Starting to weld - questions

[wikkid]

I have never welded anything, but I would like to get started and learn how, so I can attack a more intense level of bodywork restoration - thinking down the line, as my '84 does not need it. Were does a guy start? Just buy a basic unit from Harbor Freight (or should I try to find a better unit right from the start? TIG, MIG, torch?...), get a book, watch some how-to tutorials, and build up some practice before attacking a car? It seems a lot of the fun stuff that's on my wannado list involves cutting and welding bits of metal together. What do you all suggest (by the way, what better place to ask about welding than a Fiat forum LOL !)

[131]

Get a Mig, not gasless. It takes quite a while to develop the skills to weld thin steel sheet together. Surfaces have to be clean, any rust, paint, oil etc will stuff you around. It takes a lot more time to prepare surfaces for welding than it does to actually do the welding. There are lots of good turorials on youtube, you can "hear" when everything is setup right when welding with a mig.

[htchevyii]

I'd reccomend a Hobart or Lincoln MIG with gas. Local junior college or adult ed classes are sometimes offered.

[124ADDHE]

Practise practise practise....Work on 1/8 steel first, get a feel for it. You can fix blowthroughs and all that, just remember, the thinner the steel, the less heat it can dissipate ,so, do little stitch welds and fill in the spaces after, this prevents warping and blowthroughs.

Welding is a great skill to have, as mentioned, look online for techniques and just go get dirrty with some practise.

P.S. I cannot recommend enough one of the auto-darkening masks for a beginner, they can really change your game.

[baltobernie]

I went with this HF model http://www.harborfreight.com/120-amp-23 ... 97503.html and one of their auto-darkening helmets. HF has some less-expensive units, too.

Pros: inexpensive, powerful enough to weld Spider floor pans, seat rails and bulkhead.
Cons: lots of spatter with flux-core wire, not pretty beads. short power cord and no plug. only 4 discreet power settings, not variable control

But I was able to restore my car, including frenching the side marker lights and fabbing bumper brackets, without ever touching a welder before. I did burn a lot more wire and used many more grinding wheels than an experienced welder with a $700 machine would.

Get some sheet metal (not zinc galvanized - toxic) and practice. Plenty of tips on You Tube.

I would have loved to take a class, but nothing available except "certificate" classes with $thousands fees.

[maytag]

I have a very old Hobart Handler. I bought it in '86... that's how old I am. The Hanlder is a basic gas / wire-feed mig. very handy unit.

After embarrassing myself burning holes in ROOK's floorpans, I spent some $$ replacing some consumables on it. I've replaced the jacket (again) and the the gun, because tips were no longer available (it seems Lincoln has acquired Hobart?)

It welds just about anything you could need to weld on the fiat.

So my recommendation? whatever you get, make sure you can buy parts for it. a H?F model may seem interesting because of the price point.... but if you can't keep it working, then you'll be sorry.

And I'd second the motion to go find a conti9nuing education class at your local high-school or community college.

[124ADDHE]

Good point baltobernie, my first wirefeed was a flux-core and I still have it for the simplicity, hell, I can carry it in the fiat; sure the welds are messy but you can weld sheet metal and even weld with a invertor and car battery hooked up because its only 120V. up here you can get a flux-core welder for 150-250 depending on the options.

[WYSpider]

Pretty interesting thread. I would like to get into welding.

[manoa matt]

3X on the flux core. Best for beginners, ease of use, and no costly gas. For a beginner controlling the voltage, wire speed, tip angle, tip distance, and tip speed is hard enough without worrying about actuating a pedal to start and stop the gas.

If your welds are messy there is something else going on, you can achieve gas mig results with flux core wire. Excessive splatter may be caused by a poor ground, unclean base metal, or higher than required heat setting. However the quality of welding wire is also important. If you are using HF welding wire throw it out and buy some Lincoln wire.

I've done some ultrasonic inspection of welds, and from talking with experts at my company, flux core welds are just as strong as gas mig welds.

Flux core welding does give off some smoke and fumes. Watch out for the fumes. Proper protection equipment is essential with any welding process. The auto darkening helmet will greatly help a beginner learn as starting the weld is one of the hardest parts to master.

You can make some sleeve/arm protectors from an old pair of denim pants with tapered legs. Just cut the legs off and tie a 18" piece of string between them at the cut ends. Put your arms in and flop the string over your head just like little kid mittens on a string.

Stop by your local high school or college art/shop department and rummage through the dumpster. You will find plenty of misc bars, angles, plates, and such to practice on or use.

[htchevyii]

Maybe it's just me, but I get far less splatter with shielding gas than flux core wire. I'd reccomend getting a welder that can at least be upgraded later. I did get by for several years with an old HF MIG that was actually made in ITALY. Flux core works fine, just makes a bit more of a mess around the welds and is actually better if welding in a windy area. I found a product called Nozzle Dip keeps most of the spatter from sticking, info on it and other welding info here:
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/co ... p-Question

I've never heard of a foot pedal for gas? All I've seen do it automaticly when you pull the trigger. Are you thinking ot a TIG, were the pedal controls the amperage?

[ronarthur]

They also make a spray can of anti-splatter to spray on the area that you are welding to prevent splatter from sticking. Once you are done welding, you take a putty knife and scrap off the splatter.