I am totally new to welding. My background is in graphic design and painting however i have many ideas involving sculture and ormanental welding, like the garden ormanents and things like that. The problem is i have no idea where to start and any advice can get will be invaluable, like what materials are best to work with and what kind of kit to use, prices, and anying else. Any thoughts??
- Thread starter mbaister
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Huge question.
Of all the equipment out there, oxy acetylene will probably give you the most scope. You can weld with it, braze with it, melt things with it, cut with it, anneal with it. But the skillset is fairly high and it'd not be a great choice for working in stainless or titanium or thicker materials.
What kind of projects do you have in mind? Scale, materials, etc.?
Of all the equipment out there, oxy acetylene will probably give you the most scope. You can weld with it, braze with it, melt things with it, cut with it, anneal with it. But the skillset is fairly high and it'd not be a great choice for working in stainless or titanium or thicker materials.
What kind of projects do you have in mind? Scale, materials, etc.?
More helpfully than i could have imagined! I know its a long shot but if anybody knows of anyone in scotland involved in this kind of thing i'de love to get in touch with them. Im in the process (early stages but it's in motion) of starting a monthly publication for people that make things, simple as that. Could be anyting from construction to knitting, to painting to building bikes. its all fair game. You cant talk about it if you don't know what your talking about, right? So i've got a lot of learning to do...
chunkolini
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Another sculpty type, a great thing to get into.
if posible a short night class is a huge help, or a mate who can weld cracking your knuckles with a ruler when you do it wrong is a great help.
As said a 150amp Mig welder will start you off, it will do up to three mm mild steel with no real problems and let you learn at your own pace.
Definitely mild steel, easy to weld and cheap, especially if you are cheeky enough to chat up people at factories/fab shops for materials/scraps and advice.
I have been humbled at the support I have had from people in industry, I have never had any mouthiness from them , I have been given materials and equipment. It seems there are a lot of folk out there who are sympathetic to the arts, big thanks to all of you.
To start off you need a welder, I started off with oxy/acetylene then bought a Mig which I use mostly, an angle grinder, a big pair of gloves, a vice and a file. Oh! a CD player and a kettle.Then as you flog stuff buy the tools that make life easier.
Your publication sounds a worth idea, there are arts mags (poncy usually), craft mags (awful) is there anything for folk who do 'stuff'? dare I use the noun 'Creatives' I got called this once as though I had a disease. I know an awful lot of people who do stuff, and it is always interesting to read up on what the enemy are doing.
Good luck and keep in touch, I have sent you a PM.
Chunko'.
if posible a short night class is a huge help, or a mate who can weld cracking your knuckles with a ruler when you do it wrong is a great help.
As said a 150amp Mig welder will start you off, it will do up to three mm mild steel with no real problems and let you learn at your own pace.
Definitely mild steel, easy to weld and cheap, especially if you are cheeky enough to chat up people at factories/fab shops for materials/scraps and advice.
I have been humbled at the support I have had from people in industry, I have never had any mouthiness from them , I have been given materials and equipment. It seems there are a lot of folk out there who are sympathetic to the arts, big thanks to all of you.
To start off you need a welder, I started off with oxy/acetylene then bought a Mig which I use mostly, an angle grinder, a big pair of gloves, a vice and a file. Oh! a CD player and a kettle.Then as you flog stuff buy the tools that make life easier.
Your publication sounds a worth idea, there are arts mags (poncy usually), craft mags (awful) is there anything for folk who do 'stuff'? dare I use the noun 'Creatives' I got called this once as though I had a disease. I know an awful lot of people who do stuff, and it is always interesting to read up on what the enemy are doing.
Good luck and keep in touch, I have sent you a PM.
Chunko'.
