OT: Any of you guys weld?

[BoulderFish]

I'd like to pick up the skill because I like to build stuff, and while I have plenty of room to grow from a quality perspective with woodworking, I'd really like to open up the possibilities and add the ability to integrate metal.

Two thing come to mind where I would like to employ welding: Furniture (ie wood/metal table), and the railing/banister/whatever in the house I'm building.

So, knowing that, what kind of welding and welding equipment should I be looking at? I've done a decent amount of soldering (copper), and I've heard that some welding has some similarities with that.

Any/all thoughts and feedback appreciated!

 

[fairgambit]

I don't Weld, but if I did it would only be on Tuesday.

 

[Hotshoe]

I weld a good amount. For what you're wanting, a wire welder will work well. A good unit is the Lincoln 140 available at Lowes. Tractor Supply has a good one in the same size by Hobart.

 

[herrli]

Since it is another board I will respond , what are you welding? I have a big Miler 3 phase wire welder I don't know the model but been using for years. I have used the small 110 volt models. They are OK the thinner the metal the harder it is to weld. I bought mine used and guessing you don't want to spend 3k? Don't buy any wire welder that doesn't use gas to weld . I have a friend who is a steel sculptor that has been welding for 40+ yrs and teaches at a local college. He got me my Miller and says the gasless is a mess. Woodworking ? Been doing that forever , My grandpa ran a sawmill been around tools and lumber all my life. Funny when you talk to someone and politics arent involved?

 

[HazletonLion]

I was a master welder for 40 years, just retired. I'll try and help you out.

First, welding furniture is a breeze with a MIG welder, you need the gas though, i don't advise flux core wires due to the occurrence of porosity most welding , supply shops, like Airco, Boc etc .will supply your needs as far as Gas & Wire known in the business as consumables. With a MIG you can weld stainless, and mild steel, you can buy an inverter type 120 volts will handle most residential uses. Going into Aluminum requires AC current then you need more juice 240 volts. Hey equipment changes often so i don't know what improvements they've made.

Stick welding old school stuff takes practice, practice, is a good all position fix , but requires much skill out of the flat position.

If you can solder you can gas weld with practice, you would need Oxy - Acetylene and gas torches, you can also cut steel with this set up. Filler rods and Flux as in soldering varies from metal to metal, again check with a welding supplier.

The last phase is TIG welding, stands for Tungsten Inert Gas, if you can gas weld proficiently you're ready for TIG. This was my wheel house, where i made my $$$. Great for welding nearly all metals especially thin gauge, i used bars of copper on the back side of my welds for purity.

I'll give you a couple tips ,collect as much metal as you can any shape or form. I repair my own railings around the house, i have a good set up though MIG - TIG plus Oxy - Acetylene. Fabricating furniture is a great idea , you can any shape or form, your can create a lawn bear, lawn or porch bench, or Nittany Lion. Once someone knows you have a welder you'll be in need

Use safety equipment good leather gloves, safety glasses, and don't wear synthetic clothing, wear jeans & a welding jacket about $25. I know it sounds silly but invest in welding masks, some metals are painted , and coated, or oily remove it by grinding before welding.Chromes & Galvanized metals are toxic.

I hope i answered at least some of your questions. BTW you can always take a night course at a local Vocational School, that' my recommendation. If you need any other questions answered post here or if i can give you my E - mail.

 

[herrli]

Practice practice practice! And stick welding is a good way to learn some stuff. It isnt as easy to do as it seems!

 

[BoulderFish]

Since it is another board I will respond , what are you welding?

...
Two thing come to mind where I would like to employ welding: Furniture (ie wood/metal table), and the railing/banister/whatever in the house I'm building.
...

 

[HazletonLion]

Mig welding with gas tanks, the small gas tanks can go on the back of a portable cart, the gas gives you a shield as you weld the cleaner the surface the better the weld. It easy to learn and any welding lumps can be ground off.
Gases come in a tri - mix, or 75/25 , mig welding is not difficult to pick upl

 

[BoulderFish]

Mig welding with gas tanks, the small gas tanks can go on the back of a portable cart, the gas gives you a shield as you weld the cleaner the surface the better the weld. It easy to learn and any welding lumps can be ground off.
Gases come in a tri - mix, or 75/25 , mig welding is not difficult to pick upl

Thanks for the awesomely comprehensive feedback, Hazelton (And herrli). I'm super excited now to get started. Poster Hotshoe at the top recommended this unit (Link to Lincoln 140) -- Does this check all the check boxes you suggest (to get started)?

 

[herrli]

Thanks for the awesomely comprehensive feedback, Hazelton (And herrli). I'm super excited now to get started. Poster Hotshoe at the top recommended this unit (Link to Lincoln 140) -- Does this check all the check boxes you suggest (to get started)?

