Total newbie looking to dip my toes and haven't a clue where to start

[fireworkmaster]

Hi all I'm looking to get into trouble gluing some metal together , total DIY stuff , plant hanger pot stand that sort of stuff thinest material would be 1.6mm mild steel uobto 3mm angle , box section .
Can't see me needing to stick anything thicker together as a general pleb.
I used an arc welder 20 years back making frames for mortar tubes
(Fireworks) and after a fair bit of fettling managed to produce some good welds that are still going strong to this day.
however no longer have access to that welder ( shed got torched by lightning hit ).

I'm totally at a loss where to start and what machine , I would ideally like gasless mig I think with ability to arc but often a machine that does many dose none well.
If anyone can point me in the right direction, budget is tight couple hundred ish plus extra for a decent auto darkening hat ( hand held face shield is something I never want to use again.
Sorry if I'm rambling just trying to give as much info as I can.
Kind regards
Merlyburl

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

While I don't have an outright suggestion on a machine for you i do have some advice to offer, first do not buy a gasless mig, buy a gas mig that has switchable polarity so that you can do both gas and gasless mig welding with it, and while you are at it I would also suggest getting something that is also capable of MMA welding, this way you get 3 welding processes in one machine.

 

[bourbon]

Welcome. where are you based? I used to fire fireworks years ago.

 

[fireworkmaster]

Welcome. where are you based? I used to fire fireworks years ago.

At the time Sussex/Kent rye bonfire / wadhurst / winchelsea bonfire society shows were out babies

 

[fireworkmaster]

While I don't have an outright suggestion on a machine for you i do have some advice to offer, first do not buy a gasless mig, buy a gas mig that has switchable polarity so that you can do both gas and gasless mig welding with it, and while you are at it I would also suggest getting something that is also capable of MMA welding, this way you get 3 welding processes in one machine.

Assuming that's mig , tig , arc.
Unsure about gas tbh never dealt with anything like that , will look into the costs cheers

 

[caprinut]

Everything depends on what you want to do, let the forum know?, car panels require different treatment to larger thicknesses for example.

Bert

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Welcome aboard . Keep in mind the PPE you'll need, plus a decent auto-darkening helmet. Tbh, your budget looks a bit low to a full [decent] kit.

Read the various Tutorials [green buttons at the top of the page - they're a good starting point. Also keep an eye on the 'For Sale' section which can include links to machines on sites like FB/G'tree etc in addition to postings by Members here.

It's great fun gluing metal together, many on here [like me] are self taught with help from the Collective here, a very helpful/friendly bunch skilled in many walks of life.

 

[addjunkie]

Two big factors…..how much budget do you have, and what do you want to achieve in a couple of years time!

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

Assuming that's mig , tig , arc.
Unsure about gas tbh never dealt with anything like that , will look into the costs cheers

Actually, yes but mostly no. I was counting MIG and Gasless as 2 different processes, with the 3rd being MMA, however that said, you can do DC TIG welding (scratch start) on many inverter based MMA welders using a TIG torch with a built in valve.
A true multi process machine (that does MIG, Gasless, MMA and real high frequency start TIG) would be significantly over budget.

 

[fireworkmaster]

Welcome aboard . Keep in mind the PPE you'll need, plus a decent auto-darkening helmet. Tbh, your budget looks a bit low to a full [decent] kit.

Read the various Tutorials [green buttons at the top of the page - they're a good starting point. Also keep an eye on the 'For Sale' section which can include links to machines on sites like FB/G'tree etc in addition to postings by Members here.

It's great fun gluing metal together, many on here [like me] are self taught with help from the Collective here, a very helpful/friendly bunch skilled in many walks of life.

If I'm a good boy I could probably muster £450 - 500 all in

 

[fireworkmaster]

Two big factors…..how much budget do you have, and what do you want to achieve in a couple of years time!

Body is totally nadgered from a very severe accident when I was 15 , 18 months in hospital and 9 major ops.
Frankly I'll be happy if I can make a nice metal multi tiered plant stand , trivet , generally tinkering stuff.
Can't bend well and if I get on the deck I need winching back up lol.
I guess mig and Tig have caught my eye as they tend to look prettier than arc and seem more versatile.
Can't see me using much more than mild steel , maybe a bit of stainless bolts an sutch like.
I wouldn't mind eventually having a bash at making some lamp stands , got to get the gluing and cutting straight down first.

 

[fireworkmaster]

Actually, yes but mostly no. I was counting MIG and Gasless as 2 different processes, with the 3rd being MMA, however that said, you can do DC TIG welding (scratch start) on many inverter based MMA welders using a TIG torch with a built in valve.
A true multi process machine (that does MIG, Gasless, MMA and real high frequency start TIG) would be significantly over budget.

Ahh I have a lot of reading to do thank you

 

[fireworkmaster]

Welcome aboard . Keep in mind the PPE you'll need, plus a decent auto-darkening helmet. Tbh, your budget looks a bit low to a full [decent] kit.

Read the various Tutorials [green buttons at the top of the page - they're a good starting point. Also keep an eye on the 'For Sale' section which can include links to machines on sites like FB/G'tree etc in addition to postings by Members here.

It's great fun gluing metal together, many on here [like me] are self taught with help from the Collective here, a very helpful/friendly bunch skilled in many walks of life.

Cheers will have a good read of the tutorials

 

[addjunkie]

You budget, is quite restrictive if you want new and half decent, especially if that figure includes all the mask etc too. Adding in non rent gas, which gives the nicest welds bumps the total up a bit too.

Id suggest something from the clarke range would do what you need, and have a shop to take it back too if it goes oete tong, rather than ebay/ amazon. Most seem to be non gas with the ability to convert to gas later, and would come in to your budget. Bin the free mask and buy an auto one.