Help!

[Karinya929]

Hi

I have a MIG welder that I acquired five years ago from a company shutting.

I was going to go into the industry but had second thoughts.

Anyway a friend of mine has asked me to do some small fabrications for him.

He's done favours for me so I don't want to let him down.

I have all the gear to but no idea!

Can anyone local pop in and get me started.

I don't expect the advice for nothing.

I'm in Newport, South Wales.

 

[marlinspike]

I would go to your local metal merchants, get a lot of cheap off cuts and start practising. The tutorials on here are excellent, as is the guide about setting up your welder. You Tube has some good videos too. It would be great if someone local could guide you, but you might have to wait a few weeks til they have time. I'd have a go myself in the meantime.

If you describe the projects you want to do, someone will advise the best way to go about them.

 

[Karinya929]

Hi

Thank you for the reply.

I've had a good practice but I get frustrated by my lack of progress.

I'm finding my welds are looking too high!

I'll persevere and sometimes things just 'click' after time.

 

[Jim Davey]

Are you grinding 'preps' on your thicker material? It helps especially with processes like mig to have a small gap or a bevelled edge to allow the weld to sit in the joint a little better. Mig has a real tendency to start off cold and sit proud so you need to plan your weld sequence with this in mind.

 

[Karinya929]

Hi Jim

I'm practicing on one piece of 5/6mm thk black mild steel.

Want to get nice tidy straight welds before I tackle good laser cut profiles.

 

[Jim Davey]

Sorry, I thought I was replying to a chap struggling with raised profiles on his weld beads, can barely see the screen on my phone now due to all the spatter on it!

 

[Karinya929]

Sorry, I thought I was replying to a chap struggling with raised profiles on his weld beads, can barely see the screen on my phone now due to all the spatter on it!

Sorry? I don't know what you mean.

 

[Robotstar5]

Posting a couple of pics of your welds should get you some advice.

 

[octo0072000]

Hi

Thank you for the reply.

I've had a good practice but I get frustrated by my lack of progress.

I'm finding my welds are looking too high!

I'll persevere and sometimes things just 'click' after time.

might be a idea to tell us what welder it is what amps etc and pictures of the weld please