Anyone teach me how to weld in PA/NJ?

I'm honestly surprised it can even run Chrome

 

Aha no, it's pre-XP based on the taskbar. Still impressed

 

I don't live in PA or NJ but can we still be friends. Oh, also, I know how to weld. Long distance friendships can work!

 

Title has changed.

This thread now officially sucks.

 

Welds have to be safe?

This welding shit is starting to sound more like work.

 

He ended up plasti dipping the Chrome.

 

Check out local community colleges/tech schools for a welding intro course. Best $100 I ever spent.
And NO - didn't make any new friends.

 

Anyone here want to trade wives? I think I need a new friend

 

I don't have a wife but if yours puts out and you wanna get rid of her send pics and Ill think about it

 

Did not read all the way through this thread I am up North in the Lehigh Valley .

I have no idea if you found someone one to give you pointers it is so easy to pick up bad habits..

I have been in the Fabrication business since the early seventies .

If you want take a ride some weekend

 

@Wyoming09,

I'm also new to welding. I have an old Century AC/DC 114 sold by Montgomery Wards. It came with a ton of rods, most of which are Eutectic or Cronation. The labels on the rods are not the usual "7018" or the like, but "66", "311" "680" etc. Is there a reference guide for these?

Also, although I have "welded" a few things mainly as practice, they don't look great. Any recommendations on training? I'm a fairly competent at timber framing, general construction, and stone masonry, so I think I'm capable of learning this too. I'm older, so all this is my second career, although I been doing most of it all my life. My father was a DIY guy to the day he died.

 

You might look if there are still any sites around for Eutectic any more

A lot of those are for Stainless and other strange things.

Using these old electrodes could be real frustrating

You might want to check out welding videos but a class would be my first choice.

It is so easy to pick up bad habits

You need to know what your looking at

The trick is to understand just what is happening then repeat it on a constant basis

Pick up a few pounds of 7014 and 7018 3/32"

Be able to see !!

Be comfortable .

 

I think I've got all the bad habits down already. Checked out a bunch of videos, which were very helpful.

I don't know what the guy did with this unit, but there is a ton of what seem to be expensive rods in today's $ (dissimilar metals). Some are chipped badly, and probably not worth using. But also a good amount of 6011-13, 7018. All very old though. The odd rods stick like a SOB no matter the settings. There are some local Vo-Tech classes, usually full though. Need an adult credit-free class so I'm not kicking some kid (that really needs it) out of a class.

I've got a 30 yr old skid steer that needs reinforcing in key areas. May have to call in someone with more experience. I've got a Fibre-Metal mask, not auto darkening. It's hard to see before a scratch.

 

It takes some practice to nod your head and be striking the arc just as your hood comes down..

I still do that with the Auto Dark Hoods from years of doing it.

Cover plates need to be changed they degrade slow and it gets harder to see.

The thing is you need to understand the electrode different ones take a welding technique .

Even different Polarity

 

Buy a squirter and go to town, you could teach a monkey to mig. I'm self taught, (with a union iron worker giving me tips on occasion) it's really easy, set up is a little more expensive but worth it for the convenience. Troll craigs or whatever for a used buzz box and a gas bottle, (just make sure it's still on date and not company owned) I have a Q bottle, it's big enough to last many jobs but small enough to transport solo unlike a K bottle. PPE you're best off getting from Amazon, I got some great gloves and a very decent hood for cheap on amazon. Wire rolls are cheaper there too.

Just whatever you get make sure it's 240v (Dryer plug) otherwise you won't get much penetration and your duty cycle will be craptastic.

Lincolon Pro Mig 180 from craigs $500
Q-Bottle from craigs $200 (came full of 75/25)
Ball bearing regulator amazon $40

$52 Masterwelder MWARFM-580 Argon Flowmeter Regulator

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CS7OPM2/ref=oh_aui_i_d_old_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hood from amazon $50

$46 Antra True Color Wide Shade Range 4/5-9/9-13 Solar Power Auto Darkening Welding Helmet AH6-260-0000 TIG MIG/MAG MMA Plasma Grinding, 6+1 Extra Lens Covers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BWAEYV8/ref=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Being able to harness wall pixies to liquify steel: priceless.

 

Ah, so that's how you do it. Timing is everything.

I'm getting the idea on polarity and amps based on electrode from some videos. There's a lot to learn, particularly in the welding techniques for different rods/positions. Haven't had the chance to research these old rods yet. Just want to know what they are used for, and I don't want to use them in the wrong application. Maybe give/trade them to someone who can make use of them.

Thanks for the advice.

 

This I have heard. I have access to a mig, but really wanted to learn/do some stick welding. If that falls apart, I'll give it a go. Seems most people I know that weld have both setups. I need a lot more practice. I've got a pile of scrap to play with, and about 50 lbs of electrodes.

Edit: I installed a 6-50amp 240v outlet. (Also planning on an electric car in the near future)

 

OP
If you've got a job here All the pros have no problem teach you to weld anything...

...for free.

 

Learn to stick weld your much further ahead

If your welding on scrap try and clean the metal back at least a 1" from the joint.

Weld Tee Joints on one side then break them to check your penetration