Finally got a welder

[dapper]

Hi Lads

I finally got a welder a clarke 100en turbo coloured blue. Paid £100 machine mart sell them for £206


Its not new but it looks new and he has not hardly used it like 3 times and thats was it. Still in the box. I got 2 rolls of gasless wire and basic facemask helmet with it - not the one you hold with you hands.

You have guessed right I have a couple of questions.

The crocodile clip is ok but I read somewhere that you should upgrade them to get better earthing. Wheres the best place to buy them thats would be suitable.

I have read through threads on here of practice weld on sheets of steel. Why do you practice just on a sheet with weld lines. (You are not actually joining anything) So what do you learn by that?

Also I have looked through the mask, Yes I gathered it would be dark obviously to protect you eyes. But as you can't see anything, How the hell do you get going, How do you know you have the tip of the welder in the right place if you were joining 2 bits together.

Yes have your laugh! But after your little chuckle please have a little pitty and guide me slowly.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hi Lads

I finally got a welder a clarke 100en turbo coloured blue. Paid £100 machine mart sell them for £206

That's a good price, especially for one with so little use.

basic facemask helmet with it - not the one you hold with you hands.

Also I have looked through the mask, Yes I gathered it would be dark obviously to protect you eyes. But as you can't see anything, How the hell do you get going, How do you know you have the tip of the welder in the right place if you were joining 2 bits together.

You'll probably find it difficult to learn with a fixed shade mask, an auto-darkening one is far easier but what you should be doing is lifting your mask, setting your torch so you're ready to go, drop the mask and fire away. You've got no chance whatsoever of setting yourself up with your mask down, it's just too dark to see what you're doing.

I have read through threads on here of practice weld on sheets of steel. Why do you practice just on a sheet with weld lines. (You are not actually joining anything) So what do you learn by that?

You learn torch control, speed of travel, arc length (wire stickout), correct angle, correct machine setup to create the ideal weld profile and penetration.
Once you've mastered that you then move on to joining pieces together.

Yes have your laugh! But after your little chuckle please have a little pitty and guide me slowly.

Cheers

Dave

Nothing to laugh at Dave, you're here to learn, we're here to help you.

Now stop asking questions and get !!!

 

[dapper]

Thanks for the very helpful reply Wozzaaah.

So ill get some sheet steel to practice with and crack on.

What size in thinkness do you recomend for Practicing with. Baring mind its not the best welder going for penetration.

Oh and a if you touch steel you are working on do you get a shock? Any precautions I should be taking.

cheers

Dave

 

[cazl1994]

yes as woozha said practice on sheet to get your set up right wire feed,angle of torch,how fast to go ect. and after that if you want to join it cut it up in to some pieces when you feel confident

with the mask i have always had dark ones and in school they have auto darkening and i rather a dark one just set it up before you drop your helmet

you dont get a shock if you touch the steel with your hands and i dont know if you want this but if you touch the torch on the steel with the earth clamp on it will not arc so its not a live torch you have to push a button on the torch dont know which one you wanted to know

away

 

[Tigman]

dont forget your gloves there a must

 

[rtbcomp]

You'll find it easiest to hold the torch with 2 hands usually one holding the torch by the handle and other steadying the swan neck or holding the wrist of the first one.

If you haven't got a third hand a sharp nod will drop the mask, you may have to fiddle with tension of the pivots.

 

[pedrobedro]

If you haven't got a third hand a sharp nod will drop the mask, you may have to fiddle with tension of the pivots.

I have a block of foam gaffer taped in my old helmet as it used to go too far and I couldn't see, now the foam hits my chin and stops it in the right place. Get comfortable, don't forget to breathe and get some light on your work piece if you can't see what you're doing before you arc up.

 

[voipio]

As for not being able to see through the fixed shade mask, I have in the past used a bright light (e.g. a halogen reflector lamp or floodlight) a couple of feet away from the work. Sunlight is useful, too. Once the eyes have had a few seconds to adapt it is usually possible to see well enough through the mask to make a reasonable start to the weld. At least this way, there's no chace of getting arc eye.

Voi

 

[dapper]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

Many thanks

Dave

 

[Wedg1e]

... and get some light on your work piece if you can't see what you're doing before you arc up.

You know, I was thinking about this the other day. Some kind of fibre-optic light widget that directs a beam at the tip of the torch. Of course for us pigeon-poo welders there'd be the small issue of spatter

Alternatively, how about a head-torch built into a welding mask...?

:rushesofftodrawingboard: