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Anyone here a welder?

N

NogginBoink

Diamond Member
I'm preparing to embark on a rather significant construction project, and bought a Lincoln electric arc (stick) welder to build fixtures and jigs.

The thing is, I've never welded before, and after wiring the damn thing up, I'm too yella to try it out. I finally powered the thing on today, but can't bring myself to strike an arc.

How do I get over this (mostly) irrational fear and get to welding stuff? The fact that I can't see a damned thing with that mask on doesn't help.
 
The fact that I can't see a damned thing with that mask on doesn't help.
Click to expand...

Well strike an arc and you will. Best way to learn to weld is to put to pieces of steel side by side, weld a pass to join them together then beat them apart. You will see where you did a good job by doing this. If you can't beat them apart then you did fairly well 😉 If the rod sticks alot turn up the power, if it blows holes turn it down. It should sound like bacon frying when everything is going good. Just practice.

In fact, just do passes on a flat piece to start off, chip off the flux and check it out. That may lower the frustration alot if you can get a arc started and maintained easy enough.
 
I myself am no expert but I have done some welding in the past. Don't be afraid, just find a chunk of scrap metal and go at it. Wear some coveralls because you will likely burn some holes in your clothes. Not being able to see is a pain in the a$$ at first but once you've laid down a few beads you will start to get the feel for it. G'luck.

<---- Wishes he had a Mig welder 🙁
 
just start, run some beads on 1/4" steel, just to get the hang of it.

im too 1337 for arc though, me's got a MIG 😀
 
Originally posted by: d33pt
get a welding mask that automatically dims once you strike the arc... makes it alot easier..
Click to expand...

yes those are quite cool! My dad has a MIG welder and a plasma cutter, so when I visit I can cut your car in half and weld it back together for you 🙂
 
Take the butane lighter out of your pants before you start. My old welding instructor made a point on this... he said having a small bomb go off right next to the family jewels will ruin your whole day.
 
Never use a mask, it can prevent you from going blind! Strike the arc, it will be extremely bright but look at it for a second or 3 and you will have x-ray vision. Make note to touch it, too.
 
Originally posted by: d33pt
get a welding mask that automatically dims once you strike the arc... makes it alot easier..
Click to expand...

Working on that. Got one on Ebay, it's on the way. 🙂

Well, I went out to the garage and at least made some sparks. So I'm over the "big" hump. Not being able to see to strike the arc is the hardest part, mentally. I'll get out there some more and practice. Now that I know I'm not facing Instant Death (tm) trying this it's a lot easier. Taking that first step, as always, is the hardest part.

(You shoulda seen me anguish over turning on a 50 amp 240 volt breaker I'd installed. I'm such a chickensh*t.)
 

You might consider taking a welding class. The community college here has a welding class
that is actually pretty good.

Welding isn't hard, but you wont become a good welder overnight.

Plus there are somethings that you need to know, such as welding
galvanized aluminum can be toxic. (if i remember right)

I haven't welded in a long time and have forgotten quite a bit
about it, but I would strongly recommend a class.


DD
 
I can weld stick or mig but it isn't exactly pretty looking, just gets the job done. Stick is something you really have to get used to, keep practicing.
 
Years ago I took a 15 hour welding course. It was held at the local vocational school, you might want to see if any are available where you live.

We had to use a really cheap welding rod for nearly the entire course. I think the number on them was 6011, stuff really looked awful. Nasty looking beads.. Made you think welding was the toughest thing in the world to master.

Last night of class the instructor gets out this other type of welding rod. I think it was 7018. What a difference! Much nicer beads, almost professional grade.

If you want to learn you probably ought to find a book on the subject. Something that will tell you the correct voltages and type of rod to use.
 
I'd love to take a welding class, or at least get some welding instruction!

The local community college has degree plans in welding, but that's a little more than I want. Also, I'm working 40 hours a week, taking 9 hours of graduate coursework, and trying to spend enough time with the girlfriend that she'll want to be my wife.

What I really need to do is find someone who knows how to weld and pay that person to spend 30-45 minutes with me one-on-one.
 
You must practice practice practice to become good at welding. When I was in middle school, I took a shop class that had welding. That was my first experence with welding. We spot welded and gas welded. very fun. Honestly, the spot welder scared the crap out of me, because I thought if my hand ended up between the 2 electrodes and I steped down on the activation switch, I would blow a hole in my hand.

Stick welding is nto that bad. it gets fun. But a self-dimming welding helm is deffinately something you want to get.
 
Originally posted by: NogginBoink
I'd love to take a welding class, or at least get some welding instruction!

The local community college has degree plans in welding, but that's a little more than I want. Also, I'm working 40 hours a week, taking 9 hours of graduate coursework, and trying to spend enough time with the girlfriend that she'll want to be my wife.

What I really need to do is find someone who knows how to weld and pay that person to spend 30-45 minutes with me one-on-one.
Click to expand...

Where ya live?
 
(You shoulda seen me anguish over turning on a 50 amp 240 volt breaker I'd installed. I'm such a chickensh*t.)
Click to expand...
LOL, I do that too. You know in Ocean's Eleven, right before Basher triggers the EMP? That's exactly what I look like before I throw the switch on any new electrical project 😀

You don't have to weld stuff together at first, just practice making a bead on some 1/4" steel plate scraps. The self-dimming welding helmet will make you VERY happy, no person welding should be without one.

