Ask your WELDING questions here.

[GSWayne]

FWIW I do TIG welding (with HF start) right next to my computer with no ill effects, though I usually turn off the computer so if there is some transient disturbance it does not cause the computer to crash.

The key to the issue of welding on a motorcycle is remembering that the current flows in a loop, from the welder to the material being welded, through the material being welded to the ground clamp and from the clamp back to the welder. What you want to do is minimize the path through the material being welded and minimize the loop area. What this means is to keep the ground cable parallel to the welding cable and not have big loops (or multiple turns of small loops) of either cable adjacent to the motorcycle. This will minimize any induced current in the motorcycle wiring. I would not be afraid to weld on my bike with everything connected, but I would make the ground connection within inches of the area being welded.

[WIsixfitty]

hf start causes havoc with my mp3 player if the whip is close to or touching any part of the player or cord.

[ER70S-2]

My buddy was welding his alum prop, HF continuous AC. I went to the basement and heard the sprinkler system water hammering. The HF was repeatedly kicking the solenoids, 40 feet away.
I unplug the sprinkler clock now.

fwiw: transformer Miller Syncrowave 250

[bobbed06]

What is HF?

[ER70S-2]

High frequency. Since welding isn't lightning, the arc won't start without scratching the surface. This is ok on stick welding and MIG; but if you scratch your tungsten to start the arc with TIG, you might contaminate either the weld or the tungsten you're welding with. This isn't acceptable, TIG is super clean and we want to keep it that way.

This is where HF comes in. Instead of scratching the surface, we just hit the pedal (throttle control) with the torch tip close to the weld (1/8" or so). Now the arc will jump that space riding the HF current and ZAP we have an arc without touching the surface.

[bobbed06]

OK, and even though this HF signal will switch the sprinkler system on 40 feet away or wack out an MP3 player its still safe for my for my motosickle electrics with the battery and CDI removed?

[GSWayne]

Originally Posted by bobbed06

OK, and even though this HF signal will switch the sprinkler system on 40 feet away or wack out an MP3 player its still safe for my for my motosickle electrics with the battery and CDI removed?

Yes (if you don't put the ground clamp somewhere stupid)

The welding didn't damage the electronics that was affected.
Your bike electronics are almost surely better hardened than the sprinkler controllers or MP3 players because a normally working bike is not a good RF environment. There are spark plugs firing many times a second which are a significant EMI source and vehicle electronics in general are engineered better than sprinkler controllers.

[Poolside]

Sounds like your guy knows where to put the work clamp to provide a low impedance circuit path.

[bobbed06]

Originally Posted by Poolside

Sounds like your guy knows where to put the work clamp to provide a low impedance circuit path.

Yes, He did say he would attatch the ground right at the clamp holding the additional tab. .

[KTM640Dakar]

Originally Posted by bobbed06

What is HF?

High Frequency in TIG welding is high voltage 30,000 volts that is produced at the start of a TIG weld in DC and is used the entire time you weld in AC. It is used in AC because the arc turns off 60 times per second as the current reverses from positive to negative and back. The high frequency helps keep the arc on and helps establish it. It is possible to TIG weld DC- without high frequency by scratch starting the tungsten to the work piece.

Yes it will mess with electronics but as stated if you disconnect the battery and set your ground close to were your welding you should be fine.

High frequency is just like static electricity with high voltage and low amperage. It will shock you but wont kill you. Just keep your body out of the welding loop.

[badweatherbiker]

I have no clue how to weld, i bought an arc welder 10 years ago i think it is a 70 0r 80 amp elder and i have never even turned it on. In fact its still in the box wrapped in plastic.
Having said that Im looking at my FZ6 and thinking i would really like to have some sideracks so i could mount some hardbags. I miss them since i sold my Ulysses and i only have a tail bag to pack my junk in everyday.
Where the hell do i start? I know nothing about welding.

[NewMexico505]

Originally Posted by badweatherbiker

I have no clue how to weld, i bought an arc welder 10 years ago i think it is a 70 0r 80 amp elder and i have never even turned it on. In fact its still in the box wrapped in plastic.
Having said that Im looking at my FZ6 and thinking i would really like to have some sideracks so i could mount some hardbags. I miss them since i sold my Ulysses and i only have a tail bag to pack my junk in everyday.
Where the hell do i start? I know nothing about welding.

To start: What kind of machine is it? A stick welder or MIG welder?

Whatever the brand, if you unwrap it there may be some sample welding supplies in there to start on, but probably best to unwrap it first.

[badweatherbiker]

I think its a simple stick welder, it has some rods with it and some handheld eye covers. Im gonna break it out this weekend and take a look because its been a while. Hope it doesnt throw all the breakers!

[KTM640Dakar]

Originally Posted by badweatherbiker

I think its a simple stick welder, it has some rods with it and some handheld eye covers. Im gonna break it out this weekend and take a look because its been a while. Hope it doesnt throw all the breakers!

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

The Lincoln Electric Welding School
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...ng-school.aspx

[mark1305]

Originally Posted by badweatherbiker

I have no clue how to weld, i bought an arc welder 10 years ago i think it is a 70 0r 80 amp elder and i have never even turned it on. In fact its still in the box wrapped in plastic.
Having said that Im looking at my FZ6 and thinking i would really like to have some sideracks so i could mount some hardbags. I miss them since i sold my Ulysses and i only have a tail bag to pack my junk in everyday.
Where the hell do i start? I know nothing about welding.

If you are close to Ocala, try and contact Phillip Kunts on here. I can't speak for him, but he has skills and may be willing to share some of the basics. Pretty good guy, and good dirt rider as well as being a weldor/fabricator.