tome30
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I've always wanted to be able to weld, however courses are hundreds of pounds. I work at a school, and the caretaker has an ARC welder in his workshop (the caretakers my dad) He doesnt know how to use it either, so after watching a few videos on youtube about 'stricking' 'sticking' 'flux' etc, I decided the best way to learn was to have a go. This is what I'm making  My first ever weld, horrid, moved the rod too fast, shaking everywhere, and I think the settings on the welder were too low or high, and it took me time to realize that a single rod shouldn't last long. How long a line of weld should come from one rod???  I'm not choosing the easiest of shapes to learn on am I, but I think this is better, turned the machine right up, and slowed down.  I welded some mole-grips to the nut when I first did this 'vent'   Any tips, or hints after looking at my attempts so far. I need guidance!!! |
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Last Edit: Nov 21, 2012 9:53:54 GMT by tome30
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Nov 21, 2012 11:51:02 GMT
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Hi! I have not much knowledge with arc welding, but when I tried it, I had a auto-darkening welding helmet and I found it to be very helpfull to steady the rod with my other hand untill it was used 1/2 way up. Try to not just move the rod along, but watch the weld pool form and try to 'work with it'. It's also important how you angle the rod and how long you keep the arc. There's an excellent tutorial to be found here: www.mig-welding.co.uk/arc-tutorial.htmHTH |
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tome30
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,001
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Nov 21, 2012 12:17:26 GMT
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Hi! I have not much knowledge with arc welding, but when I tried it, I had a auto-darkening welding helmet and I found it to be very helpfull to steady the rod with my other hand untill it was used 1/2 way up. Try to not just move the rod along, but watch the weld pool form and try to 'work with it'. It's also important how you angle the rod and how long you keep the arc. There's an excellent tutorial to be found here: www.mig-welding.co.uk/arc-tutorial.htmHTH Thanks, will look at the link ^ I'm using a hand held shield at the moment and I am finding it difficult to hold, see and learn. So an auto darkening one sounds great! Another thing that sounds silly, but can I touch the rod (gloved) and any parts of the object I'm welding when welding? Apart from getting burnt (things get really HOT !!!) would I get an electric shock? Also as I'm welding there are little balls of fire showering down over my feet, is this normal? |
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Last Edit: Nov 21, 2012 15:11:45 GMT by tome30
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Nov 21, 2012 13:35:37 GMT
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I qualified as an industrial weld in the early 1980's. For stick welding the college gave us a big block of steel 6" x 3" x 1". We then had to weld on one half of this block to create a raised area 3" x 1". Took ages but we never has a problem striking a decent arc after that. The block was then cut into little slices and checked for any air pockets or slag - either of which would be a fail and meant having to do it all over again !
Paul h
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Nov 21, 2012 13:49:52 GMT
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Auto darkening mask will help you no end.
Yep, touching the rod or metal wont shock you - as you said just gets hot.
Little fire balls are normal with ARC welding.
I always teach people to learn to weld with 2 plates at a 90deg angle. That site seems to explaing everything well enough.
Its just practice . . . . practice . . . . practice
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Nov 21, 2012 15:08:22 GMT
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Your not keeping the arc length right it's to long, you should use one hand to hold the torch and the other to steady the rod using your elbow on the work platform if possible, but both hands on the holder, hold the rod at an angle that you can see both the tip and the weld pool, draw the holder towards you as you feed it in, you can bend the rod to achieve this comfortably, keeping the gap as constant as possible, weld downhill rather than up, it's not as good a weld, but far easier to do, on a cheap AC buzzbox, it should be difficult to get the arc started if the power setting is right, DC is much easier to start an arc, use decent branded 6013 rods, cheap ones are cheap for a reason, allow the weld to cool before de slagging!
don't get to close to the weld pool as the rod burns down, mucho finger hurty ;D
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tome30
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,001
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Nov 21, 2012 15:15:44 GMT
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Your not keeping the arc length right it's to long, you should use one hand to hold the torch and the other to steady the rod using your elbow on the work platform if possible, but both hands on the holder, hold the rod at an angle that you can see both the tip and the weld pool, draw the holder towards you as you feed it in, you can bend the rod to achieve this comfortably, keeping the gap as constant as possible, weld downhill rather than up, it's not as good a weld, but far easier to do, on a cheap AC buzzbox, it should be difficult to get the arc started if the power setting is right, DC is much easier to start an arc, use decent branded 6013 rods, cheap ones are cheap for a reason, allow the weld to cool before de slagging! don't get to close to the weld pool as the rod burns down, mucho finger hurty ;D Ok. By ARC length you mean distance the end of the rod is away from the object you are welding, right? Hence splatter and lost material (lots of fireballs and not a lot of metal going down) Practice indeed! |
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tome30
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,001
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Nov 21, 2012 15:19:00 GMT
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Oh yeah, just now (on lunch break) I did a bit more to the burner. I drilled holes, threaded iron rods through to make a grill inside, then welded the rods into their holes. I ended up making more of a hole, kind of blowing the original material away....whats that then???
