welding!!

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Jun 2006, 15:57

have been told by a few people that the best way to learn is to go for it and try. so would this(long ebay link) be any good for a beginner??????

Post by **HarryMann** » 25 Jun 2006, 17:02

Not if you're talking oxy-acetylene, you'd need someone to show you how to set up the pressures and set the flame at least, if not a lot more.

Also. as with anything, saves a lot of self-discovery and angst even with MIG if you have a mentor for a short while when first starting - theres a hundred things to know and 50 of them can be dealt with in a half-hour or so... watch, listen and learn and then get that mask on and have a go, preferably on the bench, with different styles of weld - a lot end up 'sticking' rather than welding the job together... here is a good on-line guide and MIG welding forum, worth spending some time at least reading this... and without doubt a good auto-darkening helmet makes life a lot easier. I have one for sale

MIG welding tutorial and forum

Post by ju » 25 Jun 2006, 17:37

A mate of mine showed me how to weld with a mig in about half an hour. As far as i can tell its pretty straight forward, and after quick tuition was away on my own. The jobs i did can't have been too bad as my van passed it's MOT no problem after the work.

My advice is take time on the preparation and fabrication of panels, making sure they fit really well, and there is good clean metal to weld too. The rest is in the skim filling and spraying, which is my downfall but still made a passable job.

Go for it, have a go or you'll never know

Ju

Post by **Kermit** » 25 Jun 2006, 19:00

I assume you mean MIG welding, it will certainly help if you have some basic tuition on what does what and how to set-up the welder concerning wire feed, current and gas flow (unless you have gasless!)

After that its practice on the bench running welds on a pieces of metal, then butt and fillet welds.

Like the post above says, the cleaner the preparation the better.

Kerr

Post by **dazzzer1** » 25 Jun 2006, 19:33

dave id stear clear of gasless and go for the real deal. youll find the hardest part setting the thing up. once youve got the idea youll be flying mate.

daz

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Jun 2006, 21:37

cheers folks, the one i linked to is a gas one i think! me next door neighbor said he will show me the ropes, and i've been saving some bit to practise with! cheers all!

Post by **Plasticman** » 25 Jun 2006, 21:45

I'll show help you with gas on steel or ally/ mig and even leading up panals if you want???
Mike

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Jun 2006, 21:47

cool! will have to sort it out and bringyour statre too!

Post by **HarryMann** » 25 Jun 2006, 21:54

They're right, gasless is only for those very rare occasional times you er? - um! ah! haven't got gas...
Use CO2, I just can't get on with Argon mix for some reason...

And that tutorial is worth a few minutes, there are videos on there too - and don't forget, you're listening for that sizzling bacon sound - apparently!

Post by **T'Onion** » 27 Jun 2006, 09:05

Dave , check you wessie email
i've sent you a little something ,via yousendit

Post by **MikeB** » 27 Jun 2006, 09:12

IMHO welding is one of those 'practice things', you can have someone show you and that helps a lot, but you need to practice for a while before it all comes together. You can't just read a book and then be good at it on your first try.

As somebody else said, half the art is getting everything setup correctly.

Mike.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 27 Jun 2006, 09:41

Practice practice practice...
I have finally stitched the syncro together and not made too bad a job.. but I reckon my old MIG is tired and has a feed problem.. 1 min its working well and getting a nice clean weld.. next it looks like bird poo...

As said, preperation is everything.. you cant weld rust/paint etc, so cut it away and make bits to fit.. dont try and weld the whole thing in at once.. tack it here and there and then fill in where needed.. VW didnt spot weld a lot of places more than 2-3 inched apart, so no need to seam weld it all either..

Gas... ok for heavier stuff.. but puts a lot of heat in to panels.. not good..

Post by **Kermit** » 27 Jun 2006, 19:48

I have just replaced my MIG of the last 15 years (BOC Migmaster 130) after suffering wire feed problems for ages..... got a Clarke MIG now, the wire feed roller has an undercut and is serated which helps a lot, the old one just had two plain rollers.

Kerr

Post by **TechtroT25** » 27 Jun 2006, 20:50

Idone a 8 week night class at my local college cost me about £30 went thruogh every type of welding and the last three weeks you could do what type you wanted to do at home well worth it

Post by **HarryMann** » 27 Jun 2006, 22:23

Last 2 posts well worth taking note... courses for horses - er gorses for courses - Ok, go to college for £30

Clarke 155TE MIG, about £175 - very nice feed, don't overtighten the pressure as it is designed to slip if wire jams on job or you get weld back (current too high for feed)

Things like that you learn easier by someone telling you or reading - but the welding itself, yes, you have to do it, and lots of it, under many different sitautions to become fluent at reasonable weld.

Simon,
MOT here now don't like those stitch or spot welds, if its structural (near a load bearing area) then they like to see continuously welded joint. All depends where it is.

Best to spot it in various places first to avoid distortion and then seam weld between the spots, in stages. Also more corrosion proof if its a continuous weld (unless its one of mine

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