new to welding

[candyman]

just ordered my first ever welder from mark, a power arc 200 stick welder.

this may seem like a real dumb question to you welders, but if you don`t ask you don`t know.

other than the helment what do i need to order to get started, i`ll be using it on the farm for repairs & to make some things .

some things i want to make are rear ballast barrel for the tractor, brackets on the pallet forks to use on the 3pt. hitch, brackets for the hose grapple, hooks on the box blade & buckets & many other projects.

thanks, candyman

i will be running the welder mostly on a generator, which has been shipped ,be here wednesday.

i do not know how to weld, but i will learn with the help from you pros.

 

[deereman75]

just ordered my first ever welder from mark, a power arc 200 stick welder.

this may seem like a real dumb question to you welders, but if you don`t ask you don`t know.

other than the helment what do i need to order to get started, i`ll be using it on the farm for repairs & to make some things .

some things i want to make are rear ballast barrel for the tractor, brackets on the pallet forks to use on the 3pt. hitch, brackets for the hose grapple, hooks on the box blade & buckets & many other projects.

thanks, candyman

i will be running the welder mostly on a generator, which has been shipped ,be here wednesday.

i do not know how to weld, but i will learn with the help from you pros.

Other then a helmet, you will need rods, chipping hammer, wire brush, welding gloves, grinder, and there is a lot of other stuff that is nice, but not really needed.

 

[candyman]

how do i know what rods i need for what. ??

cm

 

[deereman75]

how do i know what rods i need for what. ??

cm

Unless your doing code work, it doesnt really matter. As rule of thumb, 6010 for root passes and dirty, crappy work. 7018 for everything else.

 

[flusher]

just ordered my first ever welder from mark, a power arc 200 stick welder.

this may seem like a real dumb question to you welders, but if you don`t ask you don`t know.

other than the helment what do i need to order to get started, i`ll be using it on the farm for repairs & to make some things .

some things i want to make are rear ballast barrel for the tractor, brackets on the pallet forks to use on the 3pt. hitch, brackets for the hose grapple, hooks on the box blade & buckets & many other projects.

thanks, candyman

i will be running the welder mostly on a generator, which has been shipped ,be here wednesday.

i do not know how to weld, but i will learn with the help from you pros.

Best tool for welding--4-1/2 inch angle grinder (Makita is what I use)

Rods--6011, 7014, 7018, 7024 in 1/8" size

Helmet--autodarkening type. Mine is a $50 unit from Northern Tool.
Wel-Bilt Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet | Welding Helmets | Northern Tool + Equipment
Never been flashed with this helmet

I also wear motorcycle-type goggles (UV400 rated) under the helmet to keep reflected ultraviolet light out of my eyes.

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Foldable-Goggles-Yellow-Lenses/dp/B001GPL836/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1326550292&sr=8-11[/ame]

Good welding jacket, gloves and hood.

50-ft extension cord for the welder

Welding cart to carry the welder (I use a cart from Tractor Supply)



Good luck

 

[deereman75]

Welding cart to carry the welder (I use a cart from Tractor Supply)

View attachment 246354

Good luck

Well that part might not be needed, seeing as the powerarc 200 is just a bit bigger then a toaster.

 

[k0ua]

Also while 7018 is my favorite rod, and I stock 3/32 and 1/8 sizes. It is not exactly a newbie rod, it is quite difficult to restrike, you must break off the "corn" that forms on the end as you end your arc. A lot of guys like 7014 and 6013 to start. Good fitting gauntlet type welders gloves and a welding jacket or welding sleeves are essential to prevent UV light exposure. Also 6011 is easier to find in big box stores than 6010 and tho it is an AC rod it runs fine on your everlast DC machine. for dirty metal and root passes. Don't get me wrong 7018 is my go to rod, it just takes a little time to master, but it makes good strong and pretty welds. I also keep some 1/16 6013 around for tack-ups and thin sheet metal. Also when you get all of this figured out, you can start down the TIG road with your rig with a gas cylinder, 17V TIG torch, and regulator. Call back in about a year and I will help you get setup with that. I am an "expert" as I have been TIGing now for about 2 months.:laughing::laughing: Just teaching myself and am a total TIG noob, but I am having fun. As for angle grinders, you can make do with 1 but you will soon want more. Grinder wheel, wire cup brush, flap blending wheel, cutoff wheel etc. you get the idea. Good luck in learning welding and you have a great machine to get started with.

