I'm new! I cut wood for a living!! Please don't burn me!! :)

[Ddave73]

Hello, after an impulse buy of a cheap arc welder here is the story so far.

Equiptment

Workzone 160A Arc Welder

True-Fusion XDH6 500 Solar Powered Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet and grind mask

Draper 10957 Large Leather Welding Gauntlets

Draper 21025 2.5 mm Welding Electrode (1 kg Pack)

Draper 21197 2 mm Welding Electrodes (1 kg Pack)

Some of the video`s I have watched

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL889AAB1FA98085E5

I'm not expecting miracles but do hope I can get started with the above stuff, is their any glaring problems (aside from my welder being super cheap haha) with what I have got so far?

So here I go, lets learn to weld, will be knocking up custom choppers in no time surely?

I will post what I'm sure will be some terrible "welds" shortly so we can have a good laugh, god only knows how this venture of mine shall turn out.

 

[shenion]

Have a go with what you have.

You probably would want name-brand rods. You find the cheap, box store stuff is hit or miss, especially on smaller rods. The SIF rods weldequip has are supposedly decent. The "white box" name brand ones are good too.

Go ahead and post some chicken-poop welds; don't be shy You'll get nothing but support from this group.

 

[julianthegypsy]

My old welding teacher had a habit of looking over our shoulders and saying "that looks like a bull ******* down a dusty road". We've all been there!

 

[Ddave73]

Chicken poop and a bull p***ing down a dusty road. I'll do my best hehe

I feel right at home

Cheers for the tips on the rods, did do a little reading and have been wondering about what the best brands were, these draper ones apparently work fairly well but I think I will order a few kg of better ones first thing tomorrow.

Cheers and I'll be sure to post my abominations for all to see hehe

 

[PTvor]

You'll find it easier with 3.2mm rods and the variation in quality will be far less obvious, but you'll need steel 3mm and upwards and with 3.2s, the duty cycle on that buzz box will be a nuisance for much practice.

It's increasingly critical as you go to 2.5s and below.

Murex White Box/ESAB 46.30 are pretty good for £20 or a bit less for 5Kg, and are consistent.

The problem with Draper etc, is that rods are something they buy and sell, they make no particular claims about them, so one lot can weld like magic and the next be useless. 5Kg of rods is a lot to get through, especially when you think they are no good. When you are starting it's worse because you don't know what's down to you and what's down to the rods.

Try Fincord Ms or similar if you can bring yourself to afford them.

 

[Ddave73]

Finally made some sparks hehe

This was just an old exhaust I had laying around so I don't know how thick it is or anything. I will be going to the local scrap yard to try and get some better practice material and this was more just to see if the thing actually works and although this is obviously all wrong I am pretty happy so far.

I felt completely comfortable too, just wish the snow would ****** off so I can go practice some more.

For the lol's haha

edit: Second rod, slightly better I think but at this stage I really have no idea haha

Its fun though!

 

[decepticon]

welding on an old galv exhaust is not a good idea as the galv will not do you any good health wise, failing it not being galv it could be an alloy and certainly not good for welding on.
try going to a welding/fabricators near you and offer a few quid for some bits out of the scrap bin
practice practice and practice
2.5mm rods are harder than 3.2mm to lay nicely but if you can weld with 2.5 then you should automatically be able to weld with 3.2, but if you practice with 3.2mm then laying a 2.5mm will be a difficult

 

[shenion]

The rod angle looks too low; that causes the elongated ripples.

However, on that thin metal, if you had the rod right, you'd probably just blow holes

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

ESAB 6013 Rods are what i use, 5KG of 3.2 are £10+VAT at my local suplier, i found a massive difference to the cheap rods i bout from machine mart many moons ago

 

[Ddave73]

Many thanks for the responses

I have been really busy lately and have not had a chance to go get some decent stuff to practice on.

Its top of my priorities though and hopefully I will get the chance before the end of the week

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Where in UK u located, if ur not too far away from me ur welcome to some ESAB rods to try

 

[Ddave73]

A bit of help needed regarding steel/metal.

I am just going to order some square bar and some sheets to play around with online, can you guys suggest the best grade or type to go for?

I'm not going to be going beyond 2.5mm electrodes for now.

If anyone knows of a decent online place I can order to please let me know.

 

[Ddave73]

Hi Jim, posted my last post before seeing your reply.

I am in Newcastle Upon Tyne,your offer is extremely generous but I am happy to just go with your recommendation and order some myself.

Obviously if it turns out we are neighbours I'll be over in 5 haha

edit: I am considering this mild steel, is this the right stuff I should be looking at?

http://www.metals4u.co.uk/Mild-Steel/6/products.asp

 

[Dev]

You could go to a nearby engineering place and ask for offcuts. I think a lot of pros recommend getting a square of thick (4mm+) steel plate and just run lines side by side till you cover it, turn it 90 degrees and repeat, to get a feel for how arc length, travel speed, electrode angle and amps effect things.

Cultivating a good relationship with a local engineer is worth it in the long run in the amount of advice you get as well as the price you can get small quantities of steel and things like sending stuff to be dipped or galvanised.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Quite expensive on there I go to my local steel merchant, got 12m of 3mm x25 mm flat bar for £9
7.5 m of 25x25x2 box section £12
6m of 25x25x3angle £8

You reLy need to call around. Local steel merchants to get the best price

 

[Ddave73]

Thanks.

I have a few hours today so I think I will do just that, so it is just mild steel I should be asking for?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh mild steel, or bright mild steel, bright mild steel is more expensive, normal mild steel will be fine just give it a quick clean before welding

 

[PTvor]

If you want steel for practice, new stock is dear, especially from metals4u.

Do as Dev says and try the local fabricators and engineering places. If you tell them you want some offcuts for welding practice, they can be very obliging. Generally, offcuts are more use for practice than new steel anyway.

 

[Ddave73]

I called 2 places, worked out great.

Well I think it was a fair price anyway, got 5 meters cut to 1 meter lengths 30x30x3 box section for £24 and they do have an off cut box that I grabbed a few bits of sheet and smaller bits of box section from.

I am going to call around a few other places but if this si as low as it gets in my area I'm happy enough.

Am I correct in thinking my 2.5mm rods will be no good for this box section?

 

[shenion]

I use 2.5mm on 3mm steel.

You need to keep a short arc length and it will work once you get the current right.