Welding basics for a newbie

[deepNdirt]

Mig is by far the easiest to learn to use, I never had any interest in welding I always took my stuff to the pro's and let them do it, My wife noticed how much $$ I was spending in welding cost and decided to buy me a el-cheap-o
80 amp Campbell Hausfeld Mig welder for Christmas 15 years ago,I learned how to weld with it and it for sure paid for itself, although after using it for a couple years I realized I needed something a bit stronger but I am limited to a 110/115v connection, so I purchased another el-cheap-o Clark 130 amp Mig/gas welder from Northern tools, works great and for just over 400 bucks,
but after moving and building my new shop i went ahead and run 220/v so I could get a heavier duty welder, I now also have a Miller ac/dc 220/230v stick welder for the heavier welding task, it will weld up to 1/2 inch steel, after using it a couple of times I realized that stick welding really isn't that hard to learn, or I suppose i should say is an easy transission from using a Mig to a Stick welder, stick are Less expensive to use, makes a stronger weld, I can actually crank it on up and cut through 1/4inch steel with it as well,

[Gary Fowler]

Speaking of welding, good advice on autodarkening hood. I have a couple, one Speedglas that was $350 that I had for years and a Harbor Freight one for $49 that I bought last year. Both work well and the speedglas takes a battery whereas the HF one is solar powered. Invest in a good set of leather welding sleeves and or a fire resistant long sleeved welding shirt. You need to protect yourself from any UV rays from the welding. They will blister you in just a few minutes of welding like a severe sun burn. Make sure your hood gaskets are good and not light comes in around the dark lens. You can check this with a flashlight, just run it around the perimeter and look for any light shining in. Just a small amount of UV light leakage will spoil your days and nights for a couple of days with flash burned eyes. You will know if you have flash burn as all the lights start to have halos around them like when they are surrounded by fog. I also like to tie a bandana around my neck to protect my neck rather than button up the top button, most hoods leave a small area right at the bottom of your neck that will blister if not protected. Always wear good welding gloves to protect from sparks and UV on your hands also.

[mbohuntr]

I couldn't have said it better! STICK.....You will just have to work at it longer till you get the hang of it... Welding used to be a trade unto itself until MIG came along. I gave up on it as a trade years ago. (1981) certified making $13/hr plus bennies. (2001) certified making $10.75/hr NO bennies. Thank-you NAFTA!

[deepNdirt]

Originally Posted by Gary Fowler

Speaking of welding, Invest in a good set of leather welding sleeves and or a fire resistant long sleeved welding shirt. You need to protect yourself from any UV rays from the welding. They will blister you in just a few minutes of welding like a severe sun burn.

Very good advice I am still healing from the last welding I done about a month ago, I only had pushed my shirt sleeves up to put my cloves on and the gloves come to just low of my elbows, I forgot to tuck my shirt sleeve into the gloves and my elbows got burned to a crisp, You know you dont really feel the skin on your elbows but you know they have been burnt when they start cracking open, kinda like peeling the sking from a bake potato,

[Uncle Doug]

Thanks for all the feedback. I finaly got the search to work here on TBN and there is a ton of info out there on welding.

I am in good with both local high school ag shops. They have done some of my repairs for me over the years and built one project for me. I may sit in on some of their shop class for a few pointers.

220 volt service is not a problem as it is already in the barn and small shop. I did electrical work for a number of years.

I do have several projects waiting, some simple that a flux wire would handle but another (old brush hog) that would take a stick or heavy duty welder to handle.

[woodlandfarms]

I bought a nice Lincoln Tombstone AC/DC on craigslist for $100. Best $100 I have spent. I am a terrible welder, and tried recently to weld some thin stuff together. That was a HUGE mess. Mig has its place for sure, especially in inexperienced hands. Moments like that I wish I had one...

[mbohuntr]

Stick welding rule of thumb # 1 the ampere setting for a given rod is the decimal equivilant X 1000 1/8" = 125 amps 3/16" = 185, 1/4" = 250 amps. This is the starting point, probably a little hot on most welders from my expierence. about 10 amps too hot for 1/8"

[Scotty370]

I can never read enough welding threads. Being a beginner myself, I'll add my 'meager' input! I bought a 225 Lincoln AC/DC Stick machine. My son already had a Lincoln SP-175 wire mig. They both require 220. I like the stick, he likes the mig! He's got a Speedglas hemet, I've got the HF Autodark Chicago. Must haves: Welder, Auto-dark helmet, gloves, clamps, magnets, at least two 4-1/2 inch angle grinders, one for twisted wire wheel, and one with grinding disc. All of that's pretty cheap at HF. Lots of rod/wire a good steel bench and fireproof area to work is a big plus!
mbohunter-Your rule of thumb doesn't work for me. I'm burning 6013, 1/8" at 175-195 amps DC Neg. That's on 1/4 to 1/2 inch medium steel plate. Maybe in AC mode it would be different. Also, while DC is pretty stable with what seems like fewer sparks, note that a hot slag/spark will drop directly thorough the eyelet of your sneakers!!! ~Scotty

[Steve C]

Originally Posted by Scotty370

I can never read enough welding threads. Being a beginner myself, I'll add my 'meager' input! I bought a 225 Lincoln AC/DC Stick machine. My son already had a Lincoln SP-175 wire mig. They both require 220. I like the stick, he likes the mig! He's got a Speedglas hemet, I've got the HF Autodark Chicago. Must haves: Welder, Auto-dark helmet, gloves, clamps, magnets, at least two 4-1/2 inch angle grinders, one for twisted wire wheel, and one with grinding disc. All of that's pretty cheap at HF. Lots of rod/wire a good steel bench and fireproof area to work is a big plus!
mbohunter-Your rule of thumb doesn't work for me. I'm burning 6013, 1/8" at 175-195 amps DC Neg. That's on 1/4 to 1/2 inch medium steel plate. Maybe in AC mode it would be different. Also, while DC is pretty stable with what seems like fewer sparks, note that a hot slag/spark will drop directly thorough the eyelet of your sneakers!!! ~Scotty

I recommend pull on high top leather boots (no laces to catch and burn) with the levi's pulled down over the outside, because I have had hot slag melt through the top of sneakers. A vocabulary expanding experience

This is the little treasure I found on our local Craigs list for $75. It was only about 3 miles from my house. Welder, chipping hammer, cables, hood, one small unopened pack of 6011 and a small unopened pack of 6013. It also came with a hard cover Lincoln "how to weld" book. I think it is typical of what is available if you are not in a big hurry. I have used a friends identical welder a couple months ago and I was impressed with how good it made my welds look. When I saw it available so close to home I just had to have it.
Now I have a welder for every barn.

[some zilch]

i have a lincoln tombstone welder-had it for years. it has no problem welding 1.5"plate to 1.5" plate with 3/16" 7018. i can weld rusty crap metal together all day with 6011. the only thing it doesnt do is sheet metal-just burns right through. i picked up a small 110v mig that i run fluxcore wire and it does ok on sheet metal