Just bought my first welder

[Carole]

Hi, first of all let me introduce myself as a newbie. Newbie! LOL at my age I have decided (or should I say my classic car decided for me) it's time to learn how to weld.

I have read quite a lot of the post's on buying a welder and just about all the tutorials and with that information I went out to buy my first welder however, when I got to the shop I was talked out of the one that I wanted (mig 135) and into the one I have now a Clarke Mig 100EN Gas/no gas.
The man in the store told me this was a good machine for what I wanted to work on and that it was reduced due to now being discontinued.
Have a made a wise choice or should I have stuck to my guns?

 

[Bill Edwards]

For car welding I think what you have will be perfectly fine, there shouldn't be anything thick enough to need more power.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum, as a VERY happy owner of a 135 I bet you can guess what I would say

The 100 will do you but it's always nice to have that extra bit of power for the occasional project that will come your way now you are a welder... or soon to be.

 

[Robotstar5]

Welcome to the forum, at least he didn't talk you into buying one of the cheapanese 145 models the 100 will be fine for bodywork.

 

[Carole]

Thank you all for putting my mind at rest, I have just received my new helmet now so I will be putting the welder to the test this weekend before I let me and it loose on my car one more question, on the back of the welder is a small plastic tube for the gas bottle, I intend to buy a regulator but not at Clarkes prices, what kind of fitting do I need and what pressure should it be set too?

 

[gaz1]

if you are serious enough for getting gas dont use the cheap bottles use the volkzone deal 70.00+ to get started and a refill is about 40.00 and is renewed yearly you can go through 3 gas bottles a year or more ddepending on if you get the bug to weld as much as possible

as yours is gasless you can get gasless wire for it as well as normal mig wire

some people use hobbywelds for getting the gas

rough idea on gas usage 2hrs for boc bottle volkzone offer
1hr for hobbyweld
5 mins for the diy bottles

 

[Carole]

Thank you Gaz1 I think I will get the bug, I have already come up with a whole list of projects I want to try after the car is done, sounds like the Zolkzone is the best deal (always one for a bargain ) I assume they well tell me what sort of regulator I need and the pressure to run it at.
But will it fit the tiny tube that is supplied with my machine or will I have to do some sort of modification?

For now I have a nice piece of metal and the suns shinning so I'm going to turn it on for the first time as soon as I finished this post, wish me luck

 

[cumbriasteve]

You require one of these adaptors:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adaptor-f...pipe-H-Duty-/171893493024?hash=item2805a68d20

The thin tube from your mig simply pushes into the connection, don't jump in and buy the one I have shown you as an example, shop around and you may find cheaper, the normal pressure for indoor welding is 10 lpm.

If welding outdoor you may need to increase it to as much as 15 lpm, although outdoor welding should be protected from wind with a screen rather than blast costly gas at the weld in an attempt to keep coverage..

 

[gaz1]

as you will be wanting the whole regulator and tube your wanting one of these

http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Argon-Co2...daptor-hose-/141757142565?hash=item2101625625

 

[Bill Edwards]

I'd suggest that you buy yourself one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gas-Flow-...ding-Welder-/281697979171?hash=item4196820b23 or one that attaches to the regulator such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Argon-Flo...elding-/161120824645?var=&hash=item25838cad45.

The dial type fitted to regulators are next to useless, setting the gas flow correctly is important and can save gas.

 

[Carole]

Thank you Guys for the information, I will continue for the moment with no-gas as the results from todays attempts have been quite successful (well for a first attempt anyway) By the time I had finished playing I found a good setup and was able to lay down some good welds I even managed to but weld.
I have to say though the advice I found on here a few weeks ago about using a solar helmet was much appreciated, it made the task much easier being able to see were you are placing the weld tip.
I'm glad I found this site and I feel more relaxed knowing I have some support when I need it

 

[gaz1]

un known if your mig welder can take the 4.5kg roll of gasless wire if it dosnt you need an adapter to use them

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flux-Core...-5kg-No-Gas-/170826333471?hash=item27c60afd1f

a bigger roll saves costs also you dont lose 3ft of wire each new roll you place onto the machine so its up to you

the other thing not all gasless wire is the same

 

[Carole]

Thank you Guys for all your advice, as this was my first attempt I used nogas on it as this was the easiest option.
Turns out that according to my partner I' a bit of a natural Was only planning to do one small hole at the rear (bottom of the wing) but it turned out to be a rebuild of an inner wing section and I had to make a section of the wing the curled round the inside as well as the wheel arch! But all went well did in four sections and they all joined perfectly. I did start by just tacking, adding more tacks as they cooled, I ended op with what looed like the decoration around a cake but it worked well, the only thing was that it took more grinding to get it flat for finishing.
Then with more confidence I went on to do the same on the other side but this time it was the front wing, and the another small patch on the rear.
This time I used tack to hold the plate in place and then made some pretty neat seam welds, still needed a bit more cleaning up than you guys would have left but all in all I felt pretty happy with my work.
Problem is.. I was so keen to get on and do the next bit and then to do the filler skim that I forgot to take some pictures!
Still I'm sure will believe me when I say "I'm one pretty good welder" <- that bit was a lie! But I'm still very proud of myself and I would never have had the confidence to do it all without your help and the advice on this forum... Thanks again Guy's

P.S. an example of my partners welding....

Carole