begining welding

[pajoube]

Randy,
You have been most helpful, it is very much apprecited.
I know that when I start looking around my ideas probably will change based on what I am learning. Right now I have a few projects that I want to get finished. In talking with MossRoads he led me to the Kasco Rooter which would be perfect for one of my needs. I sent Kasco a note asking if they produce (or would produce) a smaller unit for the PT 425 with no response as yet. This may be a project to build down the road.
Paul

 

[JimME]

In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing there is no welder more versatile than an oxygen-acetylene torch w/an assortment of tips. Apparently a lot of people are scared away from an O-A torch for some reason, but it can weld and cut practically everything from the thinnest sheet metals to the thickest steels. It can be used for brazing, soldering, annealing, bending, and forming - which the TIG cannot. It can also weld aluminum. And...in a breezy hangar, shop, or out doors the torch is unaffected by 30 MPH gusts. The TIG's delicate inert gas envelope, on the other hand, is adversely affected even by sighs of relief.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Torches are great but most people would have trouble doing what you described unless they do it for a living that is why small mig welders have took off as hot as they have because they are fairly easy to use and learn. The other thing is they do not have to worry about storing two large tanks and moving them around even with a good cart is fun. We have a couple torches here and use them for cutting and bending only.

 

[MossRoad]

I really enjoy welding with my torches, but have never developed the skill to weld thin material without distorting it. And torches do have an advantage over electric when it comes to use in the field. You can't use electric if you can't plug it in /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

 

[JimME]

MIG/TIG torches are also promoted more by welding supply houses because there is more profit in them. This too adds to their popularity.

 

[RJohnson]

MossRoad
The trouble with a gas torch is that you have to bring the base metal up to the melting temperature and that means alot of heat input which leads to distorsion. Also to weld with a gas torch does require hand/eye cordination. I have been in welding classes that after 6 weeks of "practice" some students welds looked just as bad as they did when they first started/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Good welding does require a certain amount of skill and it does involve a little bit of art. Then again you can be like me, a dirt dobber/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.
MIG on the other hand can weld very thin materials without much distorsion. I know all of the muffler shops around here have gone to MIG and quit using a torch. The thing about MIG welding is that there is more than one mode of weld metal transfer accross the arc. The mode of transfer is dependent upon the type of gas you use. Some gases are very expensive and others like 100% CO2 are relative cheap. But CO2 does give you more spatter and the welds are not as smooth.

Randy

 

[MossRoad]

I remember discussion that in school. I think we were using a CO2 and Argon mix that gave very little splatter. Have you seen the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=rural&Number=105046&fpart=1>thread on the Henrob system?</A> Looks pretty interesting. If I start fabricating more stuff, I might consider looking further into it rather than a MIG welder.

 

[stevepio]

I'll second the motion on rod selection! My dad is a retired life-long welde and teaches me as much as he can remember. Not only is rod selection, polarity, and cleanliness important, the POSITION OF THE WORK is a huge deal. I can weld pretty well flat, but vertical I'm "iffy" and overhead I stink. Even using an all position rod and correct polarity. The point is that if I can get whatever I need welded apart far enough so I can pick the position, I can fix it. If not, I call the boss!

 

[Thomas]

Ever tried welding w/a mirror in those hard to get places. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Its amazing how some welders can weld those hard to get places only by the feel of the rod./w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif/w3tcompact/icons/king.gif/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

 

[ecoslik]

For whatever it is worth ... without any experience other than "seeing some people do it in the past," I was able to learn to MIG (flux core) weld from a book, video, youtube, and the fine advice this forum. I spent about 2 weeks doing this, and then in an afternoon, I jumped right into trial by error. Later that week, a friend who a professional welder stopped by and graded my efforts and provided feedback.

I won't claim anything good or great, but the welds are tolerable and probably water proof, and now I/we have another 1200' of 3 rail pipe fencing plus a couple of misc fabrication projects completed. :thumbsup: