Best value practice material

[BrokenBiker]

after having a play with my new welder it has become apparent that I need some practice to refresh my memory. Ran about 8 beads but haven't got much to hand thick enough (mostly 2mm steel) and have just ended up blowing holes in it with a 2.5 on about 70 amps dcen.

I did find some 12mm bar that I used for some 3.2 practice but haven't got much.

So, what is good value practice material to practice paddin beads, lap, fillet and butt welds?

I was thinking something like 5x50 flat bar, maybe a 3M length so I can cut it into 150mm lengths and assemble various joints?

 

[oddbob]

I'd get some angle ...you can practice butt, lap and fillet ...but also some nice tricky awkward to access joints if you fancy.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Being a cheapskate I would choose 40 x 5mm flat.

As you have worked out it wants cutting into 6" lengths.
With those you can do open corner, fillet, butt and lap joints in all positions with restarts. In fact, I suggest starting by welding a butt joint to then begin properly with a bead pad.

I think it economical because you can weld them together as additional joints.

Not like when I was at college and it was two fresh pieces for every weld! The waste.

 

[Parm]

How about raiding a skip (with permission of course) of a local fab shop or engineering place

 

[BrokenBiker]

How about raiding a skip (with permission of course) of a local fab shop or engineering place

there arent any around here that let anyone skip browse, i have tried many times

 

[HughF]

chop straps out of scrap 47kg bottles...

 

[BrokenBiker]

chop straps out of scrap 47kg bottles...

I've been practicing on a gas bottle but have been blowing holes with ease with a 2.5 on 80 amps dcen. I think I've been using 15kg butane...are the propane thicker material as I have a few 19kg lying around

 

[HughF]

yep, they're thicker, higher vapour pressure

 

[BrokenBiker]

I thought the butane looked a bit thin. Most of my bottles are propane so will sacrifice one tomorrow then. I have enough 19's to make what I want and 2 47kg so will cut one up

 

[Bill Edwards]

chop straps out of scrap 47kg bottles...

Ha, good idea...
Except there are some people like me who are struggling to get hold of them. I never thought I would be short of them, of all things!

 

[BrokenBiker]

Free cycle is where I get mine. I also had a load off a lad on here

 

[slim_boy_fat]

How about raiding a skip (with permission of course) of a local fab shop or engineering place

That's exactly what I do - I'll take the lads some brew for their Xmas do as a thanks.

 

[Jim Davey]

It's twunts selling propane bottles that don't belong to them that will bring back deposits or rental and that affects everybody. Nobody likes to leave a deposit for a propane but that's where it's headed if every other idiot thinks it's ok to cut one up to make a rocket stove/shot blast pressure pot or modern art sodding masterpiece. How anyone can condone what is effectively theft and or vandalism is beyond me. It's the same as pinching lead of a church roof as far as I'm concerned.
The way I see it any thread involving chopping up of someone else's cylinders should be reported, preferably to the boys in blue.

 

[Jim Davey]

As for scrap offcuts have a ring around, most fab shops are more than happy to let small bits and pieces go for cheap. Especially as scrap steel prices are so low they can charge a drink for a small box full of offcuts for more than they would get from the recyclers. Keep the source under your hat though as they won't want to be inundated with such requests or you may find next time you go they won't deal again as haggling with joe public for offcuts can be more time than it's worth.

 

[BrokenBiker]

It's twunts selling propane bottles that don't belong to them that will bring back deposits or rental and that affects everybody. Nobody likes to leave a deposit for a propane but that's where it's headed if every other idiot thinks it's ok to cut one up to make a rocket stove/shot blast pressure pot or modern art sodding masterpiece. How anyone can condone what is effectively theft and or vandalism is beyond me. It's the same as pinching lead of a church roof as far as I'm concerned.
The way I see it any thread involving chopping up of someone else's cylinders should be reported, preferably to the boys in blue.

i have always had to put a deposit down on any propane or butane bottles, and then swap empty for full and pay for the gas. i still have these bottles and regulalrly have them exchanged.

the bottles i had off a lad on here were bottles from a company that went bust so they werent interested in having them back and all the ones i have had off freecycle are of similar situations where the original owner cant get their deposit back so dont want to give the bottle back, and dont want to keep it either

 

[Bill Edwards]

Deposits round here...

They make brilliant air receivers, no vandalism required!

 

[roofman]

It's twunts selling propane bottles that don't belong to them that will bring back deposits or rental and that affects everybody. Nobody likes to leave a deposit for a propane but that's where it's headed if every other idiot thinks it's ok to cut one up to make a rocket stove/shot blast pressure pot or modern art sodding masterpiece. How anyone can condone what is effectively theft and or vandalism is beyond me. It's the same as pinching lead of a church roof as far as I'm concerned.
The way I see it any thread involving chopping up of someone else's cylinders should be reported, preferably to the boys in blue.

i hear what your saying but only recently i had some bottles that had been left in a lock-up by the last renter...no one would take them back as the company logo no longer trades...so what would you do with 4 big orange orphans yourself then??

 

[Jim Davey]

If they are from a company no longer trading (and they haven't been bought out by someone that is) then they are fair game. But it's not always just those ones that are getting chopped is it?