wetbackZO
1/2 ton status
what you were smelling on the hitch was probably charring paint...
CK5
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noob welding pics...beware preety bad..
- Thread starter twoslo4five0
- Start date
Pookster
1/2 ton status
I just got into welding about a year and change ago. Really didnt start until like 6 months ago. I did like everyone said, and started with stick, and just started strining beads. WEnt through about 5 lbs of rods, which isnt much. Kinda got a hang of it, but it was useless for the kinda work I was trying to do (automotive).
Dont skimp on safety equipment! Since I knew I wanted to move to tig, and tig machnes generally do stick, thats what I got (synchrowave). THen, I found a great deal on an older lincoln 130T, which I have to say, with the 230v, has quite a bit of balls for at least a quarter inch (groved properly of course). I didnt even get the argon for tigging until 6 months ago, since i was still practicing stick. I havent even budged the knob past setting "b", since I am doing mostly sheet metal.
I am an amateur, and a lot of the guys on here have great advice. But Im a bit wussy about getting more scars, and i have a plenty. Here's my list of must haves:
1. A good Helmet. I use a NexGen. One of the fastest and lightest weight on the market, 1/25000 of a second reaction time, and a grind mode. I also have a Jackson non electronic as a backup, just a single big lense.
2. Good Gloves. Have a pair of dedicated welding leathers.
3. Protective clothing. Yeah, i dont listen to my own advice sometimes. Get either welding leathers or at least nomex something or other. Protect your head. you dont know the number of times I got sparks in my head and I had to move suddenly to brush it off. I know, Im a wuss. i also have a big scar from a steel rod that bounced and burned right through a few layers of clothing. Miller jackets arent that expensive, and damn, that miller blue is just so sexy.
4. Protect your surroundings. Welding blankets are great, and can save you a lot of grief later. I use it for covering my area when i grind, so that hot sparks dont fly into anything flammable. Dont forget fire extinguishers.
5. Protect your lungs. Who knows what nasty paint/crap was on the metal; wear some sorta protection. Sometimes, your enclosed in an area so long you dont smell how bad the air is. Go outside for fresh air once in a while, and then smell the air. I just started to wear a charcoal resparator. When I started to be able to taste and smell the rust I was grinding off, it was time.
Wussy, yes, but hey, to each their own. I am not taking the Orange County challenge of welding by closing my eye lids. With an autodarkening helmet, you dont have to take those risks. You can do fitups right to the point of the arc, without taking your eye off the work.
Dont skimp on safety equipment! Since I knew I wanted to move to tig, and tig machnes generally do stick, thats what I got (synchrowave). THen, I found a great deal on an older lincoln 130T, which I have to say, with the 230v, has quite a bit of balls for at least a quarter inch (groved properly of course). I didnt even get the argon for tigging until 6 months ago, since i was still practicing stick. I havent even budged the knob past setting "b", since I am doing mostly sheet metal.
I am an amateur, and a lot of the guys on here have great advice. But Im a bit wussy about getting more scars, and i have a plenty. Here's my list of must haves:
1. A good Helmet. I use a NexGen. One of the fastest and lightest weight on the market, 1/25000 of a second reaction time, and a grind mode. I also have a Jackson non electronic as a backup, just a single big lense.
2. Good Gloves. Have a pair of dedicated welding leathers.
3. Protective clothing. Yeah, i dont listen to my own advice sometimes. Get either welding leathers or at least nomex something or other. Protect your head. you dont know the number of times I got sparks in my head and I had to move suddenly to brush it off. I know, Im a wuss. i also have a big scar from a steel rod that bounced and burned right through a few layers of clothing. Miller jackets arent that expensive, and damn, that miller blue is just so sexy.
4. Protect your surroundings. Welding blankets are great, and can save you a lot of grief later. I use it for covering my area when i grind, so that hot sparks dont fly into anything flammable. Dont forget fire extinguishers.
5. Protect your lungs. Who knows what nasty paint/crap was on the metal; wear some sorta protection. Sometimes, your enclosed in an area so long you dont smell how bad the air is. Go outside for fresh air once in a while, and then smell the air. I just started to wear a charcoal resparator. When I started to be able to taste and smell the rust I was grinding off, it was time.
Wussy, yes, but hey, to each their own. I am not taking the Orange County challenge of welding by closing my eye lids. With an autodarkening helmet, you dont have to take those risks. You can do fitups right to the point of the arc, without taking your eye off the work.
deadlew
1/2 ton status
Jay,
What rods are you using? Looks like you need to slow down a little. See how the weld pool is pointed. I should be more rounded. You can run a few beads down here this weekend when you come down if you want.
