Eric Salop
Elite Member
At 60 years of age I am perhaps getting a bit old to start learning to weld with volts and amps, however it is something I have always wanted to try. Last year, inspired to take things further by the things I have read on this forum and wanting to find out more, I persuaded a friend who makes his living from welding to take me in to where he works for half a day to briefly try my hand at a little stick and mig welding.
His big 3-phase mig machine was impressive and surprisingly to me, not that difficult to handle. The stick invertor was tiny in comparison, although still very effective in my friend's hands. He explained how stick would probably better suit my needs, particularly from being able to use it outside. Best of all, he told me that decent quality stick machines were relatively cheap. All great news, except when I tried it and burnt half a dozen rods the results were terrible - way more difficult than mig. He told me the answer with stick was practice and after that, a lot more practice. Also that I should try and keep the arc tight, not to look at it but look at the puddle and to listen for a sound like bacon cooking on a fast sizzle.
Last week, after many winter nights whiling away the time reading on the internet, I bought myself a ParWeld 160 inverter welder and an ESAB light reactive helmet to go with it. Living in the UK, all our wall sockets are rated at 230V, which makes it easy to buy a machine that will readily supply the current for a 3.2mm (1/8") rod. Yesterday I got to try it out for a couple of hours. In truth I spent more time searching out and roughly clearing up a few pieces of scrap steel than I did welding, but it was very enjoyable to at long last be melting some metal. As you can see, I have a long way to go yet !
[2.5mm(3/32") 6013, with dial set to 80A]
A pack of grinding wheels are next on my shopping list and after that some more practice.
If you any advice (apart from, if you use the same saying, don't give up the day job
), that would be most welcome.
His big 3-phase mig machine was impressive and surprisingly to me, not that difficult to handle. The stick invertor was tiny in comparison, although still very effective in my friend's hands. He explained how stick would probably better suit my needs, particularly from being able to use it outside. Best of all, he told me that decent quality stick machines were relatively cheap. All great news, except when I tried it and burnt half a dozen rods the results were terrible - way more difficult than mig. He told me the answer with stick was practice and after that, a lot more practice. Also that I should try and keep the arc tight, not to look at it but look at the puddle and to listen for a sound like bacon cooking on a fast sizzle.
Last week, after many winter nights whiling away the time reading on the internet, I bought myself a ParWeld 160 inverter welder and an ESAB light reactive helmet to go with it. Living in the UK, all our wall sockets are rated at 230V, which makes it easy to buy a machine that will readily supply the current for a 3.2mm (1/8") rod. Yesterday I got to try it out for a couple of hours. In truth I spent more time searching out and roughly clearing up a few pieces of scrap steel than I did welding, but it was very enjoyable to at long last be melting some metal. As you can see, I have a long way to go yet !
[2.5mm(3/32") 6013, with dial set to 80A]
A pack of grinding wheels are next on my shopping list and after that some more practice.
If you any advice (apart from, if you use the same saying, don't give up the day job
), that would be most welcome.
