Anything welding

It's always nice finishing your welding project with gas to spare! I hate giving it away free, but also don't like running out with daylight left.

 

I have had cylinders go for days with the pressure gauge on zero

 

Yep, you got enough for a couple more projects. Use it all!

 

Hey guys, I want to start welding, but not sure where to start. Do you guys recommend a good setup under $500? Don't mind if the stuff is used. I want to weld square tube and maybe do some light fabbing on the truck. My friend wants me to help him build frames for coffee tables to sell. I know nothing about welding right now, so a good beginners guide would be nice if you have recommendations.

 

My first and only welder is a Lincoln 175hd I got off Craigslist. Watched some videos and everything that was metal around the house was welded together. Now I can put down some decent beads. That was 10 years ago

My first welds looked like a chicken shit out metal

 

I'll freely admit that if you want to weld, just buy a welder and weld. I don't necessarily believe that organized schooling is needed to weld. It takes practice!

You have the advantage of the entire internet to help you weld. Take pictures and submit them for review. My generation did not have the instant grading of our welds like today.

Once you have learned to recognize a quality weld, make your welds look like that. There is a correlation that a good looking weld is USUALLY a strong weld. Again, practice.

If I was to start out, I would go and pick up a a Hobart Handler 140. This welder will weld 95% of any steel project you can think of. Its a great value.

I wouldn't even waste my time looking for used MIG welding unit. They are either overs seas crap or machines that are too big to really be useful. Buy the machine you want. They truly are a lifetime purchase. Its not a lot of money when you consider that you will have it for 40 years. How many cordless drills have you gone thru?

The last deal that I saw was on this site, right here, even that machine was on the big side and would be too much machine for home welder.

 

Weldingtipsandtricks on YouTube. I've watched prolly a hundred or more hours and it's how I learned. I'm still learning every time I weld. Just got a a/c d/c tig machine and am learning that process now. Mig is a hundred times easier.
Like was said good time is the only way to get better.
You will get out what u put in

 

I gotta admit my ideas of self taught welders are from long before the internet so I can accept I am no doubt biased in that area .

Most I interviewed were unable to pass a simple weld test

I will second the choice to buy new for your first welder as used ones tend to be pretty trashed.

Hobart would be my Choice .

 

I just finished putting my welder set up together. I'm my research for how to learn and weather to buy new or used I found mainly:

- Its worth taking a class to get you started
- Buy the biggest machine you can afford

I watched tons of youtube video's from welding tips and tricks as well as others. But going to a 3 hour class really put it all into perspective. I'd take a class if thats possible for you. If not have someone that knows how to weld give you an intro and lay down a couple beads with you.

Edit:

I'd also advice to get all the safety gear you can. I got a respirator on top of everything. These things are pretty nasty for your body!

 

how did you find the class? Like type "welding class (city)" and go with something that's legit looking? How much do the classes usually cost?

Would it be safe to say that MIG is easier to learn? I'm guessing if I wanted to weld a plate bumper that MIG would be enough? Sorry for all the questions!

 

Go on any community college or trade school website that's around you, and see if they offer any welding classes. I also found an artist co-op the teachers welding classes. That's the one I took. It cost $130

A lot of the community college courses are going to be the whole semester, and geared towards tradesmen.they're going to be more expensive and a much more comprehensive course than a one time class. These classes were $400-$500

I was happy to buy a used welder on Craigslist. Take your time. Research what size machine you'll need.

You'll notice that all the brands have essentially the same machine lineup. Puny little squirt machines, 140 V machine, and 180 V machine, and they just keep going up from there.

I scoured Craigslist and mentally noted prices until I knew how to discern a good deal. Once I knew a good deal and knew the machine I wanted, I scooped one up.

Just take your time and keep reading and going back and forth and re reading and studying all the shit you'll need to buy.

Stay on budget!

 

I like the auto-darkening helmet.

 

How old are you that there weren't cut off wheels available?

 

What are you talking about?

 

Just thinking that you can grade your weld by cutting it.

 

One more question (probably many more who am I kidding) would MIG or TIG be better for SAS swap type stuff? Maybe if I learn to weld well enough I could start on that little project. I know TIG is harder but looks cleaner but I've seen a lot of debating about a good MIG being just as strong as a TIG weld. I'm guessing MIG would be okay for SAS swap fabbing?

 

It all comes down to your skill With either process .

Tig welding your prep time might easily be three times that of mig

I would not want to Tig unless it was all new material .

Once you understand what your looking for all the processes blend at least for me

Some people have some trouble adding filler to the puddle for some just some practice others struggle for quite a while

Welds can be tested in a bend test then you count the defects

You can do a tensile test if you have the machine

 

Took me while, I had just woke up. Yes, destructive testing is capable.

 

Quick answer.

TIG works the best if you are comfortable working at a bench. Not so easy when laying on the ground in a mud puddle welding upside down.

MIG is quick and reliable for SAS, as well as a million other welding jobs.

The learning curve for TIG is 10x that of MIG.

You can make great looking welds MIG or TIG. Who gives a shit once you put a coat of paint on the weld.

 

here are a few pics of the welds I laid today. First time w the home setup.



That's all of them in one shot.



Here is my first "group" kind of all over each other as I wanted to get as many laid down as possible.



Testing out wire speed. Bottom columns are wire speed "7"

Next set above is at 6

Above that is 5

Above that I laid a couple on 4 but it sounded so bad. I thought 7ish sounded and felt the best.



The last section w all the same voltage and wire speed 7 D as it reads on my machine.