Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi

I've been watching loads of videos from the YouTube channel of this website/forum so I thought I might as well join the forum as well since I have so many questions and so much to learn.

I've never welded before. I used to braze things when I was a youngster so I've had some experience sticking metal wires together, but recently I've been interested in making my own Chimenia or fire pit from scrap and it looks like welding is essential. I also like learning things, so thought rather than hire/bribe some poor welder to do my dirty work, I decided I'll have a go and learn it myself.

Everyone has suggested stick is the cheapest/easiest/most suitable for me. It sounds simple enough, but probably takes a lot of time, practice and knowledge to do neat and clean welds (Bubba's 22$/h welds ). I fully expect my first attempts to be disasters.

On my list of equipment (yet to purchase) is an "Automatic Welding Head Shield" with 1:10,000 reaction time and some protective gear (gauntlets and apron). The welding machine specs are:

Fuse (amps): 13A
Electrode size: 1.6-2.5mm
No load voltage: 48V

Does that sound suitable for a total novice like me, and will it be enough for if/when I do this as a hobby? I never intend to even try make a career/money out of this.

Thanks for any advice!
Bernie

Welcome to the forum Bernie.

Hey mate,

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you.

Stick welding is a good place to start, simply because of the low intial cost and simple (ish) set up. It takes a little practice to produce good welds, but the best thing is that it is kind of "plug and Play" because you only have one control on the machine and one its turned on, Its entirely up to what you are doing with your hands to make nice welds. No gas flow or setting volts/amp ratios.

May I suggest, before buying any equipment of your own, that you enroll in a beginners welding class? If availible in your area. In Australia, you can do them at night school, for a couple of hours once a week. To get an idea of what you will need to know before stepping out and laying cash on a machine of your own.

Mick

weldin mike 27 wrote:Hey mate,

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you.

Stick welding is a good place to start, simply because of the low intial cost and simple (ish) set up. It takes a little practice to produce good welds, but the best thing is that it is kind of "plug and Play" because you only have one control on the machine and one its turned on, Its entirely up to what you are doing with your hands to make nice welds. No gas flow or setting volts/amp ratios.

May I suggest, before buying any equipment of your own, that you enroll in a beginners welding class? If availible in your area. In Australia, you can do them at night school, for a couple of hours once a week. To get an idea of what you will need to know before stepping out and laying cash on a machine of your own.

Mick

That sounds like very good advice, and I did look for a night class, but I work away during the week and have not found a class on a night when I'm either away or home. I'll keep looking and delay buying anything until I'm really pushed to do so.

Hey,

Never hurts to do a little more research . However , be careful not to confuse yourself. Some of the specs you mentioned are of little matter to anyone . Especially a welding novice.

The auto darkening shield that will suit you will be in any hardware store, for not very much. The reaction time is not a selling point, because its sort of par for the course. With the welder, the no load volts wont worry you, it is only the output amps that are of consequence . 140 amps around that is probably common. Ethier in an AC (arc) welder or a DC inverter . By all means buy gloves and an apron, and safety glasses to go under the shield, to protect from stray slag and sparks.

In the event you cannot find a class, possibly a small local workshop may let you have a play with a welder after hours for a case of larger. (maybe)

Mick