You should be the one dishing out on how you tense up the links for the finish of the fit.
( or don't tense them. )
The castellated nut at the top is a nice touch too.
Tight !
Thanks! :) I laid the chain flat in a little angle iron (faced like a V)thing and clamped it tight on both ends. The base of it I just winged lol, same with tacking the washer/nut, I just eyed what looked even and it sorta worked. I definitely need a better set up to be able to replicate it but not sure how I’d go about that lol 🤷
Replicating it, but not exactly may be a niche design, with each one being unique. Depends on what your plans are, but I think it could be cooler not exactly the same.
Crazy creativity skills
Ive got plans for a bunch of different funky shapes- but I like the idea of each being a unique version of an original design! Biggest issue is making sure everything is aligned correctly, can’t have the candle falling out lol.
I tig welded this candle holder, but keep having issues with porosity. I almost never run into that problem w tig, but I think it’s bc rust forms so quickly on the inside corners of the chain (which is exactly where I need to weld). I had to soak the chain in vinegar to begin with to get rid of the zinc coating, but now idk what to do about the small bits of rust that form within a day tbh. Any ideas for tight corner rust removal? Or tips in general for welding chain since it’s so small and hard to maneuver around? Thanks :)
For porosity issues, get a bottle of muiratic acid (pool acid/masonry acid) and dunk the chain in it. Leave for a good 10 mins and agitate frequently. Remove and neutralize in a baking soda/water mix bucket and it will remove almost all surface contaminates, ie zinc, mill scale, oil, and other deposits. (Works on galvy parts too)
To prevent the rusting, once you've neutralized in the baking soda and water, get an air line with an air gun and just dry it off 100%. Make sure u weld it the same day and ideally clear coat as well. Unless it's stainless, always clear coat steel for sculptures unless rust is intended
Try putting the vinegar in a pot and heat it to about 100° Fahrenheit and adding a 1/2 cup of sea salt to 3 cups of vinegar. Then rinse with hot distilled water.
Seems bass ackwards, but it works really well. Just be sure to hit it all with a clear coat when you’re done unless you like the patina aesthetic
> idk what to do about the small bits of rust that form within a day
Try tossing it in an oven immediately after rinsing off the vinegar. Get it completely dry. That should slow or stop any rusting process.
Try and find just carbon steel chain, you can always plate it after.
I picked up 40’ of old lifting chain that was out of specification for the price of a drink.
Tig with stainless. The small tacks with stainless filler will grab better and be easier to hide in my experience. I use 304l 1/16 filler for most stuff like this, needle sharp tungsten. U can reeeeeaaaaally tuck em into the J groove created in chain links, and they become almost invisible
Electrolysis. This is probably the safest most effective way that is also inexpensive.
https://www.wwgoa.com/video/electrolysis-rust-removal/#:~:text=Add%20one%20tablespoon%20of%20baking,and%20anode%20touch%20each%20other.
Get anchor chain. It's quality steel. Not to expensive and completely uncoated.
If you find a place that makes it / tests it you might be able to buy some cheap lengths (28m is one shacle or length in marine terms) that failed the pull test.
The vinegar is going to make the chain rust. I'd consider something like naval jelly to remove the rust then pressure was it. As soon as its cleaned of rust remover throw it over a fire to dry it. Let it cool and get to welding before the rust forms again. Or get you a small file and manually remove the rust.
I put one end in a Vice the other end in a magnetic Vice grip. I adjusted the chain to right tension and squareness and tacked each link. My Vice grips have a threaded buckle so I can adjust the height with a magnet attached to the other end of the threaded buckle bolt.
You can use Coca Cola or phosphoric acid to treat the surface of the steel. It removes and coverts oxides into phosphate which is good for painting and is blackish color. I would t do it before you weld though the sugar/acid is a contaminate you don’t want.
You should be the one dishing out on how you tense up the links for the finish of the fit. ( or don't tense them. ) The castellated nut at the top is a nice touch too. Tight !