PaulC
What rods are you using? Looks like you need to slow down a little. See how the weld pool is pointed. I should be more rounded. You can run a few beads down here this weekend when you come down if you want.
PaulC
6013
deadlew
1/2 ton status
Use those for practice getting the weave and speed down. Then get some good rods like 6011, even better 7018.
PaulC
PaulC
i dont think im supposed to use 7018s for an ac welder
deadlew
1/2 ton status
Yes you can. I have some 7018 AC I'll give you. I can't use them on my machine.
sta500666
1/2 ton status
Man, just trade her in on a MIG, life will be easier, and even if you mess it up it will still kinda look like a weld haha
why if you give up that easy than there is no reason in learning..
Pookster
1/2 ton status
stick welding is like using chopsticks.
Mig welding is like rolling gnocchi
Tig is like using a small torch lighter and trying to melt chocolate chips on chocolate. Get the chip before you melt the base! If you can attach chocolate, you can weld tig.
Dont give up on stick, for what your trying to weld, stick really is one of the best ways for good penetration. On a funny note...
Try just melting a whole rod straight into a chunk of metal. Dont zigzag, or move side to side. Just straight down. This helped me a lot, but thats just me, and Im no expert. THen as you get comfortable with that, start making more oval puddles. Same thing straight down, just move slightly to the side... keep doing this until you get the feel for how the pool reacts.
Mig welding is like rolling gnocchi
Tig is like using a small torch lighter and trying to melt chocolate chips on chocolate. Get the chip before you melt the base! If you can attach chocolate, you can weld tig.
Dont give up on stick, for what your trying to weld, stick really is one of the best ways for good penetration. On a funny note...
Try just melting a whole rod straight into a chunk of metal. Dont zigzag, or move side to side. Just straight down. This helped me a lot, but thats just me, and Im no expert. THen as you get comfortable with that, start making more oval puddles. Same thing straight down, just move slightly to the side... keep doing this until you get the feel for how the pool reacts.
sandawgk5
3/4 ton status
I dont zigzag stick at all. I would recommend practicing by holding the rod at an angle like this _/ and as the rod is consumed just lower your hand toward the base metal until the rod is gone.
Personally that is the best way to "Practice" and get a feel for what the rod and metal are doing. In theory the bead should form itself with little input from you if the machine is setup right.
Dik
Personally that is the best way to "Practice" and get a feel for what the rod and metal are doing. In theory the bead should form itself with little input from you if the machine is setup right.
Dik
sta500666
1/2 ton status
Hey, welding is welding! And learning to weld MIG has its own difficulties but in the end it is more saticfying "i think." I origianlly learned on stick in highschool but once my teach said move on to MIG I never went back. I learned TIG too but its pretty tricky, and really good for alluminum and stainless steel. If you insist on usuing stick I learned by repeadedly running straight line beads on strips of metal, probably close to 100 beads before I was proficient at it. Still MIG is easier, faster, with less or no slag so its cleaner, less gasses floating around, virtually no arc to spark, and finally continuous welds!!!!!
Just my oppinions tho... And if you do get a MIG make sure you get the complete Argon Gas set up. Gasless MIG welding kinda sucks but it still works alright.
good for you Jamie!
ever seen anybody MIG weld on the trail? I haven't, but I have seen people stick weld and done it myself. I have even welded with batteries before. yes MIG is easier, but it is also more expensive and not outdoors friendly. the suggestion to just burn a stick straight down is a good one.
I do most of my welding with a MIG but just yesterday I stopped in at my friends hardware store and ended up arc welding on a rack for his three wheeler. he had all the tools but couldn't work the equipment. You never know when you will need a skill.
Plus I think that if you can stick weld you can tig weld. MIG just teaches you to squeeze a trigger. anybody can put mustard on a hotdog.
at thump
I would rather have an arc welder and a shackle flip then a MIG and blocks.
dont worry it was dontoe's mig...nice setup but pricey...I would rather have an arc welder and a shackle flip then a MIG and blocks.
NEK5
3/4 ton status
would you reccomend laying beads first for stick welding, or any type of welding?
I just tried mig welding for the first time, and its been pretty bad
and if you ever find yourself welding anything galvanized, make sure you have adequate ventilation (outdoors), grind it off, and keep milk on hand. Not sure the scientific reason, but drinking milk helps get rid of the effects of breathing in the burning galvanized coating.
