Welding Pictures. Using the DHC 2000.

Excerpts of a 3-page review of the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) in "PERFORMANCE BUILDUPS" MAGAZINE (VOLUME 12, NO. 2. 2001) Thanks to Paul Curzon the editor who took brilliant photos and also had hands-on experience operating the torch. This is what he has to say.

Image 1

"The first things Barry likes to show is a couple of old bits of steel packing strips ( images 1 & 2). Paint and the like does not have to be removed, you just set them next to each other and start". As you can see there is virtually nil distortion which is why the torch is so popular in thin panel steel. "The lack of oxidisation from the flame is shown rather effectively when Lynn brazes a couple of pieces packing strap using an ordinary bit of old copper household electrical wiring instead of bronze rod.

Image 2 Image 3

We stress that NO flux of any kind was used in brazing these pieces together (image 3). The pieces at the bottom of this shot (image 4) are those in the previous photos. At the top of the shot you can see the pieces brazed using copper wire". This is also superb for brazing up holes in thin rusty exhaust systems.

Image 4

"Anyone will tell you it takes practice to weld aluminum successfully and they are not wrong. I have done a bit a panel work with a standard torch but I have never had the need to try my hand at aluminum. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. I had a try on some 1.2mm aluminum pipe and on the first attempt I blew a hole, but Lynn showed me how to move the torch and filler rod and I quickly made a reasonable weld. That's not bad for a novice working in such a difficult material.

Image 5 Image 6

The shots (images 5 & 6) show Lynn working with a couple of strips of aluminum of the same thickness (1.6mm). Penetration is good". Note the virtual lack of distortion and that the samples are quite dirty. In thin stainless steel the distortion level is much lower than T.I.G "One of the more interesting applications of the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) is welding cast aluminum alloy.

Image 7

This old test piece (image 7) has NOT been cleaned up because you can simply work with it as it is. Barry points out that there is no need to prepare an edge so the broken pieces can simply be fitted back together and welded. This is useful as it keeps all bolt holes and other functional features of a case item in the same place as when the part was made. We did not get a shot of the other side but penetration was good".

Image 8

"The DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) is also good at repairing cast iron parts. This is an old exhaust manifold into which Lynn blew a hole. After cooling, she welded it up again with no particular preparation using ordinary filler rod. The process seems so forgiving that even old piston rings can be used as a filler. Because of the low velocity and concentrated temperature of the flame there is not much of an accumulation of material on the other side of the weld. This could be an important feature in welding something like a manifold or a head. Preheating cast iron is not necessary if the item is not stressed in service. If it is subject to operating stresses then it must be uniformly heated to red as is the case with any torch". (image 8)