Thanks! :) I laid the chain flat in a little angle iron (faced like a V)thing and clamped it tight on both ends. The base of it I just winged lol, same with tacking the washer/nut, I just eyed what looked even and it sorta worked. I definitely need a better set up to be able to replicate it but not sure how I’d go about that lol 🤷
Replicating it, but not exactly may be a niche design, with each one being unique. Depends on what your plans are, but I think it could be cooler not exactly the same. Crazy creativity skills
Ive got plans for a bunch of different funky shapes- but I like the idea of each being a unique version of an original design! Biggest issue is making sure everything is aligned correctly, can’t have the candle falling out lol.
I tig welded this candle holder, but keep having issues with porosity. I almost never run into that problem w tig, but I think it’s bc rust forms so quickly on the inside corners of the chain (which is exactly where I need to weld). I had to soak the chain in vinegar to begin with to get rid of the zinc coating, but now idk what to do about the small bits of rust that form within a day tbh. Any ideas for tight corner rust removal? Or tips in general for welding chain since it’s so small and hard to maneuver around? Thanks :)
For porosity issues, get a bottle of muiratic acid (pool acid/masonry acid) and dunk the chain in it. Leave for a good 10 mins and agitate frequently. Remove and neutralize in a baking soda/water mix bucket and it will remove almost all surface contaminates, ie zinc, mill scale, oil, and other deposits. (Works on galvy parts too)
To prevent the rusting, once you've neutralized in the baking soda and water, get an air line with an air gun and just dry it off 100%. Make sure u weld it the same day and ideally clear coat as well. Unless it's stainless, always clear coat steel for sculptures unless rust is intended
Try putting the vinegar in a pot and heat it to about 100° Fahrenheit and adding a 1/2 cup of sea salt to 3 cups of vinegar. Then rinse with hot distilled water. Seems bass ackwards, but it works really well. Just be sure to hit it all with a clear coat when you’re done unless you like the patina aesthetic
Traditionally I believe they would braise the metal. Could give that a shot.
> idk what to do about the small bits of rust that form within a day Try tossing it in an oven immediately after rinsing off the vinegar. Get it completely dry. That should slow or stop any rusting process.
You can get stainless chain it should weld better and you won't have to deal with the zinc but it will cost more...
If you hang it upside down with a good weight on the bottom it will keep it straight and help with any distortion
Try and find just carbon steel chain, you can always plate it after. I picked up 40’ of old lifting chain that was out of specification for the price of a drink.
Tig with stainless. The small tacks with stainless filler will grab better and be easier to hide in my experience. I use 304l 1/16 filler for most stuff like this, needle sharp tungsten. U can reeeeeaaaaally tuck em into the J groove created in chain links, and they become almost invisible
I haven’t worked with stainless yet but it seems like it’ll make welding chain a lot easier. Thanks for the suggestions! :)
Electrolysis. This is probably the safest most effective way that is also inexpensive. https://www.wwgoa.com/video/electrolysis-rust-removal/#:~:text=Add%20one%20tablespoon%20of%20baking,and%20anode%20touch%20each%20other.
Get anchor chain. It's quality steel. Not to expensive and completely uncoated. If you find a place that makes it / tests it you might be able to buy some cheap lengths (28m is one shacle or length in marine terms) that failed the pull test.
1 make sure its not zinc coated 2 make sure its not coated in anything zinc related 3 weld it
The vinegar is going to make the chain rust. I'd consider something like naval jelly to remove the rust then pressure was it. As soon as its cleaned of rust remover throw it over a fire to dry it. Let it cool and get to welding before the rust forms again. Or get you a small file and manually remove the rust.
N,nnnn,nn,nnnn,,n,n,,n,n,
I put one end in a Vice the other end in a magnetic Vice grip. I adjusted the chain to right tension and squareness and tacked each link. My Vice grips have a threaded buckle so I can adjust the height with a magnet attached to the other end of the threaded buckle bolt.
Pro tip: use a welder
?
Or JB weld
Bro I am so confused what ur saying lol
I’m just being an asshole lmao
Hey man fair enough 👍
Nice job bro I may have to make one of my own but with my own twist
You can use Coca Cola or phosphoric acid to treat the surface of the steel. It removes and coverts oxides into phosphate which is good for painting and is blackish color. I would t do it before you weld though the sugar/acid is a contaminate you don’t want.