Welding Tips and Tricks

I just joined the forum today after purchasing an Everlast 210ext as my first welder.
I have specified a No9 gun with a flexible instead of the cludgy No 26 that comes with unit.

I have no welding experience, but have spent hundreds of hours researching TIG techniques because the precision and versatility appeals to me as an electronics guy used to soldering.

Jody has been an inspiration with his down to earth but well researched videos that are packed with useful advice.I find he covers the small details that can mean you can practically apply his wisdom.

Looks like a very informative forum with lots of good advice for new members on techniques, machines and safety.
I managed to pick up a Jackson WH70 with Airmax on eBay at a great price so hopefully I have covered the basics.

I will provide a few posts of my foray into the fascinating world of TIG welding......

God knows what my first project will be - a welding cart is probably a good place to start where no one will notice the mistakes once it is painted black.

Hi there,

Welscome to the show. What part of out fabulous country are you from? Im in Bendigo, Vic

Mick

Welcome to the forum.

weldin mike 27 wrote:Hi there,

Welscome to the show. What part of out fabulous country are you from? Im in Bendigo, Vic

Mick

Hi Mike I live in Melbourne and currently trying to figure out the best places for welding supplies and metal.
Any ideas?

What suburb are you in? I have some friends in the south eastern and north eastern areas who would know. I really don't buy much myself, scrap and stuff. If you are practicing, ebay and a good second hand /scrap joint can be your best friend.

Mick

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wamtone wrote:I just joined the forum today, Everlast 210ext as my first welder.
God knows what my first project will be - a welding cart is probably a good place to start where no one will notice the mistakes once it is painted black.

Welcome to the Forum. I just started welding also a few months ago, this is a very good forum, nice people here...and yeah, Jody's vids are VERY helpful. Get some scrap, make the mistakes on that, it's difficult and takes alotta "seat time" and tungstens. A local buddy told me about the "seat time" thing and it is so true.
Good luck with that machine and welcome aboard !

weldin mike 27 wrote:What suburb are you in? I have some friends in the south eastern and north eastern areas who would know. I really don't buy much myself, scrap and stuff. If you are practicing, ebay and a good second hand /scrap joint can be your best friend.

Mick

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Hi Mick, I live in Ivanhoe about 12km from the City and close to Heidelberg

The Everlast 210ext arrived last night and I now have to buy an Argon Gas bottle and some welding rods.
Can you advise an initial selection of filler rods to buy for TIIG?
I will be starting with mild steel and aluminium but the range of filler rods to choose from bewildering!
Is there a general purpose rod I can start with?

I hope to get into some welding this week-end!

The first rods to start with I would say is ER-70 S6 1,6mm or smaller for steel.
4043 or 5356 2-2,4 mm for aluminum.

Hey wam, welcome aboard The Argon Train.

If you like getting your nerd on in precise ways, yes, you are gonna love TIG. Fellow noob here, have just started getting into this with a MetalMaster 215 TIG/Stick/plasma. Loving it.

Good advice from Anders. I have those fillers plus some ER308 for stainless. I buy it online, often in 400 gram packs from Hampdons. Cheap, and let's me sample all sorts of filler with very little risk.

For practise I have picked up wrecked motorcycle frames, old computer chassis, bicycles, you name it. Anything free or cheap that I can chop up and practise on.

You will use a hell of a lot of argon when you practising, so get it as cheaply as you possibly can. If you are like me, it will be your biggest consumable cost and will drive you to trying to make 'useful practise items' as soon as you can.

Have fun.

Kym

Right, my good friend has a company in Bayswater, a little away from you. There are many people here who can help better than me will filler section.
Mick

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4043 (Alum) in 1/16" rod is good practice because it's a bit more difficult to feed thinner wire into the puddle. 3/32 4043 is a lot easier to feed, so you wont be working your feeding hand as much. I would also have some ER70 and ER80 around so you can practice on so steels too . Once you get better with it, then you use whatever size rod you want, just push more, or less of it in the puddle . As for the steel rods, 1/16 filler looks thin, but it goes a long way. I like 1/16 or 0.045 in 308L , ER80 , ER70 . I would also buy about 20 or 30 tungstens and have them pre ground. I like the 3/32 2% Lanth Jody recommends, but I have to say, the 2% Thoriated works VERY well too . Good luck with it ! Post some pix.