Welding Matters

[Graham]

Ok then I've finally got fed up with having to get other people to do odd bits of welding for me

so its about time I started to learn for my self..


anyone got any tips, what sort of kit should i start with, and any really good value bits


cheers

G

[sunbeam_alpine]

What are you wanting to weld?

[jkennyd]

There are many types and I've done a few. Gas is good but a nightmare for H and S. I would get a good wee mig welder to start with. Theres not much you will be doing a mig cant do than an Arc can, if you get one that goes to 6mm. Tigs the baby but its harder to learn.

[Disco_Dale]

Graham said:

Ok then I've finally got fed up with having to get other people to do odd bits of welding for me

so its about time I started to learn for my self..


anyone got any tips, what sort of kit should i start with, and any really good value bits


cheers

G

Get a half decent mig with argon, not pub gas and you can teach yourself in a couple of hours.
Just practice on a few scrap bits of mild steel, not that it'll really prepare you for welding a new floorpan into a already wafer thin 70's British/Italian rusty old nail, but in theory it's the same...

Machine Mart is a good place to look for a half decent starter kit.

[GTIR]

I have been thinking the same thing for years, I buy and sell lots of cars but when I see "Requires welding" it sends a shiver down my (twisted) spine.

I understand that arc is crude but strong and requires skill for lighter metal and mig is difficult to master but quicker.

Maybe I should invest in a mig?

[Disco_Dale]

Mig really isn't difficult to master, providing you're using the right gas in a half decent quality one as I say.

Never tried to weld up a rusty old motor with Arc, but I've seen the results of a mate who tried and it wasn't pretty. He got a mig and flew through it.

[B19GRR]

Go here:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/

Clarke do decent budget MIG welders, pretty damn easy to learn. Also check out local colleges in case they have a evening class. I did one and got to mess with gas welding and MIG, useful to just make sure you're on the right track. I'd like to learn TIG but not got the time or money at the mo'.

Cheers,
Rob

[GTIR]

B19GRR said:

Go here:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/

Clarke do decent budget MIG welders, pretty damn easy to learn. Also check out local colleges in case they have a evening class. I did one and got to mess with gas welding and MIG, useful to just make sure you're on the right track. I'd like to learn TIG but not got the time or money at the mo'.

Cheers,
Rob

Two questions;

1) Have you bought a welder, if so which one?
2) Were there any fit girls on the welding course, like Flashdance?

[AndrewW-G]

GTIR said:

Maybe I should invest in a mig?

If you go for a second hand one make sure the wire feed mechanism works perfectly (doesnt slip or stutter) if it doesnt its a complete PITA

[mel]

If you can put paste on your toothbrush in the mornings you can mig weld within half an hour.

[thinfourth2]

Gasless MIG in one word

DON'T

Total waste of time and money as you get a crap weld and you can't see the arc of weld pool for crap

[stainless_steve]

Graham said:

Ok then I've finally got fed up with having to get other people to do odd bits of welding for me

so its about time I started to learn for my self..


anyone got any tips, what sort of kit should i start with, and any really good value bits


cheers

G

Graham,what are you wanting to weld ?

There are some good single phase machines out there that will cope with welding chassis ect.

[bitwrx]

I've got a Clarke 180 sitting in the workshop. Free to a good home.

Not the best welder, but I've built loads of stuff with it.

Regulator included.

[Graham]

stainless_steve said:

Graham,what are you wanting to weld ?

There are some good single phase machines out there that will cope with welding chassis ect.

Brackets on to chassis, and things like engine and gearbox mounts...

new metal rather than rusty old body shells, certainly to start with..


Im assuming mig tbh, but some pointers on whats hot and whats not would be good...

I have looked at the local college but drawn a blank so far..

[Graham]

bitwrx said:

I've got a Clarke 180 sitting in the workshop. Free to a good home.

Not the best welder, but I've built loads of stuff with it.

Regulator included.

ears pricking up.... where abouts are you?

[stainless_steve]

Graham said:

stainless_steve said:

Graham,what are you wanting to weld ?

There are some good single phase machines out there that will cope with welding chassis ect.

Brackets on to chassis, and things like engine and gearbox mounts...

new metal rather than rusty old body shells, certainly to start with..


Im assuming mig tbh, but some pointers on whats hot and whats not would be good...

I have looked at the local college but drawn a blank so far..

We have one at work,you set it up by inputting the metal thickness and type of weld.
I'm sure you could pick it up in just a few hours.

[bitwrx]

Graham said:

bitwrx said:

I've got a Clarke 180 sitting in the workshop. Free to a good home.

Not the best welder, but I've built loads of stuff with it.

Regulator included.

ears pricking up.... where abouts are you?

Wiltshire.

Sod's law: I went up to Cheshire last weekend, so could've dropped it off twice in three days.

[pistol pete]

If Graham doesn't want it, I'm interested. Can collect if needbe (I'm in Banbury).

Cheers,
Pete

[BB-Q]

AndrewW-G said:

GTIR said:

Maybe I should invest in a mig?

If you go for a second hand one make sure the wire feed mechanism works perfectly (doesnt slip or stutter) if it doesnt its a complete PITA

err, they're adjustable, you know. That knob on top of the rollers? adjust the pressure on the wire to stop it slipping or stuttering.

HTH.

To the OP:

Ask someone with experience- you're much better off buying a used professional or semi pro welder than a new hobby one for similar money. The pro stuff can be easily and relatively cheaply repaired if it fails.

Also, make sure you get an automatic mask- the cheap ones on Ebay work just fine, although the dearer ones are better.

Lastly, experiment. Get loads of odds and sods of metal and find out what happens if you turn the feed up too high and the power too low or vice versa or any comination of stuff.

Oh, and to set the rollers so your wire feeds freely? puul the trigger so the wire comes out of the torch. keep your hand on the trigger and grab the wire right at the torch to try and stop it. At that point the rollers should just about slip and prevent the wire from bunching. Don't worry, you won't get a shock (every beginner's biggest fear in my experience) no matter what you do. Ok, so don't attach the earth clamp to your tongue and try to weld it, but in normal use you've no chance of a shock at all.

Edited by BB-Q on Monday 6th April 23:04

Edited by BB-Q on Monday 6th April 23:04

[elster]

Arc and Tig welding I think is much more of an "art" than MIG welding.

MIG welding is a plain simple to stick a couple of bits of metal together.