Advice on buying a welder please

[terranosaurusdoug]

I'm not massive on health and safety but I look after my eyes, a pair of safety glasses as well as the welding mask is a good idea apparently, the flux that rises to the top of a weld can POP when the weld is cooling, I value my sight, and I will be fully covered up to protect against UV.

I'm really exited, can't wait to get started, I've spotted some old steel rims in the garage I can practice on, and the fab place down the road has a decent scrap pile for me to pillage

I need an angle grinder actually, I broke mine, I think I'll borrow my mates for a while then invest in a good one :thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

Have a look on screwfix website they do a budget power tool range just can't remember the name. They are a greeny blue colour like makita. Makeitfit put me on to them the warranty is awesome. My angle grinder from them is great.

Also when you need metal have a look at metal supermarket they have branch at the other side of roundabout to ikea. Craig will tell you about them. I've had dirt cheap off cuts paying cash and the metals new so not rusty too.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Have a look on screwfix website they do a budget power tool range just can't remember the name. They are a greeny blue colour like makita. Makeitfit put me on to them the warranty is awesome. My angle grinder from them is great.

Also when you need metal have a look at metal supermarket they have branch at the other side of roundabout to ikea. Craig will tell you about them. I've had dirt cheap off cuts paying cash and the metals new so not rusty too.

Thanks Jim, I'll chase those up, bloody eck it's like christmas eve as a kid :lol can't wait to get started

 

[jims-terrano]

When are you getting one of those solar welding masks with the groovy patterns :thumbs

By the way one of the most useful things that I have found is a plumbers fireproof mat. Small square of black carbon woven material. Put it at the other side of metal you are welding saves sparks flying everywhere when you burn through:doh

 

[rustic]

When are you getting one of those solar welding masks with the groovy patterns :thumbs

By the way one of the most useful things that I have found is a plumbers fireproof mat. Small square of black carbon woven material. Put it at the other side of metal you are welding saves sparks flying everywhere when you burn through:doh

Talking of burn through, didn't someone on here set fire to his truck during welding, it was well underway when the guy realised, it was a write off if I recall.

So what is best fire extinguisher to have to hand? maybe Co2 ?

What good would a hose pipe be?

 

[solarman216]

Was not me but a guy renting my workshop a couple of years ago had a car in for welding and owner locked it and went away with the keys Swifty was well into welding when he noticed fog in the car extinguisher in hand could not get in, by the time he smashed a window the interior was badly damaged, when welding cars I keep a small water spray to hand, sorts most problems including damping vulnerable bits before welding, also have Co2 on hand, never powder, Rick

 

[jims-terrano]

Talking of burn through, didn't someone on here set fire to his truck during welding, it was well underway when the guy realised, it was a write off if I recall.

So what is best fire extinguisher to have to hand? maybe Co2 ?

What good would a hose pipe be?

I remember was it elty or someone else in Derbyshire area?

I always have a hose pipe close by but also a bucket of water with some old rags in.

 

[rustic]

I remember was it elty or someone else in Derbyshire area?

I always have a hose pipe close by but also a bucket of water with some old rags in.

I'm glad I asked the question, long serving welders are prepared but for a newbie...

 

[Thomas61]

Well this went badly wrong for one car welder. One spark on a ignition source was the cause apparently. Nobody seriously hurt I believe but businesses lost.I was in Cowes that day and it literally turned day to night in places.



http://www.islandecho.co.uk/news/large-fire-breaks-out-in-cowes

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Holy cowes, I have two fire extinguishers on my van that I have for work (blow torch for soldering) so I'll have them at the ready!

 

[Fez_uk]

If you can afford it get two angle grinders one with a cutting disc the other with a grinding or sanding disc saves having to swap blades all the time. Not essential but makes life easier.

If you are using flux core don't bother trying thin body work stuff.

 

[rustic]

... If you are using flux core don't bother trying thin body work stuff.