If you don't have them, leather gauntlets are very nice as well.

Also, if you have any outside pets (dogs especially) you might want to corral them where they can't watch you. Dogs won't always look away from the arc.
 
Originally posted by: MrBond
(You shoulda seen me anguish over turning on a 50 amp 240 volt breaker I'd installed. I'm such a chickensh*t.)
Click to expand...
LOL, I do that too. You know in Ocean's Eleven, right before Basher triggers the EMP? That's exactly what I look like before I throw the switch on any new electrical project 😀

You don't have to weld stuff together at first, just practice making a bead on some 1/4" steel plate scraps. The self-dimming welding helmet will make you VERY happy, no person welding should be without one.

If you don't have them, leather gauntlets are very nice as well.

Also, if you have any outside pets (dogs especially) you might want to corral them where they can't watch you. Dogs won't always look away from the arc.
Click to expand...

Speaking of which, I have done inadvertant welding on some electrical projects of mine 😀
 
Well, I successfully maintained an arc. I was using 90 amps AC on 1/4 inch plate with 6011 stick.

The end result? I can't find a 'bead,' per se, but I can find a whole lot of splatter. I think that I kept my gap too big, no? And perhaps I need more juice?

Time to get back to the welding books. I'll get back with you when I have more to report.

Oh yeah, and I successfully stuck the rod to the piece being welded. But that's to be expected of a beginner, no?

Evadman: I live in Dallas, Texas area.
 
Originally posted by: L vis
Years ago I took a 15 hour welding course. It was held at the local vocational school, you might want to see if any are available where you live.

We had to use a really cheap welding rod for nearly the entire course. I think the number on them was 6011, stuff really looked awful. Nasty looking beads.. Made you think welding was the toughest thing in the world to master.

Last night of class the instructor gets out this other type of welding rod. I think it was 7018. What a difference! Much nicer beads, almost professional grade.

If you want to learn you probably ought to find a book on the subject. Something that will tell you the correct voltages and type of rod to use.
Click to expand...


The 6011's are really not much cheaper then any other rod I have seen. I think they are just really good starter sticks and easy to find. Also some of the 70XX's get very hot so its not to good to try them on thinner metal, I found that out the hard way.

I just got some 6011's 1/8 inch to do some welding in my 75 Monza. The floor pan needs some new metal so I don't care what it looks like, as long as the holes are gone.

Anybody got a say on what rods are good for what and also does the thickness make a Diff. in heat or so???

 
Originally posted by: d33pt
get a welding mask that automatically dims once you strike the arc... makes it alot easier..
Click to expand...

Agreed but they are not cheap...I use one when I helioarc weld.


Ausm
 
LMAO!

It is a bit strange to play with electricity that arcs and melts metal, but its really fun. The best way to do it the first time (I am assuming you have SOME idea how it works...) is to have your EYE PROTECTION on, and just drag the stick across the grounded metal rather quickly. It will arc a little, then do it again a bit slower, and then slower, etc. After a few passes you will go slow enough to sustain a good arc and start to melt the metal.

It may stick!! Don't freak, just twist the rod until it breaks free or squeeze the handle and release the rod. It happens a lot, no big deal.

The other thing I am going to reccomend, before you learn the hard way, is to cover up. Arc welding creates light that will give you a sunburn, no kidding. Make sure all your skin is covered, and if you don't believe me, just try it a couple times, LOL.
 
The other thing I am going to reccomend, before you learn the hard way, is to cover up. Arc welding creates light that will give you a sunburn, no kidding. Make sure all your skin is covered, and if you don't believe me, just try it a couple times, LOL.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah! I was going to mention that, because it's something I never read anywhere. Wear an OLD long sleeved shirt. Otherwise you'll end up with strange sunburn patterns. As you've noticed, the sparks do fly, so an old shirt is key, don't want to ruin your suit jacket 😉
 
Originally posted by: MrBond
The other thing I am going to reccomend, before you learn the hard way, is to cover up. Arc welding creates light that will give you a sunburn, no kidding. Make sure all your skin is covered, and if you don't believe me, just try it a couple times, LOL.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah! I was going to mention that, because it's something I never read anywhere. Wear an OLD long sleeved shirt. Otherwise you'll end up with strange sunburn patterns. As you've noticed, the sparks do fly, so an old shirt is key, don't want to ruin your suit jacket 😉
Click to expand...
For some reason I find it funny that MrBond is talking about welding, LOL. (bond=weld for those of you without your ritalin 😉 )
 
So what rods are good for thin metal and will not eat it up. Had some 7014's but they just ate right through the metal I was playing with. Got soem thicker 6011's (1/8inch) haven't tried them out yet. Don't really care what it looks like, I will grind it down to make it clean and then paint it and put carpet over it.

Trying to put some new metal in my Monza (car) floorboard
 
I've been welding professionally for 12 years.
An inexpensive MIG welder would have been a better choice.
Learning to stick weld takes more time beacuse of the compond move you have to make while doing the weld. Feeding the stick into the weld at a constant rate and traveling the length of the seam at the same time. Wire (MIG) welding takes one of those variables out.
You can be a pretty decent MIG welder in about a months time. Just think SMOOTH.
As for helmets I'm not sold on the new "electronic" types. Just do the math, the speed of light over a distance of 2 or 3 feet, the switching time of the LCD can't be fast enough to block it all.
 
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