Total noob here, never welded before.
I'm thinking about buying a MIG welder and having a go at welding. I'd like to eventually build custom bikes like choppers and stuff from round tubing, square section and bits of old bikes.
I only have a standard size single car garage, although it is quite wide (about 11'x18') I already have quite a bit of stuff in there including about 7 bicycles and 2 tricycles, a ~10' workbench made from old kitchen cabinets and wooden shelving along alot of the walls with various junk on them such as tins of paint, tools, bike bits etc.
I was just wondering, what kind of space is needed around the welding area? How much space should I leave between the weld area and my bicycles (some are worth several thousand and thus I don't want molten metal on them). Could I get somekind of curtain to separate the weld area from the rest of the garage? Also what kind of ventilation would be needed for welding standard mild steel, I have two small opening windows, about 1x3 feet and the garage door but the bicycles and shelving are at the door end of the garage so I would preferably like to weld at the other end.
What kind of surface is good for welding on? Would a wooden bench with concrete paving slabs on top be suitable to weld on?
Just making a shopping list, items currently on list:
Welder (looking at this http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/135te-turbo-mig-welder Any good?)
gauntlets
Sutible overalls
A decent mask (throw away the one which comes with welder)
CO2 Fire extinguisher
Thanks
I'm thinking about buying a MIG welder and having a go at welding. I'd like to eventually build custom bikes like choppers and stuff from round tubing, square section and bits of old bikes.
I only have a standard size single car garage, although it is quite wide (about 11'x18') I already have quite a bit of stuff in there including about 7 bicycles and 2 tricycles, a ~10' workbench made from old kitchen cabinets and wooden shelving along alot of the walls with various junk on them such as tins of paint, tools, bike bits etc.
I was just wondering, what kind of space is needed around the welding area? How much space should I leave between the weld area and my bicycles (some are worth several thousand and thus I don't want molten metal on them). Could I get somekind of curtain to separate the weld area from the rest of the garage? Also what kind of ventilation would be needed for welding standard mild steel, I have two small opening windows, about 1x3 feet and the garage door but the bicycles and shelving are at the door end of the garage so I would preferably like to weld at the other end.
What kind of surface is good for welding on? Would a wooden bench with concrete paving slabs on top be suitable to weld on?
Just making a shopping list, items currently on list:
Welder (looking at this http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/135te-turbo-mig-welder Any good?)
gauntlets
Sutible overalls
A decent mask (throw away the one which comes with welder)
CO2 Fire extinguisher
Thanks
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