good and bad

[lil red]

i just got a welder for a killer deal
275 i paid and lookeed in home chepo and it was over 500

but ,neither me or my dad no how to weld.....
this sucks

 

[dusto2]

if its a mig you can teach yourself easily with a little bit of practice

 

[metalmacguyver]

Weld like crazy, take pics and post them. We can tell you alot from just pictures.

 

[kunar]

yeah, theres nothing bad about the situation at all. just get some scrap and start welding. you will learn a lot just by practicing on your own.

 

[MAKG]

Weld like crazy, take pics and post them. We can tell you alot from just pictures.

Might want to give a few safety tips first.

Like, all electrical welders cause radiation burns (some worse than others), so cover up ALL skin. Slag will burn holes in things (BTDT). You can't see what you're doing before you strike an arc. NEVER look directly at an arc without a helmet (not even to strike one)! Be careful what you weld; some materials will give off toxic vapors (e.g., spring steel). Keep quenching water VERY nearby. Never grab work with gloves; always use a pliers or other holding tool. Slag (and work!) can light things on fire, and you can't see it with your helmet on! So only work in fireproof areas. Never wear anything with pockets unless trapping red hot slag in there sounds like fun.

And so on.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Might want to give a few safety tips first.

Like, all electrical welders cause radiation burns (some worse than others), so cover up ALL skin. Slag will burn holes in things (BTDT). You can't see what you're doing before you strike an arc. NEVER look directly at an arc without a helmet (not even to strike one)! Be careful what you weld; some materials will give off toxic vapors (e.g., spring steel). Keep quenching water VERY nearby. Never grab work with gloves; always use a pliers or other holding tool. Slag (and work!) can light things on fire, and you can't see it with your helmet on! So only work in fireproof areas. Never wear anything with pockets unless trapping red hot slag in there sounds like fun.

And so on.

Good call.



Also, dont wear sneakers. I did and a spark found its way through my shoe, melted through my sock and settled between my pinky and ring toes.


And all in that order of smily faces.


Make sure you wear good leather work boots!

Also, for stuff not to weld, dont weld Zinc coated or Galvanized metals as those fumes are very bad for you.

 

[MAKG]

Oh, and NEVER do this (take a good look at what he's welding):

 

[skippy]

love his jack stands,hell,think i got some in the garage.

 

[MountainRanger]

Oh, and NEVER do this (take a good look at what he's welding):

I never noticed what he was welding til now ha theres one for the darwin awards

 

[Simple_serf]

That's pretty good. I prefer gas welding or brazing....but I think that has alot to do with the fact that I am usually trying to fix cast iron.

 

[MrE_Powers]

where do you live, maybe you can con a ranger station junkie to help jump start you in learning how to use your machine.

 

[Will]

An auto helmet is pretty nice--you can see. Striking the arc is the hard part. Once you get that down the rest is easy. Don't be a girl with the amps--crank it up and then back off after you get comfortable with it. Too little current and you will get discouraged. Get some 1/8" 6011 and set it at 150amps and you will have a good starting point on some 1/4" stock. Back it off until it starts welding.

I love welding.

 

[mkpecor]

all can can do is pick up the stinger and start throughing some slag, every one sucks when they first start, just slow down, you will get it.