Mig help in durham

[adamsmitqc]

Hi All,

I dont currently own a welder, in the process of getting one. Just wondering if anyone knows where i can get some tuition in mig welding? There are night courses available but i work away from home a lot so wold miss a lot of the dates if i enrolled on a one night a week college course or similar???

Any help or advice much appreciated!

 

[Wedg1e]

Hi All,

I dont currently own a welder, in the process of getting one. Just wondering if anyone knows where i can get some tuition in mig welding? There are night courses available but i work away from home a lot so wold miss a lot of the dates if i enrolled on a one night a week college course or similar???

Any help or advice much appreciated!

Whereabouts in Durham? I'm just down the road in Teesside (as are a few other folk), might be able to help though I wouldn't claim to be an expert.

 

[adamsmitqc]

thanks wedg1e,

I'm east durham just off the A19 at the castle eden / wingate turn off before Peterlee.

Ive currently got my eye on a welder on ebay at the moment so hopefully if im successful i'll be getting stuck into the steep learning curve.

is there quite a few forum members in Teeside then i take it?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, just setting up and getting started will be a start!

 

[octo0072000]

thanks wedg1e,

I'm east durham just off the A19 at the castle eden / wingate turn off before Peterlee.

Ive currently got my eye on a welder on ebay at the moment so hopefully if im successful i'll be getting stuck into the steep learning curve.

is there quite a few forum members in Teeside then i take it?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, just setting up and getting started will be a start!

be very wary of buying used welders off fleybay you need to see it working before you pay for it you dont want other peoples promlems now i am not saying there are not some good welders on fleybay but a lot are sold off for a reason
1/ you need to see it working
2/ take somone with you that can weld
3/ take some bits of 2/3 mm scrap steel to weld on gloves mask etc and if ness some gas
4/needs to go down to 30amps or below for car body work
this may be a bit OTT for some but no point in buying a load of trouble also with fleybay you have no comeback on second hand goods if you pay cash always use paypal only way you stand a chance of money back if faulty
credit card laws dont seem to apply to private sales fleybay etc unless they are registed as as trader
all the best have fun

 

[smoggyrich]

is there quite a few forum members in Teeside then i take it?

Hello mate.

I live in Billingham and work in Peterlee so you live somewhere in between.

I've been teaching myself to weld over the last few months. As much as i would like to pass on what i've learnt so far to you i hardly get chance to do any welding myself with work and family commitments.

Everything i have learnt so far has been from the tutorials on this site and from the very helpfull members on here.

I suggest just getting set up and having a practice. Post plenty of pictures of your attempts on here and you will get honest helpfull advice as i have found.

If your welds are ****, members wont just tell you they are **** and have a laugh at you. They will tell you that they are **** but tell you how to put things right.

One of the best bits of advice i found was to get set up with a machine that uses gas for shielding and steer clear of gasless welding.

hope this helps

good luck

 

[Nomad]

Hi there,

Depends what you will be using the welder for - is it DIY car repair, railings, or just whatevers needed ?
I'm in a car club at Washington, lots of *very* helpful folk there but no use to you unless you are going to be doing work on old cars.
http://www.n-e-r-c.co.uk/htdocs/how%20it%20works.html

My Clarke Pro 90 came from Machine Mart at team valley / metro center, buying local saves mail order If I was doing it again I'd PM Weldequipe on this forum and maybe get a better deal
If you can find the cash I'd be tempted to avoid an Ebay "used but works fine - honest" welder as it might be a very expensive box of problems.

For me ...
The Clarke has been fine, no problems using it for car repair and general DIY.
Buy an auto-darkening helmet, it makes learning a lot easier.
Small gas bottles are very expensive, I got gauges from this site and use a pub c02 bottle - I'm very happy with the way it works.

Shout if you get stuck, I'm just at Bishop Auckland.

Hope you get sorted

 

[mk1richiep]

I live in south northumberland and would be willing to give you some pointers if youre still struggling. Send me a pm with your number and I'll give you a call. Have you managed to get a machine yet?

 

[ford34/2]

vat free

and dont forget VAT free day on Clarke stuff, 16/10 and 23/10 and 10% off anything else -machine mart team valley.

supposed to be invitation only but you may well blag it or register.

Stan

 

[adamsmitqc]

hello again all, right a bit of an update is required then...

Just treated myself to a brand new Clarke 160 TM & SifLite auto darkening mask, all from weldequip, delivery is tomorrow. I've been today and got myself a Hobbyweld bottle of gas as well. Now im counting down the hours until it arrives tomorrow so I can get stuck in which i'm really looking forward to.

I have to say also that weldequip were very helpful and he threw in a spool of wire and some gloves with the deal so im more than happy.

Just need to have a rake around for some scrap to practice on now.

I'll take plenty of pic's and post them as i go, i'm sure you fella's will be kind enough to point me in the right direction if it all goes tits up (which it prob will).

Thanks again all, you will see some progress soon!!!