first time welder

[S!K TEG]

I just bought a welder and here are my practice.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l558/Em4119/IMG_20121208_143738.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l558/Em4119/IMG_20121208_143724.jpg

Any tips?

[91Crx-SiR]

What type of welder? Wire thickness? Amps?

[ugp-crx]

first picture, mabye a little more hotter and dont go so fast. youtube mig welding there is TONS of how to videos on different techniques on set up and whatnot

[S!K TEG]

What type of welder? Wire thickness? Amps?

it is a lincoln weld-pak hd, starter spool is 0.35 (0.9mm) NR211-mp flux core wire.

Welding current range: DC output is 35-88amp
Wire Speed Range: no load 0-450 in/min
while welding 0-300 in/ min



from website:
Welds mild steel with a gasless, flux core wire electrode
Welds up to 1/8 in. mild steel
Great for home repair and hobby projects
Plugs into household 115V, 20 amp outlet
35-88 amps output
Cold contactor safety feature keeps welding wire electrically cold until gun trigger is pressed
Compact design is lightweight and portable
MFG Brand Name : Lincoln Electric

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/119/2/AAAAC11MxcsAAAAAARkobA.jpg?v=1293134502000

first picture, mabye a little more hotter and dont go so fast. youtube mig welding there is TONS of how to videos on different techniques on set up and whatnot

i never thought of that, lol.

[failedabortion]

Start here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C33DF0svas&list=PL7D8A6A450496254C

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/Mig-welding-tips.html

Also I wouldn't use any wire bigger than .030" in that machine

If you don't have an auto darkening helmet you can get a hf one for $40 with a coupon, while not the best its a decent cheap starter.

[ibk13]

^ good post above also slow down and take your time looks like you were trying to rush it

[robinsonbarba]

Ill teach u how to weld buddy!! :)

[S!K TEG]

Start here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C33DF0svas&list=PL7D8A6A450496254C

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/Mig-welding-tips.html

Also I wouldn't use any wire bigger than .030" in that machine

If you don't have an auto darkening helmet you can get a hf one for $40 with a coupon, while not the best its a decent cheap starter.

Thanks for the links and heads up on the wire thickness.

I seen those cool, blue flame HF helmets in the newspapers I get. I'm just waiting to one in the mail so I can make a trip and buy a drill wire brush.

^ good post above also slow down and take your time looks like you were trying to rush it

At first I was but today I took my time and it paid off, I'll post pictures later when I'm near my computer.

Ill teach u how to weld buddy!! :)
Promise sweetie?

[S!K TEG]

here are a few more welds i did.

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u580/SIKDESIGN90/IMG_8645.jpg

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u580/SIKDESIGN90/IMG_8646.jpg

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u580/SIKDESIGN90/IMG_8647.jpg

[ibk13]

Third one looks alot better takes practice most people don't realize how hard it really is

[S!K TEG]

Third one looks alot better takes practice most people don't realize how hard it really is

Tell me about it. I thought it will be easy as solder, man was I wrong.

I just need to find out how to tack so I can do my core support.

[ibk13]

Ya ha as far as tacks give it two or three seconds and you should be good

[failedabortion]

Thanks for the links and heads up on the wire thickness.

I seen those cool, blue flame HF helmets in the newspapers I get. I'm just waiting to one in the mail so I can make a trip and buy a drill wire brush.


I think I have a few of the coupons to get them for $40...I always set the ads in a drawer and forget about them. Let me know if you want one.

What do you want the drill wire brush for? I like these for removing paint if thats what you planned to use it for.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/detail/3m-drill-mounted-paint-rust-stripper/0000000038501?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping%2Bsearch&utm_campaign=google%2Bproduct%20search&gclid=COqLo-3okbQCFSPhQgodL20Aww

New pics are looking better, try slowing down some more though.

[S!K TEG]

I think I have a few of the coupons to get them for $40...I always set the ads in a drawer and forget about them. Let me know if you want one.

What do you want the drill wire brush for? I like these for removing paint if thats what you planned to use it for.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/detail/3m-drill-mounted-paint-rust-stripper/0000000038501?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping%2Bsearch&utm_campaign=google%2Bproduct%20search&gclid=COqLo-3okbQCFSPhQgodL20Aww

New pics are looking better, try slowing down some more though.

i'll let you know if i need a coupon if i dont get my HF newspaper

That is what i was talking about, 6.99 isnt bad for that brush. I need that to clean the parts well cause a hand wire brush doesnt do a good job, lol.

when i get more scrap metal (hopfully this weekend) i'll try it by slowing down. I notice alot of poeple do the "e" motion welds but i get two different stories to which way to weld. left to right, right to left then bottom to up instead of up to down. so i'll be trying to make a metal box so i can try all different techniques and see which is better for me.

thanks for all the help guys.