So how good is the gasless wire, I have a mig that came with gasless wire and also a small bottle or two of welding gas plus a regulator, plus std wire.
I don't use the welder much, exhaust bracket cracked, 10 years ago, my gas less wire welded that, and that is still fine, did a couple of exhaust pipe quick fixes over the years, last job, the petrol lawn mower had cracked in a semicircle around the upper casing, a few patches and a bit of filler, sorted that for a season or two... Use that lawnmower for mulching branches and twigs from the holy hedge lol.

I know gas less might be better for work outside if there is a wind, but useless on thin body work, it is also a more expensive way to weld, but heyho... works well enough for my jobs, but I wouldn't weld anything structural.

I tried a stick welder on a mini subframe back in the 70's no training of course.
After 10 minutes it looked like a porcupine, as all I achieved was weld the welding rods to the steel lol...:lol
I think I invented the first plasma cutter, all I succeeded in doing was cutting the metal with blow through rather than actually welding metal to metal lol...:doh

I bought a new sub frame, £25 at the time, if I recall, some new brake pipes... sorted.

 

[Fez_uk]

gasless fluxcore wire just leaves crap behind so you can't start and stop welding in quick bursts to minimise heat on thin stuff as easily. I think it might be a slightly hotter weld too.

It's no way weaker than normal wire, in fact fab shops run fluxcore and gas for certain welds. I believe for strength.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

I think I could run flux core if I wanted, its a gas metal arc welder primarily but eith the correct leads it can do stick and tig and even ally mig welding, I wanted one that was future proof

Imon my way back with it now, good drive back then I hit the A1, looks like I have to queue the next 12 miles

 

[jims-terrano]

I would only use standard mig with gas for bodywork. As said i think gasless is too hot and a brutal for bodywork. I do know some people weld gasless without issues but maybe they have more experience.

Like the idea of two grinders too because that is a ball ache having to change disks.

Right I'm off away driving a minibus up in the dales for the weekend. Might have some signal to check in on the phone but I'm not holding my breath. See ya later guys and good look with the welding.

 

[rustic]

I think I could run flux core if I wanted, its a gas metal arc welder primarily but eith the correct leads it can do stick and tig and even ally mig welding, I wanted one that was future proof

Imon my way back with it now, good drive back then I hit the A1, looks like I have to queue the next 12 miles

Re :- traffic... if you are in the AA, the AA app live, is fairly upto date, we use it a lot when driving home on the M40 saved us a few hours believe me. Also you can see alternative routes, where we could use M6 or M5 usually if M40 slow, generally the others are too...:doh

Safe journey, Friday night has more idiots on the road than most days lol...

Rustic

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Re :- traffic... if you are in the AA, the AA app live, is fairly upto date, we use it a lot when driving home on the M40 saved us a few hours believe me. Also you can see alternative routes, where we could use M6 or M5 usually if M40 slow, generally the others are too...:doh

Safe journey, Friday night has more idiots on the road than most days lol...

Rustic

Used M6, also M5 and A38, there was a lane closed on the four lane section of the M1 due to a small accident, looks like someone didn't check there mirrors :doh but was past that quite quickly. I queued a mile on the M18 upto the turn off for A1, then another mile or so on the A1 then it was stop and start most of the 12 miles to Ferrybridge close to home, ran few errands now at home with some rice from the chinese takeaway

 

[Thomas61]

If you can afford it get two angle grinders one with a cutting disc the other with a grinding or sanding disc saves having to swap blades all the time. Not essential but makes life easier.

If you are using flux core don't bother trying thin body work stuff.

Just been to my local B&Q, they have a range of Mac allister power tools on special at 2 for £34 including a angle grinder. Not too bad with the 2 year guarantee.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Just been to my local B&Q, they have a range of Mac allister power tools on special at 2 for £34 including a angle grinder. Not too bad with the 2 year guarantee.

Thanks, I'll go have a looksee, I got one from Screwfix but I could do with a third to leave on the van for work!!