Mig help in North Norfolk

[jateu]

Hi All,

I have had a mig now for almost three years and still haven't found a suitable course locally ! I'm looking for a very kind person to give me guidance. I don't have any gas but kit and protective clothing I have. I live in North Walsham. This is a skill I really want to learn anyone out there willing to help please give me a pm shout.

Many thanks to all of you for your time.

James

 

[W4yne]

Hi James,

I got my gas from these, the guy in there is very helpful have a chat with him he maybe able to send you in the right direction? He is local to you as well, North Walsham, good luck.

http://www.ibweld.com/

 

[jateu]

Hi there ,

I'm actually looking for technique guidance learning to weld at the moment thanks for reply

 

[W4yne]

Have you checked out the tutorial guides at the top of the page, they are very informative?

 

[jateu]

Yes I have looked into guides they are very good but I'm sure you understand nothing beats one to one hands on practical advice and guidance. I learn better in a practical way anyway.


Thank you again for reply.


James

 

[jateu]

Hi All,

Seriously there's no one out there that can give a hand !.

Many thanks

James

 

[steve.h]

Hi James, I think you would be best getting the gas, it is not as hard as it seems (although I am still a learner), scratch around for some scrap metal, I would say 2mm+ 3 or 4 is good. Just try running some welds on the metal, not actually stick anything together just running beads, this is what I did. If you use the power setting calculator on the tutorial pages then this will give you an idea of power and wire speed settings. then just practice until you get good penetration, then maybe try sticking two bits together and again keep practicing. Make sure the metal is nice and clean (I use flap discs for removing scale or rust).
I have taught myself reasonably quick, I had a play and then looked through the tutorials for pointers as wellas searching the forums. If I am honest it sounds like you have the welder but have not got any gas yet, I think you would get more help once you have gas and have at least tried to run welds, put up pictures of those welds and people will then give you advice. I found the tutorials about the best on the internet, another good teaching point is youtube, watch a few videos, thereare hundreds of people posting their welding tips and showing their techniques. but like I said people would be more willing to help you if you have tried first.
Finding gas is easy enough, you have the choice of someone like BOC and rentthe bottle, which is what I do as I weld quite a lot and get through the gas, I have a W size cylinder, this works out really cheap over a year even with the rent, Or you go for the rent free cylinders a bit like renting calor cylinders, pay the upfront cylinder agreement and then just pay for the refills when empty.
If you were down my way I would say come on over but its a bit far for you to swindon..
HTH and good luck.
Steve.

 

[jateu]

Steve h,

Thank you for reply, I have read so many books and watched so many online videos however if I am learn the wrong technique then as the weld I need to produce don't need to look fantastic they have to be good enough to support forces in all directions. I just require some one to give me guidance and show me the correct way to do things . It's very nice to leave a pic but in reality an hour or two of one on e one help would equate to months of replies. So as much as this forum is fantastic I believe my requirement is more one on one help.

But just a quick note to forum admin just delete this thread was a waste of time.


Many thanks

James

 

[Country Joe]

But just a quick note to forum admin just delete this thread

Hey, there - not so fast! I expect someone around your area will see this in time. Be patient and something will come up. There are probably a few folk from round your way won't have seen this yet!
If something comes up that's not so close, you could always arrange to meet up - probably wouldn't take too long to get you "set up & going", less than a couple of hours and you'd be running beads yourself, anyway.
All the Best,
CJ

 

[steve.h]

Hi James, I understand completely, Have you thought of going to a local fabricators and see if you can do a bit of work experience, just a day here and there sort of thing, might be worth a shot, get a bit of experience, make a few cuppas and a bitof sweeping up, you may well get that help.
I know what you are saying about weld strength etc, I had those sort of concernes when I started welding, my best advice is do as I did, make a weld as close as to what the job requires but just using two bits of scrap metal, then beat the c##p out of it, if you need to really test it then weld a bar to one bit and put the other in the vice and try bending it, just do what ever you can to destroy the weld. I am now happy that the welds I do are good and strong, if I ever have to do welds that need to be tough then I have several "tests" I do to see how they stand up.
It can be frustrating sometimes to get the help you need, have you been on the introduce yourself page, or ask the question "how would you attempt this" sort of question. Can I ask you say you have no gas, have you done any welding ?? It does come across that you have not done any welding at all, not sure if that is the case, some people might think you have "bought the gear" and now are looking for someone to teach you to weld for free sort of thing !!
I know I often write stuff that is then taken the wrong way, and I never ment it to come across that way. sometimes asking the same question in a different way can get the replies you want. dont give up yet, I am sure someone will give you the help you need or at least point you towards someone that can help you.
Steve.

 

[jateu]

CJ thanks for the positivity.

Steve h,

I have looked at local companies but frankly they don't give a toss and the others only want money. Gone are the days of local businesses helping out local people. Having said that there is a very kind gent asking someone else for me so fingers crossed. The thing is ultimately I have a mig rusting away for the last few years. I totally understand destructive testing however the first one will hold i'll then think I'm a welding god yet four months later covered in a shower of metal due to a bad weld only producing a fantastic and spectacularly crash. The reason for being anal about this is I could practice for years thinking I'm right and that is dangerous the knowledge of someone who has already made the mistakes is valuable. I'm just looking for a like minded person to help that's all in happy to travel just need the help.


Many thanks again.

James

 

[steve.h]

Hi James,
I think CJ is probably right, I would expect some users of this forum only come on once a week or so, maybe busy with work or on holiday etc, so as CJ saidgive it a while. I am sure someone will come good soon enough, after all as you say you have had the welder 3 years, so a bit longer wont hurt.
If I was you I would still get the gas so you are ready to go, I would have a go so I understand the process a little bit more, then when you do get the "help" then you will instantly know whay you were doing wrong, if you have not done any welding it may be harder to get a grasp of what is being taught, thats how I learn anyway, I have a go and see what I have done wrong and then keep tweaking my technique, lets face it there is nothing to say you get the help and a year later you have actually learnt your own bad habbits since the teaching.
I am surprised there is no local college that does the evening classes, or private learning facilities. I am into blacksmithing, most of the experienced smiths tend to run courses, this then helps people learn as well as bring them an income, I am surprised this doesnt happen more with welding, maybe that is something for the experienced welders on here to earn a bit more... I am sure there must be someone running classes around the country, weekend courses etc, why not search the web for this and then make a little holiday out of it ?? that might be easier than looking in your area. Have you contacted the local colleges to see if thy can advise you, one place that does day courses nearme is the agricultural college.
I really feel for you, it is frustrating, what is it you are wanting to build ?? you have got me interested now. maybe if you ask for advice on what you are wanting to build then that might get more interest, most people skim over the post heading so try and catch peoples attention with a more interesting head line. I am still a learner myself, but I now tendto use my welding as part of my blacksmithing, but when I make chairs or table I want to be sure they wont give way, I tend to simply over engineer things so that they will take twice the stresses, but that is no good if you are looking for lightweight stuff.
I hope you get the help soom, 3 years is a long time to wait, I wouldnt be able to wail 3 weeks after getting my welder,I wanted to play the same day as it arrived, I bought the Portamig 215.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Have a go, post some pics of your attempts and we'll tell you where you're going wrong.
Everything you need is on here including very good tutorials and many, many experienced members.

 

[jateu]

Just a quick one I am still looking for someone to help me give ever a local business called free wheelers has volunteered their help which is fantastic. But I hope some one else out there will like to help me more one on one . Anyone out there give me a shout.

James