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Nov 21, 2012 19:58:35 GMT
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The biggest and best peice of advice i was given about learning welding was to make yourself comfortable.
It much easier to concentrate on the weld if you're not hunched up or unbalanced.
Make sure you have enough room to work,and you have enough 'flex' in the welding lead, nowt worse than getting a good rub going, only to run out of travel cos the welding cable has gone taut ......
Its then you get more confident that you then start to weld upside down under a car .......
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Kieran
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,092
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Nov 21, 2012 20:30:53 GMT
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Blowing holes in stuff is either welder up too high, or you're staying in one place too long and the weld pool is getting too big and can't support it self.
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The Ashby Jackson fleet:-
1979 Mini Clubman 1.8 K series
1978 Skoda 110r Project 130RS K-oupe
1978 Austin Allegro 1500 SDL Estate
1984 BMW K100 Sidecar outfit
1999 Yamaha FZS 1000 Fazer
1991 Kawasaki ZXR400 race bike
2002 Kawasaki ZX9r race bike
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Nov 21, 2012 20:42:02 GMT
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^^^^ What he said ....
It all comes with practice.
Try practicing with different sized rods, you may find you'll get on better with one size over another.
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Nov 23, 2012 11:34:51 GMT
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several pints before you start will do the job.
what size/make rods are you using and are they dry.
I asked for an arc welder for my 14th birthday and my parents got one from argos for about £21 IIRC
2 days later I discovered what arc eye was when I thought the cheapo eye shield was optional, much easier to learn to weld when you can watch what is happening.
I taught myself to weld with that welder, I welded up/restored the family cars as they expired - a mk1 astra, a W reg lada estate and a 323 mazda.
I was given a bunch of stubbs? rods, they were lovely to work with.
From looking at your picture you've too much power, going too fast with too much arc length. Arc welding is pretty slow.
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simes
Part of things
Posts: 734
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Nov 23, 2012 18:53:24 GMT
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I've always wanted to be able to weld, however courses are hundreds of pounds. I work at a school, I work at a school too, as a teacher. I pop down to my friendly DT department for the old hint tip, use of CNC etc. |
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Simes
205Mi16 - 262 cams, Jenvey Throttle Bodies, Emerald managment blah blah......
E91 320D MSport
Honda NC30
Vespa 300GTS
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Nov 23, 2012 18:56:56 GMT
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for thin metal you want to pull the welding tourch towards you and with thick metal you push it away
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tome30
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,001
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Nov 28, 2012 14:01:52 GMT
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Thanks for all the advice.
I actually think one of my major problems is that I'm uncomfortable.
Until I get the PROPER gear....gloves, auto darkening helmet, decent jacket, I'll not be able to put my full attention to learning to weld. At the moment I'm learning one handed, blind and dodging balls of metal.
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Nov 30, 2012 18:30:45 GMT
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thick pigskin gloves can be had from Hellfrauds for about £7  Some overalls that cost about £18 will do the job fine, and can be used for whenever you do "dirty" work (saves changing out of your clothes to go inside/etc) A decent helmet however,is a must. I got an auto-tinting one for £40 - best investment I've ever made! |
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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Nov 30, 2012 23:12:26 GMT
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I've helped a few people stick weld who hadn't before (one whom I work with, had never touched any welder in his life) and another who had come for a bit of work experience with us.
I always say, (as it works for me) to hold the torch so the rod is pointing straight down (and so 90 degrees to workpiece) then tilt 45D towards you, and then 45 to your right (if right handed) then lay a bead of weld by pulling.
All I can really say is practice. You'll find what works for you and you'll learn what power settings you'll need for what size rods (making sure you get good penetration into the joint)
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matto
Part of things
Posts: 222
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I've always wanted to be able to weld, however courses are hundreds of pounds. I did a DIY welding course at a college in Nottingham, 1 evening a week for 10 weeks, cost £140. Taught me how to MMA, MIG, TIG and Gas weld, didn't get any official qualification at the end but it was superb value for money... I still haven't got myself a welder though  |
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Jan 17, 2013 18:32:59 GMT
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I'm looking to make one of these myself in the next few weeks. But have one really important question before starting. How do you cut into the gas bottle without it blowing up in your face?
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
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Jan 17, 2013 18:35:52 GMT
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Make sure its empty....purge with CO2
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