James K0UA

 

[jake98]

something to cut the metal helps. if you go the grinder-zip wheel route, get a stack of wheels.

 

[gwdixon]

Teaching yourself to stick weld is going to be an adventure for sure.

Rod: 3/32" 6013 for thin stuff (around 100A). 1/8" 6011 for farm equipment that really needs a lot of bite into the metal (also around 100A). 1/8" 7014 for fill and to make things pretty (around 120A). OR, 1/8" 7018 after some practice with the other rods (125A). All of these can be found at Tractor Supply for a decent price.

Equipment: Gloves, chipping hammer, wire brush, 4 1/2" grinder - all can be bought at Harbor Freight if you are on a budget. Along with a auto-dark helmet that should be a good beginning.

I have the PA200 and if you have to learn stick by yourself that will be a bit easier. It welds very well with the rods listed in my experience. Not sure if the newer PA200s have a 6010 port but I'd recommend leaving 6010 for later and using 6011 for now.

 

[Shield Arc]

this may seem like a real dumb question to you welders

Well now you've gone and done it! You can't possibly know what you've got yourself into! I suggest you call Mark right now and cancel that welder! There is no way you can fathom how much money you're going to be spending! Just kidding. :laughing:


There is no such thing as a dumb question, none of us were born with a golden arm!

 

[boomer1025]

I've got the little cousin to your PA 200, for around the farm welding rod use you'll want 6011 & 7014. Probity the most common rod type that can be purchased at places like TSC ect. Rod sizes most common on the farm are 1/8 & 5/32. 3/32 for the light stuff.
A chipping hammer, which you could make if you wanted to, hand wire brush & 4 1/2" grinder, some have 2 grinders, one set up with a wire cup brush. A welding jacket or a set of welding arm sleeves & good pair leather gloves. Don't forget to wear a cotton ball cap or a skull cap. Burning hair or flesh doesn't smell or feel good.
Get a couple of 5lb boxes of 1/8" rods and practice, see which rods you like and are easy for you to use.

 

[colby587]

Miller has a nice welding handbook that should get you started
http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/PrinciplesSMAW.pdf

 

[candyman]

mark emailed my to say the welder is out of stock, but he is having one shipped out of canada, now that is service, thanks mark..

i have been looking at sites & making a list of things to get, this is like buying a fishin pole, now you need this & gotta have that .

keep the suggestions comin, better get what i can while i can before my wife pulls the plug...

thanks to all..

 

[Mercmaniac]

I am a newbie also that just started a couple weeks ago. I printed out the handbook that colby mentioned and that was a big help.

These welding magnets prove pretty handy and are cheap too. 4-3/4'' Multipurpose Magnet Holder

 

[Shield Arc]

You have to be careful tacking / welding close to any magnet. Or you'll get an education in arc blow!

 

[Gizmo2]

just ordered my first ever welder from mark, a power arc 200 stick welder.

this may seem like a real dumb question to you welders, but if you don`t ask you don`t know.

other than the helment what do i need to order to get started, i`ll be using it on the farm for repairs & to make some things .

some things i want to make are rear ballast barrel for the tractor, brackets on the pallet forks to use on the 3pt. hitch, brackets for the hose grapple, hooks on the box blade & buckets & many other projects.

thanks, candyman

i will be running the welder mostly on a generator, which has been shipped ,be here wednesday.

i do not know how to weld, but i will learn with the help from you pros.

An oxygen acetylene cutting torch.
Can't have one without the other IMO.

 

[Gizmo2]

Well now you've gone and done it! You can't possibly know what you've got yourself into! I suggest you call Mark right now and cancel that welder! There is no way you can fathom how much money you're going to be spending! Just kidding. :laughing:

More like Reality.

 

[Shield Arc]

6013 rods penetrate more deeply.
The 7018 rods are filler rods, but are weaker.

Might want to re think these two statements.

 

[Gizmo2]

Might want to re think these two statements.

I also am not sure what MagicRat really means by that statement.
I would never use a 6013 on a piece of spring steel or a weld that has to take a lot of give without breaking. But that's me.

 

[deereman75]

6013 is about the weakest rod there is. 7018 is one of the strongest. There is a reason nuclear power plants and boilers are welded together with 7018, not 6013.