Thanks j wright

Thanks j wright. Good priced is also good especially after Xmas time!

Do you think I'm on the right track re the penetration also?

Thanks for all the replies lads. I do have some disposable masks. but I think I may invest in a respirator. just in case :) Haven't had a chance to weld over xmas but my auto darkening mask arrived. its got a rating between 9 and 13 so that's good from what ive read. I'm in Edinburgh for new year so...

Cheers mate. Ps, re penetration... (lol)..... would you be concerned that i still cant get the penetration to look like a weld on the back side? its kinda not concerning me cos im thinking 3mm is on the limit (from what ive experienced and read) of the 135te. i do get a really really nice blister on...

Thanks WM.

i have a bunch of shiny silver (zinc plated) bolts that ill use.

Awesome, cheers for the info mate!

***sorry meant nuts not bolts

Thats actually a really good point. sandwich them together and weld them up.... 6mm instantly

yeah will look forward to seeing them mate

chuckE said there was some dodgy gold looking coating on the bolts he used that when welded give off toxic fumes. is this on all nuts/bolts?

Haha! You guys are awesome! :D :D :D After i made my workbench (some time in Jan) i'm going to make a bench vice as per chuckE's vid. As my welder will only fully penetrate 2.5mm realistically, am i ok to use 3mm? i wont be bashing stuff out on it. just need it to hold some auto work pieces and the ...

Holy moly. Well, at least it don't stop you welding!

Haha, I get jokes too.... I usually buy things at the second hand shop etc

Right mate, i think i understand. they kind of interlink and theyre between ''on top of each other'' and ''next to'' .

Thanks JWright for that explanation.

That makes complete sense. i think this confirms that my understanding of ''multiple passes'' was incorrect. youre saying that you add passes next to each other as opposed to on top of each other?

Ps, one more thing i'm interested in..... Why do more than one ''pass''? i understand that you lay a bead. and then lay another bead over the top. presumably this is to get a stronger weld. but surely this has the effect of travelling too slow... i.e. you just build up on the existing bead and dont ...

Yeah i do know what you mean.

The jack stands build scared me

ps guys, one last thing (sorry to bang on)... have any of you checked out a channel on youtube ChuckE2009? He has some awesome welding projects fom bbq's to beefy car bumpers. he's really clear in explaining stuff and ive found it a real help in addition to everything you guys have helped me with of...

@Braehill.

Thanks very much for that mate. That looks just the ticket for what would help me. perhaps making one as a first very small prject instead of purchasing???

@GreinTime..... yu shot your leg off???

I didn't bother telling anyone cos I didn't think it relevant. But I actually only have one hand. You weren't to know. :) I kinda support the gun with my arm whilst holding it with my right hand to pul the trigger. I actually think I'm quite steady but I don't tend to weld the metal flat. . . I put ...

Thanks Mike. So although a tad ugly they're not too bad?

Thanks Mike.

From these pics is there anything good in there?

Just a quick update... I sawed off the end of my nozzle ::) in an effort to reduce stick out Been out this morning with new shortened nozzle and also plugged in to the mains as opposed to an extension lead. I started off welding 3mm steel. I got to say, right from the off there feels like theres mor...

No worries mate i really appreciate you looking at that for me

To be honest, all these ''checks'' are great anyways cos they're not costing me anything and i'm making sure its all spot on

ill update when i have bodged my nozzle haha!

Thanks for that mate. However, that is for ''EN'' gasless models only (i had a good read through the book before i went out also lol) not the TE models

I certainly did look in the door mate.

Definitley no + or - leads. the gun goes to the wire. and the ground lead goes to inside the machine out of site. no area to change polarity.

Well, at least its one more thang to cross off my list lol