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2020, 04:03:36 AM »

I am going to disagree respectfully with a lot of the above comments. Find someone who does race car fab. They will find this to be no problem. I have Tigged up a lot of super intricate parts like this and most guys who really love to TIG will want the challenge. If you had brought this into my race shop , I would have done it for under $50 without question. The only caveat I would give is that if you plan to polish it or rust brown it, the weld may appear ever so slightly different in color as the filler rod and additional metal will likely be slightly different in alloy. My local gunsmith has me do stuff like this for him all the time.

Jon

jerrywh · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2020, 11:31:49 PM »

Quote from: Woodland on December 02, 2020, 04:03:36 AM

I am going to disagree respectfully with a lot of the above comments. Find someone who does race car fab. They will find this to be no problem. I have Tigged up a lot of super intricate parts like this and most guys who really love to TIG will want the challenge. If you had brought this into my race shop , I would have done it for under $50 without question. The only caveat I would give is that if you plan to polish it or rust brown it, the weld may appear ever so slightly different in color as the filler rod and additional metal will likely be slightly different in alloy. My local gunsmith has me do stuff like this for him all the time.

Jon

This is all fine BUT then what would you charge to refinish the lock plate inside and outside and recut the engraving. Would that still be $50.00? Don"t think so. Don't think race shops do that.
However, I do agree that this is not an intricate tig welding job. Nothing special about it at all.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #17 on:** December 03, 2020, 02:39:53 AM »

If I filled in the engraving, I would not want it back on there. Most trade gun locks are engraved with the maker's and border engraving where this floral design is, with nothing on the cock. I'm thinking I will just look into a TRS kit, as even if I did have the tail lengthened and the floral stuff filled, the spur on the cock is still not right. Maybe I'll look into using on a chief's grade and then I can have a little more wiggle room.

Dphariss · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2020, 05:16:35 PM »

This was done with my Hobart 135 wire welder.
I would cut that lock plate off behind the tumbler and weld on a piece of 1018 plate and shape to suit. This was to convert a very heavy bench rifle to flint It had a shop made percussion lock. I picked a lock that looked like it would work from TOW catalog pictures and cut and welded. This little welder actually works pretty well for gun work.

Dan

mitsubishi mirage 0 60

Dphariss · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2020, 05:38:09 PM »

Adding to an existing lock may be less work than TRS.

Dan

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2020, 06:45:59 PM »

Dan, what is that row of weld bead on the inside of the plate for?

Clark

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2020, 12:29:12 AM »

Dan's first picture shows the piece of metal he added to the bottom and tail end of the original plate. He welded it both on the inside and outside, then cut out the plate as he wanted it.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2020, 12:54:38 AM »

I't might be easier to make a new plate.

Clark Badgett · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2020, 04:22:04 AM »

Quote from: D. Taylor Sapergia on December 11, 2020, 12:29:12 AM

Dan's first picture shows the piece of metal he added to the bottom and tail end of the original plate. He welded it both on the inside and outside, then cut out the plate as he wanted it.

Thanks for the clarification. Much easier to see that on my home computer.

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Author Topic: Who are the highly skilled Tig welders around here? (Read 3431 times)