Metal Fabrication Blog

“Hoochie Coochie Gal from the Buckeye State” (Live) – song by Marty Falle from Ohio

Pete’s Custom Coachbuilding: Restoration

Find the New 2011 Ford Fiesta at Your Local Cleveland Ford Dealership This Summer

The new 2011 Ford Fiesta is almost here. The car will be available for purchase in the United States coming in the summer of 2010, however it’s already a huge hit on the Internet. The 60-second television ad made its debut on May 18, 2010 during American Idol and two social media programs online have already made this car a star. The hype surrounding the Fiesta is unlike any other, and it’s all thanks to the many ad campaigns promoting it. In the center of the massive broadcast, print, and digital ad campaign is the tagline, “It’s a pretty big deal.”

The introduction of the 2011 Fiesta started with the Fiesta Movement last year. One hundred Fiesta agents spent six months in the plush interior seats, behind the wheel of a Fiesta hoping to show why the Fiesta is better than its competition. The agents completed a variety of monthly missions to show the public why the Fiesta is a car worth having. After driving over a million miles and streaming their experiences, the Fiesta Movement was 4.3 million YouTube views deep, had over 540,000 Flickr views and had more than 3 million Twitter impressions.

Ford also promoted a nationwide test-drive program that allowed 162,000 customers participate in social interactions with the Fiesta and 35,000 to actually test-drive the vehicle.

Ford is now expanding the Web site to include webisodes featuring agents from the Fiesta Movement proving why the Fiesta is superior to the competition. Over 337,000 people viewed the first 6 webisodes since they were added to the Web site last week.

Print ads claim the Ford Fiesta gets 40 miles to the gallon when 21 hybrids do not and puts $50,000 cars to shame with its new-world technology. It has been certified by the EPA at 40 mpg highway, which makes it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. Look for ads in a variety of publications including women’s and men’s magazines such as In Style and Maxim.

Ford is now working on the Fiesta Movement Chapter 2, which consists of 20 teams of two agents that were selected from over 1,000 applicants. They’re instructed to interact with consumers online and offline and bring the Fiesta to different communities with the goal of redefining the way Fiesta is released to the market. After the teams complete a challenge, agents must create and upload their content online at FiestaMovement.com where followers can view and keep up with their favorites. Some of the challenges included racing a Fiesta and a Lamborghini around curves, and seeing which car could pack more cargo, the Fiesta or the Civic.

Visitors to the Web site can narrow down videos to watch by selecting which needs are important when thinking of purchasing a car, then watching as the Fiesta satisfies them. These filters include things like “fun to drive,” “good looks,” “cool tech” and “no keys necessary.” Viewers can watch as the Fiesta outlasts the Nissan Versa with one gallon of gas in each tank and unlocks and starts faster than a Yaris and a Fit, thanks to its keyless entry and starting capabilities.

Other features the Ford Fiesta possesses includes seven standard air bags, which is more than any compact car in its class. This includes side curtain airbags and even an airbag at the driver’s knees. It also features a protective “safety cage” made of Boron (an element so strong it’s used in the aerospace industry) that surrounds the driver and passengers. It also has a thoughtfully designed interior, complete with a cell-phone inspired center console, painted metallic accents, soft-touch materials and durable seat fabrics. Optional features include front heated leather-trimmed seats, SYNC in-car connectivity system and Intelligent Access with push-button start.

With all the features the Ford Fiesta offers and all the hype surrounding it’s release, it’s certain the vehicle will be a hit once it hits local Cleveland Ford dealerships. It’s unique online marketing campaign and print ads have grabbed the attention of many consumers who are ready for an innovative vehicle like the 2011 Ford Fiesta. However, only time will tell how much the social media networks, videos and bold print ads have helped the Fiesta get ahead of the competition.

About the Author

Rob Gillingham is the General Manager of Bob Gillingham Ford, located in Parma, Ohio, which sells a variety of new Ford cars and trucks, preowned and Ford classic vehicles. They are Northeast Ohio’s only combination Saleen and Roush dealer and has been in business since 1957.

Steel Metal Fabricators Cleveland Network Steel Fabrications QLD

Cleveland Signage Signature Sign Co. Inc.

So What Are Some of the Applications For the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Process?

