Wanted - Tig Welding Training in Swindon

[Alex Tig]

Hi, I am new to welding and I have just bought an R-tech 160PDC tig welder.

My main interest is to weld Stainless Steel 316 tube and plate, however I can't find any local Tig welding Courses.

Shall I persevere or try and find a local Tig welder to give me some tuition.

Any advice is more than welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gavuk]

what are you looking at making Alex?.....i could take you through the basics ,from there on its practise....have you got materials and gas etc?

 

[Alex Tig]

Hi, yes I got the whole kit from R-Tech yesterday, I went to their warehouse shop in Gloucester.

I am struggling to find 316 stainless though, I was looking for scrap but I'm now thinking it could be easier to buy a length of tube and some plate from a supplier.

I've been messing around with a boat for the last few years and I'm looking to make some custom seats etc.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Hi Alex,
If you do buy 316 stainless the low carbon variant - 316L is best for welding.

 

[gavuk]

I'd buy mild steel to practise on ,there's not much difference in technique,but a huge cost saving if buying new material,change to stainless when you have mastered steel .......just my opinion though

 

[Alex Tig]

Hi Alex,
If you do buy 316 stainless the low carbon variant - 316L is best for welding.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Alex Tig]

I'd buy mild steel to practise on ,there's not much difference in technique,but a huge cost saving if buying new material,change to stainless when you have mastered steel .......just my opinion though

Do you know what I should get, I live near to a steel supplier so may be I can pop over there later.

 

[gavuk]

Do you know what I should get, I live near to a steel supplier so may be I can pop over there later.

what gauge stainless are you thinking for your projects?.you mentioned seats?...box or round?...wall thickness 1mm-2mm...or heavier?...
.2-3mm thick strips by 30 or 40mm wide or even box should be fine for practise ......
but anything really is fine if its clean ,not painted,without millscale or rust ,requires less cleaning ,
i'd wait before getting round unless its scrap or offcut,

Why not build a trolley for your welder,or something else that useful? so any material you buy will be useful for practise and after,

 

[Alex Tig]

what gauge stainless are you thinking for your projects?.you mentioned seats?...box or round?...wall thickness 1mm-2mm...or heavier?...
.2-3mm thick strips by 30 or 40mm wide or even box should be fine for practise ......
but anything really is fine if its clean ,not painted,without millscale or rust ,requires less cleaning ,
i'd wait before getting round unless its scrap or offcut,

Why not build a trolley for your welder,or something else that useful? so any material you buy will be useful for practise and after,

I think the 316 tube will be around 22mm and the wall thickness will be around 1-2mm, I'll see if I can find a picture.

As for the mild steel I have just picked up some 1.6mm (ish) and 3mm plate its brand new and I've had it cut to 4" x 3" rectangles so I have about 20 of each to play with.

I like the idea of a welding trolley or may be a welding bench? However the supplier didn't have any box

 

[Alex Tig]

Here is a picture of the type of seat I am interested in building.

 

[gavuk]

Have you looked into the tube bending ?,I've no experience but the tube bender won't be cheap.....

 

[Alex Tig]

Yeah sort of, I was thinking of using floor standing pipe bender but to be honest I don't know if that would work or not, my main aim though is to learn how to weld and I must say that i am really enjoying it so far.

And I am very happy with my tig welder too.

 

[gavuk]

I think you will struggle ,but not really my area,try the search on here for info or start a new thread ,......

 

[bert]

is that a seat from a rib?

 

[Alex Tig]

is that a seat from a rib?

Yeah thats right, I've had a few now and they are like the 4x4's of the sea and great fun too.

Have you got one or ever been in one?

 

[bert]

Not a Rib but I used to have a 10ft Colt Sport, well 4 of them actually.

No.1 Cracked the rear transom with a 25hp evinrude, lead to them modifying it.
No.2 My sister Rolled it and got thrown out, didnt have the cut off cord so it carried on in a circle at full speed, ran her over but luckily she didnt have a life jacket on so could dive out of the way. My dad tried to recover it in his big boat and it bounced off his straightened the engine and went up a bank into a tree.
No.3 was speared by a boat in a lock when it was hanging off the davits on the big boat.
No.4 was sold.


On your project I dont think the floor bender will easily bend stainless Tube and you may need a mandrel bender to do it neatly. Mandrel bender = Lots of Money to buy so id look for a local engineering firm and get quoted for them to bend it for you.

I have the same welder as you nice little machine

 

[Alex Tig]

Not a Rib but I used to have a 10ft Colt Sport, well 4 of them actually.

No.1 Cracked the rear transom with a 25hp evinrude, lead to them modifying it.
No.2 My sister Rolled it and got thrown out, didnt have the cut off cord so it carried on in a circle at full speed, ran her over but luckily she didnt have a life jacket on so could dive out of the way. My dad tried to recover it in his big boat and it bounced off his straightened the engine and went up a bank into a tree.
No.3 was speared by a boat in a lock when it was hanging off the davits on the big boat.
No.4 was sold.


On your project I dont think the floor bender will easily bend stainless Tube and you may need a mandrel bender to do it neatly. Mandrel bender = Lots of Money to buy so id look for a local engineering firm and get quoted for them to bend it for you.

I have the same welder as you nice little machine

What did you call the boats... Lucky?

 

[Alex Tig]

Thanks Gav for the three hour lesson today on the Tig and your Mig, I learnt loads and I can't wait to practice some more.

You are a top guy and a great teacher too.

Thank you.

 

[gavuk]

Welcome mate,bit of a crash course,enough to get you started .....get practising and try that mig as well

 

[oilyneil]

I have a tube bender (pro tools 105) and a 25 mm 180 degree die if you need tube bending?
Just outside trowbridge,,,