[failedabortion]

My "e"s go right lol but thats more of a comfort preference.

Downhill for thinner metals uphill for thick metals.

position the gun like so
http://www.autocorner.ca/images/welding/fluxwelding.jpg

[Chuck Chainz]

Those vids you posted are pure gold

[S!K TEG]

nice to know about thinner metals are down hill. i'll be doing my core support soon and thats pretty thin.

the vids are good, i keep watching them.

[S!K TEG]

I have been practicing but haven't been taking pictures.

One question I do have is, do I need a different welder for aluminum? Can't I just buy aluminum welding wire?

[S!K TEG]

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p631/SIKDESIGN/IMG_20130110_143043_zpse9c565d9.jpg

Not bad. I still need more practice but I'm running out of metal to use.

[Kahuna]

Nice...if you look at your first welding pics...I'd say you have come along way.

[shelovesmyvtec]

i due side to side but looks good buddy

[advert]

I have been practicing but haven't been taking pictures.

One question I do have is, do I need a different welder for aluminum? Can't I just buy aluminum welding wire?

You can technically.... If you run pure argon. Which you can not do seeing you have a flux core.

Problem is mig won't feed the wire correctly its to soft you need a push pull gun or spool gun.

Most people don't weld aluminum with mig. And if they do for anything that really matters they use a welder like the millermatic 350p.

If you want to do aluminum you need to learn tig

[Koopa Troopa]

if you want to do aluminum you need a ac current machine

fify

[honduh_head]

fify

i don't know of any quality tig machines that aren't ac, so not sure the purpose of your edit.

[Koopa Troopa]

Uh most people on this site can't afford the 2500+ a quality AC/DC machine will cost and it's irresponsible to tell a first time welder that they need a TIG machine to weld aluminum without specifying that you need a machine capable of AC current.

Not to mention I could stick weld aluminum so to assume you can only TIG weld aluminum is ignorant when in reality all you need is AC current and compatible filler metal.

[advert]

lol i never said you have to have tig. it was mearly my opinion that tig is the way to go. i even said in my post you can do it with mig.

[RICK's-TOWING]

I've welded some pretty big structural stuff with a spool gun. However, if you buy a cheap spool gun it's a lot more difficult to achieve good alum. Welds. There's other great options than jumping into a 2500 + dollar machine. Save the money and go pay for some weld lessons and make sure it's something you really wanna do.

[S!K TEG]

Nice...if you look at your first welding pics...I'd say you have come along way.

thx

i due side to side but looks good buddy

thx

You can technically.... If you run pure argon. Which you can not do seeing you have a flux core.

Problem is mig won't feed the wire correctly its to soft you need a push pull gun or spool gun.

Most people don't weld aluminum with mig. And if they do for anything that really matters they use a welder like the millermatic 350p.

If you want to do aluminum you need to learn tig

http://www.dontscrapit.com/Alaska-/Commercial-/Spool-gun-mig-aluminum-profax-miller-lincoln-welding-partpic-2.jpg

something like that?

i don't know of any quality tig machines that aren't ac, so not sure the purpose of your edit.

Uh most people on this site can't afford the 2500+ a quality AC/DC machine will cost and it's irresponsible to tell a first time welder that they need a TIG machine to weld aluminum without specifying that you need a machine capable of AC current.

Not to mention I could stick weld aluminum so to assume you can only TIG weld aluminum is ignorant when in reality all you need is AC current and compatible filler metal.

i knew that a/c was needed to weld alluminium, but i i was told i can weld with my machine aslong as i get a spool that say aluminium wire; then just keep the settings low and speed low and to take my time.

lol i never said you have to have tig. it was mearly my opinion that tig is the way to go. i even said in my post you can do it with mig.

i seen both mig and tig welding aluminium, my uncle has been doing it all his life and his the one that told me, i can do it with my machine but, i just have to get the settings rights.

I had to check due to the fact, he sometimes likes busting my ass on things like that. However, I did check on the internet and found a few that say yes and few that say no, So i thought i would ask here.

I've welded some pretty big structural stuff with a spool gun. However, if you buy a cheap spool gun it's a lot more difficult to achieve good alum. Welds. There's other great options than jumping into a 2500 + dollar machine. Save the money and go pay for some weld lessons and make sure it's something you really wanna do.

i'll see if my uncle has one of those spool guns laying around he would sell me.

Before i went into pharmacy, i was going into welding but classes were a 5-8 month waiting period, which i couldnt wait for at the moment. Now that i have a job, I thought i would be able to pick it up on my own.