Pre-Welding for a novice

Phred · Jun 15, 2005

( So if your project plans and budget will allow it I would recommend getting a Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, or ESAB 175 class or larger mig machine with a 150 or 200 size bottle with 75% CO2 25% argon (which is sometimes called steelmix). I have been very happy with the mig and I’m sure you will be also.
)

I agree with the chicken master. Get a 220V MIG and a good grinder.
I have a hobart 175 MIG and love it.
You will find that by the time you get good with the welder you will be very good with a grinder /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Flap discs are very helpfull on the end of that grinder.

Fred

Soundguy · Jun 16, 2005

( telling the man that he really didn't need to clean the weld area prior to welding,,,,,,,,well,,,thats not the way you teach somebody )

Thingy.. I don't believe anybody specifically instructed the fellow to NOT CLEAN the welding surfaces. The comment made was that if you for some reason didn't or couldn't clean them properly, that a big beefy stick welder generally lets you burn thru anyway.. not that it was ideal.. but sometimes you have to buzz and run.. Completely & properly prepping a weld may be the difference in a few hours work.. and that could be the difference of a quick and dirty weld to get a tractor out in the field if you are expecting rain and the hay's flat in the field. Everythings a tradeoff. I've been in situations where there was no good way to get a part cleaned before a weld.. sometimes you just gotta do it.. In those cases.. the big beefy welding machines really stand above the lower amperage jobs.

( telling the man to use d.c.e.n. if using direct current )

If you are refering to my post.. you are directly misquoting me. I merely mentioned that you could either go for the cheaper AC only buzz box, or you could go for a unit that was DCEN capable if getting dc... a very few jobs are nicer with dcen.. I didn't claim DCEN was the only way to go...

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jun 16, 2005

( pot calling the kettle,,,,,here's some advice,,,,quit writing me quotin me and ,,and I'll shut up,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on THIS thread,,,said all I need to say anyways,,,,,,,,,,,,,but will be reading these welding topics,,,and give advice as needed,,,IF I feel like it, )

Gosh.. i think you should have been a politician.. you made a statement that has two completely oposing ideas.. and you said it in one sentence... ( I'll shut up,,,,but will ... give advice as needed,,,IF I feel like it )

I think that kind of doubletalk qualifies you for at least senate work.. perhaps VP.. or even Condi-Rices job...

Thingy.. I'm trying to be polite when I say this.. .. but do you have to be so..um.. abrasive and rude when you talk to others??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Soundguy

thingy · Jun 16, 2005

Sounder,,,,,,you must have really went over that edge this time,,,,,got some advice for you,,,,,,,stick to sound advice,[man,,that has two meanings],,,,and leave the welding advice to others who know more about it,,,,,,,,if you did that,,,,you wouldn't be so upset now,,,,,now just calm down a bit,,,and lets stop argueing on this thread,,,,the man asked for some basic advice on welding,,,,,,,he's probably so sick of all this by now,,,he'll never want to try it,,,,,come on now!!!!!! I mean this has even went to far for me! the thing

Soundguy · Jun 16, 2005

( you wouldn't be so upset now )

I'm not upset.. You are the one that criticizes everybody..

I'll make you a deal.. You stop being rude.. and I'll stop quoting those rude comments.. and then I won't be able to post any commentary about them.. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif fair enough?

It's obvious to many of us that you are a profesional welder. Unfortunately.. many of us just need basic 'farm' welding skills.. I know that really gets you that we aren't perfect..

How about you lighten up on us a tad.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Or at least go back to that 'other' forum and continue complaining about yanmar tractors.. or would that be "yanmoores,,,,," as you call them.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Soundguy

HammerFour · Jun 16, 2005

My wife got me one of the small 110v Hobart mig welders for Christmas this year, and I love that thing to death.

I wish it was the slightly bigger size sometimes, and wish it was a 220 v sometimes, but honestly it has done everything I asked it to do so far and I have had fun learning.

So far it has fixed our older Dixon ZTR mower's seat mount, the tongue stand on the JD 14T Square Baler, mounted a gate ( while running off a 5500 watt generator ) for my FIL, and with a good bit of grinding and some 3/8 thick reinforcing pieces, got our old JD 894 hay rake back in the field when the old welds on the old cast iron broke.

A 110v mig welder, an auto darkening helmet ( I got a cheap helmet off ebay ), a bench grinder and a hand grinder ( with extra metal grinding wheels ) can really work out nice for a novice welder like myself.

And...I don't get the grease and paint off when I am crunched for time on a repair. I grind as needed to prep for the repair, make sure I have a good ground connection and go. If the puddle is hot enough to melt steel, it's hot enough to dispose of a little paint and grease.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

thingy · Jun 16, 2005

Sounder,,,,,no deals for you,,,,except this one,[cause this has went to far on this thread anyways],,,you can have the last word here,,,,this time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the thing

Soundguy · Jun 16, 2005

( My wife got me one of the small 110v Hobart mig welders for Christmas this year, and I love that thing to death.
)

Mine got me a little 110v stick welder.. CH ( cheapy ) for 89$ from wally-mart.. It will do 70a and burn 1/16 or 5/64 rod.

I've done all sorts of things with it. On the 30a setting with 1/16 rod it is great for sheet metal. i did alot of sheet metal restoration onmyallis chalmers G.. and it looks pretty minty now.

About the biggest thing I've welded was a 3/4" rod.. and I v-cut it down to nothing and ran a spiral weld.. it was a lift link arm on my ford 2n.. been holding for over a year now.. took a couple hours, and alot of 5/64 rod.

I liek to weld the little stuff.. brake clevis repairs.. etc.

For big welding.. like the 3rd ramp for my JD-b.. I go to work and use their big 220+a lincoln 'tombstone' welder.. I also use the plasma cutter to cut out projects, and have occasionally used the mig at work to make some chain liiters for my NAA.

Soundguy

JasonL · Jun 16, 2005

Hey -- Is it safe yet?!? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I didn't realize how passionate everyone is about their welding. But seriously, you all have helped tremendously. I havn't been able to find welding classes yet, and I may just find a cheap arc welder and start playing around. (I will attempt to weld on clean metal- thingy) Also, I have a brother-in-law in Ohio who does a lot of welding and I'll see him this weekend, so I'll pick his brain also. Thanks again, and I'm sure I'll refer to this thread often! Jason