So what are some of the applications for GTAW?
Obviously, this process is used for a wide variety of applications where the parts are made out of non-ferrous metals. Maintenance and repair is done by both manual and automatic methods of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. From stainless to titanium, aluminum, inconel, monel, cobalt, magnesium, hastalloy, you name it, and it can probobly be welded with TIG.

It is appropriate for welding of pipe and tubing in all positions. The excellent control of heat input gives maximum penetration while preventing melt-through on the root (first) pass. A lot of times a procedure is used where the root pass is welded with the GTAW process and then completed with Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, or flux Cored Arc Welding. This is used to obtain a high quality, low cost weld.

Consumable inserts are sometimes used in critical service applications. These inserts reduce porosity when alloyed with deoxidizers, improve the contour of the underside of the weld, and minimize cracking in the weld. On thin pipewall (depending on the base metal) , complete fusion is obtained without the use of filler metal. Filler metal , is used with thicker sections in order to fill the joint. Pulsed current may also be used.
Automatic circumferential or orbital Gas Tungsten Arc Welding is also used to weld pipe and tube.
Power piping, Air piping, Refrigeration piping, Chemical industry process piping, and Nuclear power piping are some of the different industries that apply the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding  process for welding pipe and tubing. Vacuum jacketed piping and pressure piping are a couple of cases where critical welding is required.

Nuclear Power Facilities :

Critical welding in the construction and repair of nuclear power facilities is required. Both manual and automatic methods are employed for many nuclear applications because of their precise control of the welding.
Pressure Vessels, Boilers, and Heat Exchangers :
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding has a wide range of applications in  the pipe and tube industry for the welding of pressure vessels, boilers, and heat exchangers. It is employed where full fusion welding is made from one side, without the use of permanent backing rings, and on girth butt welds with a smooth internal contour. Adequate mechanical strength and corrosion resistance for a particular service encountered can be obtained by choosing the correct filler metal and welding conditions.

Aerospace :

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process is the major welding process used in the aerospace industry. Aircraft, spacecraft, and launch vehicles are a few of what’s included in this industry. Some of the metals welded include aluminum, nickel, stainless steel, magnesium, and super alloys. Both the manual and automatic methods are employed in this industry. Pulsed current is also used extensively in this industry. Just about all critical welds made in this industry are done by TIG and a highly skilled welder.

Ships :

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process is applied in the ship-building industry because different materials like aluminum, molybdenum, and stainless steel are used. There is a lot of applications in this industry for the welding of stainless steel and aluminum.

Transportation :

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process is used somewhat in the automotive and railroad industries. It is used mainly for the welding of non-ferrous metals, maintenance, and for small components. Fabrication of aluminum fuel tanks is one application used in this industry.
In the railroad industry, several of the interior components are made of aluminum, stainless steel, monel, and copper are sometimes welded by this process. Some maintenance and repair of passenger trains is also performed.

Another area of use for this process is contractor work. If you have the equipment and skill you can charge anywhere from $35 – $125 per hour. I personally know a person who’s company charges $95 per hour for TIG aluminum jobs and he gets it. If you don’t have the equipment, you could always try to go to work for a contractor. TIG welding is a very rewarding profession, and they always need skilled welders.

So my advice to you is, if you want to be a TIG welder, get some training ( I recommend The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, Ohio ) They’re the best! Maybe, if you could afford it,  get a certification in GTAW while you go to school there. Apply yourself, and learn as much as you can. Then be aggressive, and go out there and get a job in the TIG welding industry. Make sure to keep your attendance perfect, if at all possible. Employers want you to come to work and be on time. If you do this you’ll be on your way to an interesting and fun career that is rewarding.

Jennifer Jenkins

About the Author

Jennifer Jenkins is an expert in many niches. She would like to invite you to visit another one of her and husband Ralph’s many websites. If your interested in earning extra cash while working at home, then go to http://www.free9fastcashvideos.com and sign up to get your FREE membership and a totally FREE 9 video course on how to start an Internet Marketing business.

Midlake Products & Mfg

Processing and Fabrication of Advanced Materials: Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium, 7-9 October 2002, Columbus, Ohio, USA $44.62 Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Processing and Fabrication of Advanced Materials, held in Columbus, Ohio, during Materials Solutions Conference, from October 7-10, 2002….

