newbie self learning

[WilC]

Hi peeps been reading a lot on this forum and finally decided to get myself a Clarke 135 gas, initially thought it can't be that difficult after watching over hundreds of video clips on YouTube how wrong was I!!!!! Lol

first thing I need to get myself is a auto mask, due to my left hand n right hand dont really work that well with my brain at the same time, I've blinded myself a couple of times already nearly lol, and a welding table cos my back is aching already welding on the floor, and some proper gas as well and lots of scrap metal to practise on and some proper gloves too and ........ Mrs is already complaining that I'm on a shopping spree on eBay oops

What a great forum thx a lot peeps

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Hi WilC, welcome to the forum,

Firstly, ask any senior members of the forum and your introduction here sounds exactly the same as me 16 months ago! I bought an arc welder to repair a car (big mistake as its way too powerful for thin metal) I was too eager and tried to have a go without an auto visor or proper gloves. I was lucky not to be burned or blinded!

I self taught myself, then attended self funded courses in MIG - TIG - MMA and did some temp work repairing cars in a garage and helped F.J (member here) to complete a partial restoration of a car, now I'm a welder in a truck & coach builder company, making trailer floors and chassis.


*Advice on the gas, open a BOC account and get a bigger cylinder because those little disposables are very expensive and wont last more than 5 minutes welding time.

 

[WilC]

Thx mate definitely need proper gas but need to check out what's the cheaper option in my area first, my mate uses fire extinguisher to weld as he gets all the passed best before date cylinders given to him but they freezes.

I have always been hoping to learn some new skills and welding is amazing! I'm a nurse by the way totally nothing to do with what I do everyday lol

 

[SiPMerlin150]

CO2 is fine as long as its pure, They freeze if the release of gas is sudden or you are drawing a lot from the cylinder. From health to welding, now theres a swing!

 

[shenion]

A fire extinguisher has a dip tube so it dispenses liquid and the then the liquid evaporates in the reg and freezes it.

Turn the bottle upside down. It will take a bit to empty the dip tube but then the gas will evaporate in the bottle and not freeze the reg.

 

[chunkolini]

Welcome aboard Wilc.
I remember the early days of teaching myself, almost packed it in then suddenly it clicked into place.
Just take time and go wth the flow.
I was in care work, I found it a great release after a stressful day at work to do something real.
Ended up jacking in a twenty year career to pursue what became an obsession. Dont tell wifey about that side of things.

 

[secretsmoker]

Hellooo there.

I can relate to this. Questioning my abilities and feeling like I am not progressing can make it tempting to jack it all in. The thing that keeps me coming back is the release of doing something much more practical than my dayjob and the creative/structural possibilities which will eventually become possible. Try not to be discouraged by the obstacles, as Chunkolini said, eventually you just get into the zone with hand/eye coordination and everything feels like it falls in to place. When things go horribly wrong there is always the grinder...Don't blind yourself though like I nearly did.

Still very much a newbie myself, also did self funded college evening course to learn the basics back end of last year and now teaching myself.

I found the auto darkening mask works well up to a point (admittedly mine is a cheapy one) but when in darker corners I have found myself peering under it so get myself aimed at the right spot before pulling the trigger. Spotlights and incandescent bulbs (and even reflected light) appear to make mine darken which has meant I have had to lose a few lights to avoid annoyance.

Argoshield light from BOC has made welding the thin stuff go much more smoothly and cleanly. I rent PD size bottles from BOC which is probably ideal for most hobbyists (50ish mins continuous welding), although for bigger, ongoing projects I might have been better getting the next size up instead of ghoing for refills every other week!

 

[WilC]

yea thanks for idea mate, its good to do real stuff in my own world after work lol although mrs is moaning about me spending more time in my own world (garage) than with her, been looking at the gas supplies, just cant decide on BOC volks deal or SWG £20 cashback offer.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I use BOC can't be bothered with rent free bottles (for me I have to drive further) with BOC it's right beside my work !

 

[WilC]

luckily for me they all roughly in the same area and thats actually not so lucky for me, life is too short for this but which one should i get lol