Want to get into welding

[rebelbanshee2]

ive got a frame and some other stuff I need to get a bunch of stuff welded on this winter. Instead of going into work and bothering the guys there with it I figure it would be a good time to pick up on welding.

 

Now I know next to nothing about welding. I have done some research and have figured I probably just need a 115v flux core setup. Anyone know what a good brand is? Also what kind of environment do I need to saftely weld? I dont have a garage only a old barn with wood floor, a barn with a dirt floor, and a basement. None of them really seem ideal.

 

Thats all the questions Ive got for now. Any advice is great, because I really dont know much about it, except practice, practice!

[JET 99]

if you are going to be doimg it on your own, Look up ED CRAIG on the internet,I use a miller 652 delta at work and have a little millermatic 115 at home, using sheilding gas is the way to go for what you want. flux core welding uses more heat you will probably experience burn thru if your not dead on with your settings and how your stick out is from the tip of your gun to the end of the electrode. I use 75% argon 25% co2 for the gas on my 115v higher co2 content= less voltage setting on equivelent feed rate on wire. I use 85% 15% at work for steel, but the welder is on 3 phase 480v so voltage is not an issue for the bigger welder. sorry bout gabbin but the ED CRAIG weldreality site is a no BS site and has more info than you would ever need!!!!!!!!! hope it helps

 

 

 

Jim

[Shee-Male]

Like you said practice!, I wouldn't suggest welding near old wood!

I peronally don't like flux core, it is very bubbly and porous and I don't find it gives very good penetraion!

Spend the little extra and get the gas conversion (argon or CO2 or mix)or get it with the welder if you're buying new.

You'll be able to dial in the welder and perfect your welding once you get started, your learning and setup changes will be rapid once you can anilize the bead you lay down, mig welders are the closest thing to black magic!

Trust me, I've taught many people to weld, you'll learn fast on a mig, it's pretty easy!

[BigRed350x]

ive got a frame and some other stuff I need to get a bunch of stuff welded on this winter.  Instead of going into work and bothering the guys there with it I figure it would be a good time to pick up on welding.

 

Now I know next to nothing about welding.  I have done some research and have figured I probably just need a 115v flux core setup.  Anyone know what a good brand is?  Also what kind of environment  do I need to saftely weld?  I dont have a garage only a old barn with wood floor, a barn with a dirt floor, and a basement.  None of them really seem ideal.

 

Thats all the questions Ive got for now.  Any advice is great, because I really dont know much about it, except practice, practice!

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I grew up welding with an old-ass industrial arc welder in our barn. Dirt floor & everything. Did pretty good for me to learn the basics with.

[Gargamel]

if you weld in that barn with wood floor have a hose ready

 

Get yourself a mig welder and use shielding gas, I agree flux core sucks. I just got a 220v Lincoln pro mig 175 brand new on ebay for $410. Something around that size will be good for a home shop and to learn on. I do everything from frame mods to building trailers with mine.

 

Another tip to help a new welder is to get a good hood. Like a Speedglas auto dark hood. They are a lot nicer to weld with then a standard 1 shade hood.

 

I'm not an expert but been a welder/metal fab. for about 5 years. So if you got anymore ?'S

 

[rebelbanshee2]

So gas shield is worth it then. I do have a CO2 tank sitting around so I have that part coverered already. Ill look up that Ed Craig site. Thanks

[banshee04le]

For a 115v unit I recommend the lincoln sp-135+ which will weld .025 and .030 mig

or .035 innershield. I prefer it over the millermatic myself. I like a unit with continuous voltage control like the lincoln sp. The lincoln weldpaks have a voltage tap switch instead, which means no fine voltage control.

.025 mig is good for light gauge work like tacking up a quarter panel or something.

.030 mig is suitable up to about 3/16".

You need a 220v unit for .035 mig.

Definitely get you some nr-211 .035 innershield wire to play with too. It will weld 1/4 and 5/16" on a 115v power supply. It doesn't make as pretty of a weld but it makes a strong weld. innershield runs electrode negative...mig runs electrode positive.

Some guys try innershield and don't like it because they don't realize they are running it the wrong polarity. If you get everything setup right and your still welding like shit, try less stick out, which simply means to move the welding tip closer to the work.

Oh yeah, and watch the puddle.

[Meat]

MIG only, no flux core ! I have the Lincoln 135 that O4LE mentioned. Its cool, butif I'd do it again, I'd get the 175 amp for the garage. No flux core, blah.

 

I mig welded daily for seven years as a factory service tech for Fleetwood motor homes. We''d do warrenty work on all of Fleetwoods motorhomes, our main work was sidewall repair, we'd rip em apart and rebuld the sidewall, welding in new tube steel as we needed. Pentration is the key to a good weld, it must pentrate both pieces being welded together, the weld cant sit on the seam like a bead of caulking.

 

Get a welding coat and gloves. and a helmet is a must, the hand held face sheilds that come with alot of welders are useless and I don't even know why they include em with the welder. Auto darkening helmets are nice, but a standard helmet works just as good. I like a standard helmet cause I like to flip the hood up and get a good look at what im welding, my eyes are bad and looking though the helmet glass doesnt cut it for me.

 

fuck flux core.

 

If your blue jeans have holes in the knees... don't weld with em on

[Speedie]

And ever you do don't look directly at the spark without goggles,

no matter how pretty it is. JK

[KGL]

Lincoln , Miller , and Hobart are good brands .

 

Sounds like a good 110v Mig will do you fine for what you want...

as mentioned before , spend the $ and get the gas kit , flux core sux

big wee wee , also get something that has as much fine adjustment as you

can , the cheesy ones with a "high /low" & "slow/fast" wont cut it when

you get used to your new machine, the "hobby" welders are fine if youre only building soup cans.

I myself prefer the auto darkening helmets as you dont have to flip it up

and down every two seconds but if you get a regular one,

get one with a large lense so youll have a better view of all the holes youll be melting in your frame

Whatever you get , just go to town practicing on some old scrap... most of the mig's have a "settings" chart on the inside of the cabinets that will start you out

fairly close to where you need to be depending on what youre welding... then when you get good you can weld the doors shut on your car and start calling it "The General "

[bansheeryder_69]

And ever you do don't look directly at the spark without goggles,

no matter how pretty it is.

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And don't touch the hot metal dip it into cool water first

[MudSlinger09]

no matter how short of a time you welded it

[Gargamel]

And don't touch the hot metal dip it into cool water first 

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that's a bad thing to do

 

dipping it in water will harden the weld and make it more brittle- so just let it cool naturaly.

 

just go down to a metal shop and ask if you can have some scrap and practice before you ruin metal you bought. All the instruction can't equal time behind the welder. Just like riding, more you weld the better you'll be.