The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Anyone tried a Henrob welding outfit?

I saw the website and videos with the guy welding sheet metal with no warping. Anybody have one and is it easier, better that a mig? Pros and cons? Thanks

Do a search for Henrob. There are lots of posts.

Basically, a Henrob unit is just a regular actetylene torch head with a brazing tip attached to a fancy handle. The videos that are posted on their website do show a guy welding sheet metal with it. But if you notice, the sheet metal is laying flat on two other thick pieces of steel with a gap in between. Those steel slabs are acting as a heat sink and limiting the amount of heat damage outside the gap.

To answer your question, yes, you can weld automotive sheet metal with one, (or a brazing tip on a conventional torch for that matter), but you really need to use some kind of heat dam to limit the impact to the surrounding metal. Like: http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/...412&iSubCat=1417&iProductID=1616

The benefit of MIG is that by staggering your welds and allowing the metal to cool between each weld, you significantly reduce the amount of impact you impart on the surrounding metal. This is because the heat is intense and localized. The heat from a torch is intense over a broader area.

The comfortable handle is nice, but for sheet metal, I'd stick with MIG or TIG.

Hi,

I have a Henrob/Cobra--bought it a couple years ago. I watched a live demonstration, and the guy was a real master with it, in any application. Unlike other torches, it uses very low gas pressure. It's a wonderful torch for cutting--the videos are accurate; if you practice a bit you can cut very intricately and with remarkably clean edges.

I have also welded sheet metal with it; the responses above in my opinion are correct. It will do the job, but it's a bit more difficult because of the heat displaced over the panel, etc. You really have to watch out for warping. I practiced a lot with it, but I discovered that I can do a better job with my Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder when welding 24-18 gauge. I can get better penetration and I can fill holes more efficiently and with better bonding power, and with a lot less heat distortion. One advantage of oxy/acet welding is that you can weld metal that is not entirely, perfectly clean; in addition, it's a softer weld, so you can work it more easily with a hammer and dolly. Actually, it's nice to have both methods at your disposal and there are applications for both; though since I've purchased the Hobart, I've stuck with that pretty religiously for welding thin sheet metal.

I should add that I am really a novice, self-taught welder with both torch and MIG.

JM

Thanks fellas for the info, Ya can't beat the crowd here at Stovebolt!!! Thanks again, Smitty