Walker570 Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 Get an old bedstead, lots of angle iron on them to play with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 And all that is why I made work buy me a MIG! I use a mig for most of my welding but I still weld drawbar eyes on agricultural trailers with a 250amp oil cooled stick welder and 4mm rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 I use a mig for most of my welding but I still weld drawbar eyes on agricultural trailers with a 250amp oil cooled stick welder and 4mm rods.Most of my welding work is repairing/replacing/strengthening bits of equipment that the heathens I work with have bent/twisted/buckled or broken. (For example hitting a concrete lamp post with a set of chain harrows at 30kph). We have a guy come in for any major structural stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 hello, that looks ok some good reviews, should do up to 5 mil plate and small welding jobs, mine is a 160 amp just gives that bit extra capacity to 8 ml hello, have you made a start welding?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 hello, have you made a start welding?? Morning! I have had a go on some flat bar, playing with the ampage and speeds first line came out alright, then I got sloppy for a while and managed to come back to a half decent bead for the last try before the Mrs came home and told me to stop slacking and finish putting fence up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Morning! I have had a go on some flat bar, playing with the ampage and speeds first line came out alright, then I got sloppy for a while and managed to come back to a half decent bead for the last try before the Mrs came home and told me to stop slacking and finish putting fence up hello, they say practice makes perfect, another tip is sound, if you have the correct amp ? hope the fence went ok to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Morning! I have had a go on some flat bar, playing with the ampage and speeds first line came out alright, then I got sloppy for a while and managed to come back to a half decent bead for the last try before the Mrs came home and told me to stop slacking and finish putting fence up your welder ...is it ac ...or dc...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) Its been a right pain with the fencing lark. I fenced one side of our garden then the neighbours baught fence for there side of our garden... Fitted by me, then off I went doing my grandads (legal tender made this job easier) and finally back home to fence the back of our garden. And then there was the trampoline :( what a pain they are to put up. Ill try and upload some pictures on another thread if anyone is interested? Edited July 9, 2017 by lopylui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Box iron is cheap enough Try your local engineering places, just dress smart as we hate visitors looking for scrap 😡 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 your welder ...is it ac ...or dc...? Ac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Ac cheers.....its just some rods like to be burnt dc + -..........it will say on the pack...........let us know how you get on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 cheers.....its just some rods like to be burnt dc + -..........it will say on the pack...........let us know how you get on... You told me something I didn't know Ditchman,well done for tbzt scrap of info. Can you tell me why.??. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 You told me something I didn't know Ditchman,well done for tbzt scrap of info. Can you tell me why.??. its to do with the ammount of heat that goes into the metal or the rod......if you are welding a root for example ...you will be welding it with a 2.5mm rod and on negartive electrode...that way round 2/3 of the heat will go into the metal and 1/3 into the rod....then fill and cap with electrode positive some rods like a low heat ie you will burn them on negertive polarity....it will tell you on the pack with the other info...fracture strenght....position etc..... on an AC set....you are stuffed.....its fine tho' just have to adapt your technique....DC sets you can have in certain situations more control and have the ability to use specialist rods.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 If you are in leeds anytime soon i have a fair bit of scrap angle and tons of box if you want some to play with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 If you are in leeds anytime soon i have a fair bit of scrap angle and tons of box if you want some to play with. Thanks for the heads up. Ill have to see if my old man is working over your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Ditchman, I would have liked an ac/dc setup but fir now as a home gamer and on a low budget ill have to take the challenge of ac hopefully ill be able to get some work in the engineering trade, maybe along the lines of trainee machinist then many many power tools will be bought... And something to keep the Mrs quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 your welder ...is it ac ...or dc...? ditchman which one gives you the best belt in the rain, i have forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 ditchman which one gives you the best belt in the rain, i have forgotten. dc always makes me jump....it has a bigger ocv...anyway my set has ... Ditchman, I would have liked an ac/dc setup but fir now as a home gamer and on a low budget ill have to take the challenge of ac hopefully ill be able to get some work in the engineering trade, maybe along the lines of trainee machinist then many many power tools will be bought... And something to keep the Mrs quiet nothing wrong with AC...dont think you will have "polarity" issues with it so much as DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) So a friend of mine came round for a few hour so I cracked out the new toy. So as both new to welding stick we had a friendly competition. We both had a practice on some flat bar and then I joined two pieces together and asked him to try and match my joint along the rest of the piece and heres what happened... Im on the left, hes on the right. Edited July 12, 2017 by lopylui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 So a friend of mine came round for a few hour so I cracked out the new toy. So as both new to welding stick we had a friendly competition. We both had a practice on some flat bar and then I joined two pieces together and asked him to try and match my joint along the rest of the piece and heres what happened... <img src="https://image.ibb.co/hNX6QF/DSC_0064.jpg"alt="DSC_0064" border="0"> Try leaving a gap nearly the width of your rod bud, see how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) YOU'VE GOT THE SHAKES........get your face closer to the weld and use 2 hands left one underneath the rod supporting it...right hand pushing the rod at an angle of 45deg's.... try that i think you are using an "electric" helmet..............i used to have one of those but dumped it....try using the old fashoined ....flip down helmet.....then you can see with wonderful clarity what is happening as the weld pool forms and how it alterers shape and what the optimun shape should be....the weld pool should be less oval than an egg......the old fashoned helmets are difficult to use at first....but after you have learnt to adjust the clutch ......you will find out how much more you can see...and you will learn with your eyes............. Edited July 12, 2017 by ditchman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 If I catch a minute tomorrow ill get some more practice in. Iv got two helmets at the mo an auto darkening or "electric" to quote ditchman and a cheapo one that is handheld. At the moment the hardest part is striking the arc. My weld on the left of the above picture may not be pretty but its held up against a few whacks with the lump hammer so I dare say im proud of it haha. Cant say much for my buddys effort but at least it makes my weld look better haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 Have a watch on youtube there are loads of good tutorials that will take you through the basics and get you started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopylui Posted July 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 Have a watch on youtube there are loads of good tutorials that will take you through the basics and get you started. I must have watched hours of YouTube content and gained some knowledge from people namely Abom79 and AvE the latter of which is absolutely hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted July 13, 2017 Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) hello, looks like the right side not enough amp and left to slow as getting a build up, la balas right on gap put 2 small off cuts of 16 guage in between angle in vice. it is just a matter of practice and more practice, oh change that earth clamp for a decent one, ? is there any welding courses in your area, ? Edited July 13, 2017 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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