Welding Tips and Tricks

Hey guys, I am just getting into welding and was wondering what tools you guys recommend for cutting and prep work. All I have right now is a angle grinder and Sawzall. I bought a pack of wire brushes 4 the angle grinder at Harbor Freight but they don't work very well. Thanks for any help

444e wrote:Hey guys, I am just getting into welding and was wondering what tools you guys recommend for cutting and prep work. All I have right now is a angle grinder and Sawzall. I bought a pack of wire brushes 4 the angle grinder at Harbor Freight but they don't work very well. Thanks for any help

What type of things do you want to build and what type of material

I would add a portaban and an end grinder( dremel on steroids).

I'll add a carbide chop saw.

Ditch the wire wheels and get “flap disks” for your grinder and “zip wheels”. The flap disk will strip, grind and bevel most anything thrown at them. The zip wheel is useful and cheap for cutting steel and alloys.

Various grits of flap disks for the grinder. A high speed 1/2 in drill,corded or battery and a variety of wire wheels cups and cones for cleaning. I have a good 3in grinder wire cup I parked after 1/2 hr. once it got a set and became basicly useless. The drill you can reverse every few moments and always have a sharp wheel.

cj737 wrote:Ditch the wire wheels and get “flap disks” for your grinder and “zip wheels”. The flap disk will strip, grind and bevel most anything thrown at them. The zip wheel is useful and cheap for cutting steel and alloys.

+1
for starting out its the chest easiest way to get started.
once your up and running and know what your going to do, then you can work on other tools which are more suited to what you do.

tho i would add basic hand tools. hacksaw, files etc.

cj737 wrote:Ditch the wire wheels and get “flap disks” for your grinder and “zip wheels”. The flap disk will strip, grind and bevel most anything thrown at them. The zip wheel is useful and cheap for cutting steel and alloys.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate everyone's input. Can you guys recommend a good place to by the flap disc and Zipp Wheels? Or is good old Home Depot as good a place as any?

I noticed that Walter makes a Zipp wheel on Amazon but they are pretty expensive with a lot of different options. Can anyone shed some light on which of these wheels are best to get?

444e wrote:I noticed that Walter makes a Zipp wheel on Amazon but they are pretty expensive with a lot of different options. Can anyone shed some light on which of these wheels are best to get?

I've used a few Walter Zip wheels on my 4.5" angle grinder and at my LWS they charge about $5/each.

They're pretty thin but work well.

I see you can get a free one from Walter on their website:

https://www.walter.com/zipwheel?utm_cam ... lter-Brand

Alan

I buy Walter EnduroFlex flap discs in 40 grit. They are thread on type, so they are very easy to install and remove without a tool. Their zip wheels run about $2.50 at my LWS for a 4.5” They also have a waffle disk for heavy millscale, but it is very aggressive if you apply any real pressure, so use care unless you need to clean 40 year old rusty steel...

They do offer a wide variety of different disks for specific metals too if you need something special. I use their “blue” colored disks also for stainless specific surfacing. Standard carbon steel is “orange”.

cj737 wrote:I buy Walter EnduroFlex flap discs in 40 grit. They are thread on type, so they are very easy to install and remove without a tool.

I like the idea of a threaded disc, the zip disc will get jammed when you break one. Since they are thin, they have a tendency to break more easily, I broke one last week before my grinder died.

A variety of clamps and welding magnets. For locking clamps I usually stick with Irwin but I picked up some cheap knockoffs at PA which work fine. Check them out first. Just lock them as tight as you can and if they don't deflect they are probably fine. For flap discs Zirconium is good, aluminum oxide is cheaper but wears much quicker.

homeboy wrote:A variety of clamps and welding magnets. For locking clamps I usually stick with Irwin but I picked up some cheap knockoffs at PA which work fine. Check them out first. Just lock them as tight as you can and if they don't deflect they are probably fine. For flap discs Zirconium is good, aluminum oxide is cheaper but wears much quicker.

Now your sending him down that dark hole that the rest of us have gone.....How many clamps and magnets are enough?

tungstendipper wrote:

homeboy wrote:A variety of clamps and welding magnets. For locking clamps I usually stick with Irwin but I picked up some cheap knockoffs at PA which work fine. Check them out first. Just lock them as tight as you can and if they don't deflect they are probably fine. For flap discs Zirconium is good, aluminum oxide is cheaper but wears much quicker.

Now your sending him down that dark hole that the rest of us have gone.....How many clamps and magnets are enough?

Enough? Doesn't exist!!

444e wrote:I noticed that Walter makes a Zipp wheel on Amazon but they are pretty expensive with a lot of different options. Can anyone shed some light on which of these wheels are best to get?

A good quality Metabo Slicer wheel works equally well too. I do use the Walters for stainless. Their 49 grit flapper and their Waffke disks are unrivaled for cleaning and cutting.

I just bought myself a 10 inch compound miter chop saw for steel, plastic and wood off Amazon $200. Have yet to get it. I have been cutting all my materials with a 4 1/2 hand held grinder and it is getting old fast. Saw is an Evolution Tools Rage 3.

bruce991 wrote:I just bought myself a 10 inch compound miter chop saw for steel, plastic and wood off Amazon $200. Have yet to get it. I have been cutting all my materials with a 4 1/2 hand held grinder and it is getting old fast. Saw is an Evolution Tools Rage 3.

my lws swears by the evolution circular saw. i have yet to get one as my wallet is still in shock from initial welding supplies and welder.

444e wrote:Hey guys, I am just getting into welding and was wondering what tools you guys recommend for cutting and prep work. All I have right now is a angle grinder and Sawzall. I bought a pack of wire brushes 4 the angle grinder at Harbor Freight but they don't work very well. Thanks for any help

I would recommend a portable band saw. I have a Milwaukee deep cut band saw and got the SWAG Off Road table for it. Its an expensive combo but I think it is worth it. Another item that I would recommend is getting a vice for your welding table.

I have the same setup ^ " Milwaukee deep cut band saw and got the SWAG Off Road table " and use that more than any other cutting tools.

You said NewB... I say cutoff wheels. Master them because no matter how much fancy your wallet allows for;that disc will always be a must. Make sure you're an expert with them.
#2 would be the portaband used hand held.The table is a luxury ....and a crutch.
#3 would be an oxyfuel rig. Preferably with acet and not LP since if a guy cant weld with an O/A torch he isn't really a welder.