New to welding (lost/frustrated)

[mbrotto]

Hi, so I've been a hobby woodworker for a few years now and always thought that there was a stack of benefit getting involved in metal so I bought my self a welding kit (STAHLWERK MIG MAG 160 M IGBT) after my dad showed me how to lay a nasty flux core bead. Anyway, I am busy trying to make myself a moxon vice and I couldn't find a good option for the screws so I decided to make my own out of some large nuts and some rod. After a lot of messing about I think I've managed to finish one (very ugly job but seems to be stuck/bound - I've hit it with a hammer) and I'm busy with the second one now, managed to weld one arm and just could not get the second rod to bind to the nut...I spent a good few hours attempting to tack but it just wouldn't stick. I really need to spend some time practicing as I really do not know what I am doing, anyway, I shave convinced myself that it was too hot and that was the reason it wasn't working but I guess it's just because I have no clue what I am doing. I later read that the nut might be galvanised and possibly the issue. I'm hoping this ramble is clear and perhaps someone might be able to guide me on what I might have been doing wrong. As an aside, just to indicate what a rookie I am, I started a tack without my mask on after performing some grinding, I had my protective glasses on thinking they were my mask...thankfully I don't seems to have done any serious damage but it was a scary lesson. Anyway, happy to have found this forum and look forward to mastering this art with the knowledge I acquire here. )

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

welcome to a Mad house.
We are mostly harmless here.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Welcome to the forum.
I would suggest you start off practicing on some scrap metal first to get the hang of things before attempting to do any projects.
You need to get familiar with the machine and good techniques on things that don't matter before adding in the pressure of trying to weld something you care about.
The other key thing is that the material you are welding should ideally be clean bare steel - the chances are the nuts and rod will be plated and that will not help.

 

[gaz1]

look into wood wedge clamps as you can slide the clamp and do a quick tighten with them

you also get to use the 4 pronged T nut used in funiture as well

 

[mbrotto]

thanks @MetalMonkey, it is not a problem if I mess it up so I thought it was a good idea but you are right, I need to spend some time on some scrap first. I do know to clean up the metal first so that a clean surface is exposed but thanks for the suggestion anyway.
Thanks for the message
Thanks @The_Yellow_Ardvark

 

[northwest]

What? So you think anyone here has any clue? Run away*, as fast as you can because if you don't next week you will be renting a workshop and filling it with all sorts of tools!!


*only kidding, welcome to the forum. Take some pictures, we can tell an awful lot from a picture.

 

[tom2207]

welcome to the forum ,,, non of us could actually weld once , we all had to learn , you will gain great rewards and as much frustration along the way ., but it is a giggle really . patience and practice is all it takes.

 

[Dragnet]

Cleaning the surface may not get rid of the plating if you haven't ground anything away. It is very likely that the rod and nut are zinc plated or galvanised, and you'll find it extraordinarily difficult to weld to that. More heat is usually good - you're melting metal after all. The most common mistake is going too fast and not getting enough heat in, with the weld ending up snotty and poorly adhered. With thick stock like nuts and threaded rod, the contact area is going to be deep (I'm assuming 10mm diameter rod or thereabouts) You'll need to get a lot of heat in to penetrate for a good joint. I've preferred arc welding for putting big nuts onto rods, and I'm a very inexperienced welder. With some slow, hot beads they stuck well enough to make new axles for the cricket club sightscreen wheels. If you have the space, an old oil-filled arc welder could be a good addition to your armoury (so it begins...). People give them away these days and they go on forever. I have a Pickhill Bantam and I love it.