justin_case
Power Conserver
Welding, one of the most usefull skills.
I am self taught, so while I will throw out a few of the things I have learned, trust the advice of profesionals over mine any day.
On equipment on the other hand I have good knowledge of and own most every type.
As to welding for us beginner hobbiest types, do it outside not in a enclosed garage!
We are hobbyest never try a tralier hitch, pressure vessel or such, leave the serious stuff to the pro's, always.
Get a auto darkening helmet (on sale Princess auto - 50.00)
Always try to orient the work piece flat, welding horizontal is best for learning.
I will likely get hell from the pro's on this, but I use stainless steel rods for everything (stick welding), can be found cheap on craigslist,kijiji.
You can light one of these up, fall asleep while burning it, and will have a great looking weld! Great for learning! I cover the welded piece with fireblank, or fiberglass batt if handy It just lets the piece cool slower(less likely cracking of the weld for us amatures)
You can cut steel with a stick (CC) welder just dial up the amperage and use the rod like a torch, if you have compressed air handy with your free hand aim the nozzle at where you are cutting to blow away the slag (poor mans plasma cutter).Clean up the cut with a grinder.
For us amatures, build up the area through multiple passes, we arnt pro's so economy of material is not a concern so if our weld are heavier, and thicker than a pro's thats ok.
As for Mig welding, so many ways, all good, but I suggest fluxcore, in.030,.035,or .045 for welding. I like the .030 dialed down low for tight control of the arc on things needing a good finished appearance. Fluxcore mig is like stick welding in that it leaves a protective slag on the weld, so you weld away from the slag(if you have slag-you drag).
Thats all I know about welding, its worked for me though I am sure the experts cring at my advice.
Never have good welding machines been so affordable(on the used market). Everyone (shops) is buying inverter based machines now, and junking the old stuff
A good old Miller Dialarc 250 ac/dc welder is hard to beat, bullet proof, and you can fix it yourself. A old Miller Thunderbolt is a ok one as well for us hobbiest. I bought my Dialarc for 250 used, the thunder bolt for 100. Both machines are hackable.
A Millermatic 200 is one of my favorites. The 200 can be repaired with off the shelf parts if needed.Lincoln also has good old ones, just drawing a blank at the moment.
Anyway, one of the best skills to learn, once you can weld you really can build anything.
I am self taught, so while I will throw out a few of the things I have learned, trust the advice of profesionals over mine any day.
On equipment on the other hand I have good knowledge of and own most every type.
As to welding for us beginner hobbiest types, do it outside not in a enclosed garage!
We are hobbyest never try a tralier hitch, pressure vessel or such, leave the serious stuff to the pro's, always.
Get a auto darkening helmet (on sale Princess auto - 50.00)
Always try to orient the work piece flat, welding horizontal is best for learning.
I will likely get hell from the pro's on this, but I use stainless steel rods for everything (stick welding), can be found cheap on craigslist,kijiji.
You can light one of these up, fall asleep while burning it, and will have a great looking weld! Great for learning! I cover the welded piece with fireblank, or fiberglass batt if handy It just lets the piece cool slower(less likely cracking of the weld for us amatures)
You can cut steel with a stick (CC) welder just dial up the amperage and use the rod like a torch, if you have compressed air handy with your free hand aim the nozzle at where you are cutting to blow away the slag (poor mans plasma cutter).Clean up the cut with a grinder.
For us amatures, build up the area through multiple passes, we arnt pro's so economy of material is not a concern so if our weld are heavier, and thicker than a pro's thats ok.
As for Mig welding, so many ways, all good, but I suggest fluxcore, in.030,.035,or .045 for welding. I like the .030 dialed down low for tight control of the arc on things needing a good finished appearance. Fluxcore mig is like stick welding in that it leaves a protective slag on the weld, so you weld away from the slag(if you have slag-you drag).
Thats all I know about welding, its worked for me though I am sure the experts cring at my advice.
Never have good welding machines been so affordable(on the used market). Everyone (shops) is buying inverter based machines now, and junking the old stuff
A good old Miller Dialarc 250 ac/dc welder is hard to beat, bullet proof, and you can fix it yourself. A old Miller Thunderbolt is a ok one as well for us hobbiest. I bought my Dialarc for 250 used, the thunder bolt for 100. Both machines are hackable.
A Millermatic 200 is one of my favorites. The 200 can be repaired with off the shelf parts if needed.Lincoln also has good old ones, just drawing a blank at the moment.
Anyway, one of the best skills to learn, once you can weld you really can build anything.
