S14 Cage

[Wiisass]

Just got this one done. I'm real happy with the way everything came out. I can't wait until the car is all together.

http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/d/3351-3/DSC01153.JPG

http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/d/3390-3/DSC01166.JPG

http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/d/3417-3/DSC01175.JPG

http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/d/3357-3/DSC01155.JPG

http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/d/3381-3/DSC01163.JPG

Rest of the pics here:
http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/richs14/

Tim

[prang11]

Nice work, any idea on color choice?

[atutt]

Looks good. From the link you provided, some of welds could be a bit better. That's about it. Looks good otherwise.

*Edit. Awesome, this is my 100th post.

[Edgar]

Oh crap you're the dude Petty told me about.

Great work man!

[projectdrifter]

looks good man keep us posted on the build

[Wiisass]

Nice work, any idea on color choice?

Not sure yet, I think the outside is staying white, but I'm not sure what's being done with the inside. It's E-shift's car, I just did the cage for them.

Looks good. From the link you provided, some of welds could be a bit better. That's about it. Looks good otherwise.

*Edit. Awesome, this is my 100th post.

Some of the welds could be prettier, but that doesn't mean better. If you've ever welded a cage, it's a lot different than welding on a bench, but all the welds are strong and have full fusion, it's just the appearance could be a little better in some spots.

Oh crap you're the dude Petty told me about.

Great work man!

Thanks Edgar, I thought you knew it was me. Petty told me about your idea the other day, it would be pretty cool if you did that, but it might be a little hard to get everything worked out.

looks good man keep us posted on the build

Hopefully Rich will post a build thread on here. If not, there will at least be one on Ziptied.

[atutt]

/\ Sorry, I mean't to say better looking. I don't doubt the quality or penetration of those welds. Any reason you chose MIG over TIG?

[Ian]

almost nobody TIG's cages


it takes for bloody ever with little to no return

[Wiisass]

Yeah, TIG just isn't worth it. It takes a lot of time, not so much for the actual welding, but more for prepping the tubes. I already spend a lot of time cleaning the insides and outsides of the tubes before welding, I would have to spend even more if I was Tigging the cages. It would just end up driving costs for not much gain. The welds may look a little prettier. But on mild steel they won't be any stronger, so there isn't really much benefit.

[atutt]

almost nobody TIG's cages


it takes for bloody ever with little to no return

Really? I see far more TIG'd cages than MIG'd. Numerous amounts more.

Yeah, TIG just isn't worth it. It takes a lot of time, not so much for the actual welding, but more for prepping the tubes. I already spend a lot of time cleaning the insides and outsides of the tubes before welding, I would have to spend even more if I was Tigging the cages. It would just end up driving costs for not much gain. The welds may look a little prettier. But on mild steel they won't be any stronger, so there isn't really much benefit.
TIG has a far more stable arc and produces a higher quality and stronger bead. It's also a much cleaner weld, inside and out, when done properly. The preparation for TIG welding shouldn't take as long as one would think if you know what to do and how to do it. There are benefits to TIG welding a cage vs. MIG welding. I'm not trying to star any arguements or fights or anything. I'm stating facts from my experience as a welder/fabricator.

[NemeGuero]

Nice work!

[DOOK]

Really? I see far more TIG'd cages than MIG'd. Numerous amounts more.


TIG has a far more stable arc and produces a higher quality and stronger bead. It's also a much cleaner weld, inside and out, when done properly. The preparation for TIG welding shouldn't take as long as one would think if you know what to do and how to do it. There are benefits to TIG welding a cage vs. MIG welding. I'm not trying to star any arguements or fights or anything. I'm stating facts from my experience as a welder/fabricator.

MIG this...TIG that...

I used liquid steel on my cage

[Fat Felix]

Nice Speedlounge sticker! :)

[mr_240sx]

cage is looking sweet Tim,

im stil considering driving the car over to you for you to do my cage.... just gotta find time to do so.

[Wiisass]

Really? I see far more TIG'd cages than MIG'd. Numerous amounts more.


TIG has a far more stable arc and produces a higher quality and stronger bead. It's also a much cleaner weld, inside and out, when done properly. The preparation for TIG welding shouldn't take as long as one would think if you know what to do and how to do it. There are benefits to TIG welding a cage vs. MIG welding. I'm not trying to star any arguements or fights or anything. I'm stating facts from my experience as a welder/fabricator.

Well, for what racing do you see more TIG cages? If you're talking about drag racing, then there is a still a reason to TIG cages and that is the weight savings allowed by use of 4130. But for NASA, SCCA, etc, there aren't really any benefits to using 4130 anymore. It's just a little stronger and a lot more expensive.

As far as a TIG bead versus a MIG bead, it definitely sounds like you know what you're talking about, but each bead will only be as strong as the filler metal used. So if you're using the same mild steel filler metal on both the mig and the tig both welds will have the same strength. The big benefit of TIG is a smaller heat affected zone, but for mild steel that's not an issue. Mild steel does not lose it's strength with heat the same way 4130 does. So if we're just talking about Mild steel tubing, the only difference between a tigged cage and a migged cage is appearance. I mean, there's going to be other small differences, but nothing that is really going to matter in this case.

cage is looking sweet Tim,

im stil considering driving the car over to you for you to do my cage.... just gotta find time to do so.

Mats, let me know and I can schedule you in.

Everyone else, thanks for the comments.

Tim

[240trainee]

Looks sick dude

[s14er]

how did you make the gussets?

[atutt]

Well, for what racing do you see more TIG cages? If you're talking about drag racing, then there is a still a reason to TIG cages and that is the weight savings allowed by use of 4130. But for NASA, SCCA, etc, there aren't really any benefits to using 4130 anymore. It's just a little stronger and a lot more expensive.
I just see more TIG'd cages in general as opposed to any particular form of racing. Maybe I've just noticed TIG'd cages more.


As far as a TIG bead versus a MIG bead, it definitely sounds like you know what you're talking about, but each bead will only be as strong as the filler metal used. So if you're using the same mild steel filler metal on both the mig and the tig both welds will have the same strength. The big benefit of TIG is a smaller heat affected zone, but for mild steel that's not an issue. Mild steel does not lose it's strength with heat the same way 4130 does. So if we're just talking about Mild steel tubing, the only difference between a tigged cage and a migged cage is appearance. I mean, there's going to be other small differences, but nothing that is really going to matter in this case.

I know a fair bit, welding and fabricating is my trade and has been for some time now. I probably should have asked what it was made out of first. 'Cause I agree %110. Unless we get into really technical silly stuff, lol.
Anways, the cage looks great.

[GSXRJJordan]

^^^ Tim you do the best cages!! I'm actually trying to find the cage you did on that S13 Vert a while back, makes me want to find a 'vert on the east coast, have you cage it, and then drive it back... ideas...

[Wiisass]

240trainee, thanks and I got your email, I will get back to you on that a little later today.

S14er, I cut them out of a big sheet of steel, then dimple died them. I make templates with heavy paper before cutting the steel so I know what shape they need to be.

atutt, thanks, I'm glad we could be in agreement. If the cage were 4130, TIG would be the only way to go with a localized heat treat at each of the welds afterwards.

GSXRjjordan, here are the pics of the vert, http://www.theoryinpracticeengineering.com/gallery/chi/. I really liked that cage, he should be coming back soon for some gusset work to make it even sweeter. But if you ever find one out here and want me to put a cage in it, I'm sure we can figure out the rest later.

Tim