Processing and Fabrication of Advanced Materials X: Proceedings of a Symposium Organized by Asm International, Materials Park, Ohio, Usa, 5-8 November 2001, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (No. 10) $122.98 …

GEKA Urethane Stripper 2

Horse Stalls : What is meant by “hot-dip galvanizing”

When buying horse stalls, stall buildings, gates and arenas, there is only one way to look at it – short term costs versus long term costs.

Although painted equipment and pregalvanizedequipment seem to be an economical choice, you usually end up paying more in the long run. Get a higher return on your investment. Invest in Triton hot dip galvanized after fabrication equipment. Hot dip galvanized seals in the strength by bonding metallic zink to steel for the ultimate protection from corrosion.

Facts about hot-dip galvanizing

• Using zinc to protect steel from corrosion (hot-dip galvanizing) is a 150-year-old practice!
• Corrosion is caused by the inherent tendency of metals, when subjected to air and moisture, to revert to their original earthly forms, usually an ore state. They do this through a chemical or electrochemical reaction with the environment.
• Galvanizer’s kettles (GalvaSource) are set at temperatures ranging between 815 F and 850 F (435 C to 454 C).
• Zinc seals the underlying steel from contact with its environment. If the steel is exposed to the elements due to mechanical damage, the surrounding zinc corrodes sacrificially, protection the underlying steel from corrosive attack.
• The zinc coating on galvanized steel is uniform: inside, outside, corners and edges.
• The hot-dip galvanized reinforcing steel bond with concrete is at least as great as the bond of bare steel to concrete.
• Hot-dip galvanized steel lasts longer today than it did 20 years ago. Because of environmental laws, our air is cleaner and less contaminated with corrosive emissions.
• Corrosion annually costs the U.S. economy 3.2 percent of the gross national product, over $279 billion. Indirect costs to the public could raise the percentage to as much as 6 percent. Some indirect costs of corrosion are: lost productivity due to traffic delays, accidents caused by corroded hand and guardrails, excessive use of nature’s raw materials.

Galvanizing specifications

ASTM A-123
Hot Dip Galvanizing after fabrication provides the longest lasting-lowest maintenance products in the Ag market today.

All steel products to be Hot Dip Galvanized must be properly designed and prepared to allow proper coating.

1. Design:
Drainage or weep holes must be located top and bottom at each end of each horizontal tube to allow the molten zinc to flow inside and then drain back out of the part during the dipping process. All products to be hot dip galvanized must be designed to take into consideration stresses related with the hot dipping process. Amos uses only “prime steel” manufactured under ASTM A 513 standards with minimum 50,000 lb. psi yield.

2. Cleaning:
Material must be cleaned and free of oils, dirt or other foreign particles.

3. Coverage: minimum
1.8 mill of molten zinc, which conforms with Specification B-6.

4. Bath properties:
The galvanizing bath contains not less than 98% zinc by weight.

5. Finish:
To provide the user with a brighter-longer lasting finish, “all” of Amos Agri Products are Chromate quenched after the hot dip galvanizing process.

Note: The True Cost of Not Hot Dip Galvanizing (Source- American Galvanizing Association)

The most commonly cited regular reason for not galvanizing for corrosion protection is costs.

Taking into consideration the saving that will be generated by reduced maintenance over the life of the product, many specifiers choose to paint in hopes of saving a few dollars.

Take a world-renowned landmark like the Eiffel Tower. When the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 it was constructed with painted steel. Since that time, the tower has been repainted 17 times. Maintenance is scheduled to take place every 7 years and takes 14 months to complete. The cost of painting the Eiffel Tower has totaled $ 30 million dollars since 1889. Corrosion experts estimate $ 11 million could have been saved had they hot dip galvanized then painted.

Closer to home, a steel fabricator in Ohio recently made the decision to paint the hand rails at the Cleveland Indians stadium because painting was $ 25,000 cheaper than Hot Dip Galvanizing. What they failed to take into consideration was the astronomical maintenance costs incurred with the painted steel.

After just four years of service the handrails had to be repainted at a cost $350,000. By the time the stadium reaches its useful life, the projected saving will be in the millions. By contrast, the lighting system in the outfield was hot dip galvanized and then painted. To date, none of that steel has required any maintenance.

Hot dip galvanized steel horse stalls will ultimately cost less and provide a long lasting solution.

About the Author

Marc Trimble. TritonBarns.com

The art of Kevin Busta

Making Heating Vent for Remodeling Project