Welding - I want to learn ..need advice.

[Gary Fowler]

One thing most folks likely dont do with their MIG or Fluxcore wire is remove the spool and seal it up from the atmosphere when not using. The wire can rust on the mig and get lots of porosity and or buckshot when it burns due to that. Even in an air conditioned building, the wire will rust and absorb enough moisture to be problematic. One of the vacuum food sealers works great for sealing up the spools of wire between jobs and that way the wire stays as fresh as the day you popped the hermetic seal on it.

 

[Chilly807]

I try to keep mine indoors, in a heated room unless I'm using it. It's a pretty big investment for most of us, I take the best care I reasonably can of all my tools.

Good point about sealing the wire, I only do that if I'm not going to be using it for quite a while. Same thing with stick electrodes, if you can keep them in a sealed tube with some desiccant they'll perform better when you need them. I've been told roasting them for an hour in the oven at 350 works wonders for getting moisture out, providing the wife is understanding of the necessity.

Chilly

 

[Dan W]

brin,
Next, AC KILLS. If you are in a situation where you are "in the circuit" while welding, AC is more likely to KILL YOU.
Lastly, take a class. There is no substitute for learning how to weld properly.

Dave, very interesting comment about AC KILLS... I've not heard that before.
Can you please tell me more about this?
thanks

Dan

 

[mbohuntr]

Hooo boy.... NOT gonna get in the middle of this spat... cept to say you are both right in the context of your opinion. Both types will kill because DC causes muscle contraction leaving you unable to release your grip and fries your organs, and AC damages your hearts electrical system. I believe lightning is DC. Your organs boil. I lost a friend in a welding accident and darn near died myself because we became part of the circuit. I leaned against a grounded boiler and struck an arc on a ungrounded one. He rolled on a damaged stinger wire and the current traveled thru his chest.

For me, I do more repair work on dirty steel, so a stick machine is my choice. I found MIG the easiest to learn, but a PITA for repairs. You can learn from a friend as long as he himself was properly trained, and stresses safety. (I've also known welders who had their faces taken off by welding sealed objects. (They EXPLODE)

 

[bobodu]

Ummm....let's see.....the Government forbid the sale of Lawn Darts...but you can still buy welders.....hmmm.
Nope.....I ain't scared yet.

 

[mbohuntr]

A picture of that mans face would change your opinion, but you are still entitled to it. If you aren't told of a danger and get hurt, it's an accident, If you do it anyway, you get what you ask for...

 

[moeh1]

Well,
I like both! I have the same Hobart Mig and the ubiquitous AC buzz box. Got my first buzz box 30 years ago and the Mig about 15 years ago. I love that mig up to the rated 3/16 and the arc welder from there up. The Mig is easy to use on fresh well-prepped steel. With a variety of arc rods, the old faithful arc welder can do anything from shaft buildup to fabbing new tractor accessories. I too went thru a night school class and highly recommend it. Someday, I'll move up to a plasma cutter and one of those new inverter welders. Stay safe.

 

[JB4310]

(I've also known welders who had their faces taken off by welding sealed objects. (They EXPLODE)

You had to bring that up
I've got exposion phobia, after almost blowing my whole head off by cutting into a sealed container with OA torch

 

[ben2go]

I don't get near sealed pressure vessels with heat or cutting tools.

 

[mbohuntr]

Hee Hee Hee... on my last job as a fabricator, a trucker brought in a fuel tank for a tractor trailer to be tig welded, I wouldn,t touch it!