Give me your welding experiences

[Rch]

Mith, here are a few links that have helped me;

Hobart site

Weld talk is similar to TBN and Welding 101 is helpful.


This has some videos for sale;
Videos

Lincoln as well as Miller/Hobart have inexpensive literature

web page

 

[Inspector507]

<font color="blue"> just wondering if you have any experiences that i could learn from </font>

Get to know your rods. Their amperage/voltage limits and where to put them in the puddle and also how to keep it fluid without burn-thru. Learn the motions/push or drag angles/travel speed/arc length needed for each rod.

Get a GOOD helmet.

Cover all exposed skin. Weld flash is UV light, very intense and can give you a burn the next day.

Remember that what you welded will still be TOO hot to grab after 20 mins /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Do not push the limits of your welder. If it says good to ¼", respect that.

On your welds. If YOU wouldn't buy it, don't expect anyone else to either.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Books are great to give you the 5 basic essentials. Practice will allow you to do it right.

 

[cleatus]

Was left to watch friends shop while he went to get car, while he was gone I was cutting metal for headacke rack. After cutting he had not returned so I turned on welder and started It didn't fill right soI adjusted lower a few times. Finely had it where I wanted. When he got back I was 1/2 done and he asked when I learned to weld. I told that was the first time, He told me I could pass the flat test If I tried.
A year later I bought my first tombstone and started building lite weight tube gates. What a great way to learn, thin metal, 3/32 rods and lots of joints. This type welding is what I sujest to start with, as yuo will learn to fill holesand not to make them in the first place. When you finish with gate try to hake welds break any way you can. If they break easy try again.

 

[Mith]

thanks rch ive spotted some problems with my welding already from that site - the pictures of bad welds and how to remedy them are good
thanks
mith

 

[Mith]

inapector - thanks for the hints
i see arc length written regularly - what is that? is it the distance from material to rod end?
i didnt know that about the exposed skin - see i knew experience helps /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
oh and i doubt anyone will be buying my welds for a while yet /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mith]

cleatus - your obviously a natural /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
ive sofar been working on 1/4 inch stuff
i have an old filing cabinet and ill try welding stuff on that - its pretty thin sheet
thanks for your invaluble tips /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
mith

 

[Inspector507]

Arc Length is the length of the arc from the end of the rod to the puddle. Keep in mind as the rod burns down you need to keep the same arc length by moving your rod holder closer, same rate the rod is burning.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't tuck your flanel shirt into your pants and then try welding. You may set your stomach on fire when the sparks land between the shirt and your belt. I've been told that happened to one poor, ignorant welding student and a local community college. It wasn't me, though... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Mith]

inspector thanks for shedding some light on that for me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
mith

 

[Mith]

mossroad - yes ive had some small clothes related fires but fortunately not to significant
its just aswell that you werent the one who tucked in your shirt when welding /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
thanks for the tip
mith