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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Welding for beginners ?
I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I
help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? |
#2
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Welding for beginners ?
In article
..com, Tabby scribeth thus On Oct 31, 6:42*pm, "MrFerrous" wrote: I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? If you've not welded before I'd sugest a wire feed welder. These are so much easier. If you do go with arc, allow a fair bit of time to practice on scrap first. Yes 'tho you'll make a lot of scrap to start with;!... NT -- Tony Sayer |
#3
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Welding for beginners ?
"MrFerrous" wrote in message ... I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? A stick arc welder is difficult to master, though easier when welding thicker metal. A MIG/MAG welder is much easier to use, and if only used occasionally, it's worth considering using no-gas-wire. Both will need the rust remove prior to welding, especially for MIG/MAG. |
#4
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Welding for beginners ?
On 31 Oct, 18:42, "MrFerrous" wrote:
Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? Maybe, as they are cheap. The trouble is that stick welders are only good for thick stuff, whilst it's the thin stuff that rusts out first and needs fixing. Really you want a wire-feed (aka MIG) welder, but that's far more money. For 6mm and over, stick is fine. For 3mm, stick is still fine, but takes a bit more care. For under 3mm, find a MIG. Gibson's "Practical Welding" http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0333609573/codesmiths is a very good tutorial for all the processes. There are things you need to learn, then you need to go and practice. Courses are best (especially as you get hands-on before buying equipment), but self-taught is fine, so long as you are reading a good tutorial (Random fiddling isn't so good). Automatic helmets are wonderful. |
#5
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Welding for beginners ?
On Oct 31, 6:42*pm, "MrFerrous" wrote:
I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? If you've not welded before I'd sugest a wire feed welder. These are so much easier. If you do go with arc, allow a fair bit of time to practice on scrap first. NT |
#6
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Welding for beginners ?
Fredxx formulated on Sunday :
"MrFerrous" wrote in message ... I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? A stick arc welder is difficult to master, though easier when welding thicker metal. I disagree, I found stick welding much easier and you need to be less critical of the result. It is also a much cheaper option for start up. Either way, I would certainly suggest an automatic helmet, especially so for a beginner - it gives massive confidence because it is less of a juggling act. A MIG/MAG welder is much easier to use, and if only used occasionally, it's worth considering using no-gas-wire. Both will need the rust remove prior to welding, especially for MIG/MAG. -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT) (L) http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk |
#7
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Welding for beginners ?
On 31 Oct, 19:29, "Fredxx" wrote:
"MrFerrous" wrote in message ... I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? A stick arc welder is difficult to master, though easier when welding thicker metal. A MIG/MAG welder is much easier to use, and if only used occasionally, it's worth considering using no-gas-wire. Both will need the rust remove prior to welding, especially for MIG/MAG.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - The above is entirely correct. You have to keep your hand in too. As for the field gate, chuck it out & buy new. They are not worth bothering with. |
#8
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Welding for beginners ?
"MrFerrous" wrote in message ... I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? Many years ago I had to employ a Welder quite regularly and and it was expensive so I taught myself to weld. Bought a stick welder. gauntlet gloves , mask, rods, chipping hammer, wire brush and practiced on old bits of metal not attemtping to join anything just laying down a bead. Quickly found you need a chrome apron & hat too. Later on you'll need clamps & magnets. I learn't before the Internet but a good place to get educated is YouTube. Some people cannot weld but most should be able to produce something. Welding is about confidence, working comfortably & doing it in the way that suits you. Some can weld with a fully unsupported rod and roll a fag with the free hand - I can't and often support the rod with my free hand. Learning to strike an arc is the hardest part - you have to master that quickly or you will give up and have burnt fingers from pulling off stuck welding rods. Worst enemy in welding is distortion - you have to learn how heat affects metals and make tack welds to hold things together first. I use an auto dimming helmet which makes the job much easier - I don't weld enough to be really good but I can cope with all the repairs at work and fabricate things like hoppers from thin steel just dabbing to spot weld. I've also got two MIGs but I'm just as happy with stick. YouTube vids http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...c+welding&aq=f Apron http://cpc.farnell.com/weldability/e...=chrome+aopron Helmet http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/shop/helmets.htm |
#9
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Welding for beginners ?
"MrFerrous" wrote in message ... I have a ageing relative who owns a house with a bit of land attached. I help out with general maintenance tasks when I visit, and although I have never welded, it looks to me like a welder would be useful addition to my growing collection of tools. For example: - The steel gate to the field is suffering from localised but deep rust. It might be worthwhile to reinforce it in places before repainting it. - There's a small barn with a steel internal framework. There's localised severe corrosion. The cost of replacement would probably be much higher than the cost of repair. The existing "good" steel is probably at least 3mm thick. The results of my welding attempts don't have to be pretty, just strong and cost-effective. Would one of the temptingly cheap arc welders from Screwfix be a good place to start learning? Might be contrary to other comments .. however best way to learn to weld is with a straight forward electric arc (rod) welder. Don't buy auto-darkening visors or other 'extras' .... use the basic handheld shield, until you know whether welding is for you. Get some off cuts of steel, and practice .... There is a good welding forum on-line .... and they can give you plenty of advice. Fob beginning practice on running fillets along a piece of scrap, (at least 3mm thick) initially with current up about 20% higher than recommended on the dial, this will make striking arc easier ... Start off with touch method, once you can run a horizontal bead and it is even ... reduce current down to correct setting, and practice ... striking arc without sticking rod to material is hardest part to learn. Once you have this sorted you should see even beads , with no undercutting but full penetration ... not just sitting on surface. You can then move on to stitching some pieces together at 90 degree angles ..... and then progress to vertical .... which along with overhead is the hardest to get to grips with. A good tip ... keep rods in a warm dry place, if any doubt put them in oven on low temp for any hour or so .... if flux is even slightly damp it will sputter badly. Don't try welding anything thin until you are really happy with your arc control. |
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