Don't forget the helmet, A good auto dark is important . It is your eyes ! get yourself some scrap and practice , I was trained kind of off the norm and just did it . I had tons of scrap to use. Clean metal is huge with wire vs stick , Learn how to not burn holes but have enough heat to get a good weld. Its not just laying a bead on top its welding it all and melting it all . My own experience stick or wire get it down in there and melt it together . I have helped some friends and they dont no pun stick it in far enough and it just splatters

 

[Ranger Dan]

I’m not sure how soldering and any type of welding are similar... except in that they both are ways to join two pieces of metal together.

Welding is something I also want to do as a hobby. I had some exposure in school, but not enough to do it on my own. I have a buddy with skill and equipment, and we have done stuff together. I keep looking for used equipment at sales, but my buddy says welding equipment is not something you buy at Harbor Freight. Good luck!

 

[HazletonLion]

I’m not sure how soldering and any type of welding are similar... except in that they both are ways to join two pieces of metal together.

Welding is something I also want to do as a hobby. I had some exposure in school, but not enough to do it on my own. I have a buddy with skill and equipment, and we have done stuff together. I keep looking for used equipment at sales, but my buddy says welding equipment is not something you buy at Harbor Freight. Good luck!

In soldering you're heating a copper water pipe for example, the flux or paste is applied to the area, then heat is applied with the torch, when the heat is optimum solder is applied and is drawn into the joint.
In gas welding you heat the area to be welded, the flux can be applied to the rod by dipping it into the flux container, or buying flux coated rods. The skill here is running a continuous bead or weld while maintaining the proper heat, too much heat the weld pops like a firecracker, too little the filler wire won't melt.
The next process is stick welding, the rod already has flux on it, so mostly your dealing with how much current or heat you set your machine at. The hard part is how you maintain hand skills, speed, distance from metal, angle of rod, and weave pattern.
As i explained above MIG & TIG are next. Welding is the process of joining two metals together , soldering is one of them, but it's a beginning process. The skill increases as hand manipulation is required more, MIG welding requires the least amount of hand manipulation and is best for the beginner, and many machines have parameters for speed, and voltage controls on their booklets.

 

[BoulderFish]

I’m not sure how soldering and any type of welding are similar... except in that they both are ways to join two pieces of metal together.

Welding is something I also want to do as a hobby. I had some exposure in school, but not enough to do it on my own. I have a buddy with skill and equipment, and we have done stuff together. I keep looking for used equipment at sales, but my buddy says welding equipment is not something you buy at Harbor Freight. Good luck!

Funny. I've read a decent number of discussions online regarding welding, and almost every time (literally) someone makes a crack at the Harbor Freight welding equipment.

With that said, this seems to get fantastic reviews regarding its quality and operation (the negative reviews seem to be centered around a missing part or the such): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric-120-Volt-140-Amp-Mig-Flux-cored-Wire-Feed-Welder/1072945

I don't know how much $$ the HF welding thingamajig is compared to this, but this seems relatively inexpensive (at least relative to what I thought this equipment costs).

 

[Op2]

Yet another welding thread? Geez, we can't go five minutes on this board without somebody posting about welding.

(That's a joke in case you thought I was serious.)

 

[step.eng69]

Stick welding old school stuff takes practice, practice, is a good all position fix , but requires much skill out of the flat position.

take a night course at a local Vocational School, that' my recommendation.

Right on Hazleton

 

[step.eng69]

I don't Weld, but if I did it would only be on Tuesday.

a classic gambit
Are you doing the blue pills aready?

 

[step.eng69]

I weld a good amount

I was a master welder for 40 years, just retired. I'll try and help you out.

When you guys are looking for a project to toy with.....

Probably make a few $$ with PSU fans . As self appointed agent for Fairgambit Enterprise, I’ll be happy to contract with you a finder’s fee.

 

[SLUPSU]

Funny. I've read a decent number of discussions online regarding welding, and almost every time (literally) someone makes a crack at the Harbor Freight welding equipment.

With that said, this seems to get fantastic reviews regarding its quality and operation (the negative reviews seem to be centered around a missing part or the such): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric-120-Volt-140-Amp-Mig-Flux-cored-Wire-Feed-Welder/1072945

I don't know how much $$ the HF welding thingamajig is compared to this, but this seems relatively inexpensive (at least relative to what I thought this equipment costs).

Some advice about welding in general, don't over do it. Keep in mind that welding creates very strong joints. iirc from my structural engineering courses, a 1/16" fillet weld one inch long has a capacity of about 900# in tensile strength and a 1/4" weld, one inch long has a capacity of about 3600#. Keep that in mind when you're welding, generally speaking the smaller the weld the easier it is do a decent job.

 

[fairgambit]

a classic gambit
Are you doing the blue pills aready?

With my lovely wife, I need no outside help.

 

[step.eng69]

Some advice about welding in general, don't over do it. Keep in mind that welding creates very strong joints. iirc from my structural engineering courses, a 1/16" fillet weld one inch long has a capacity of about 900# in tensile strength and a 1/4" weld, one inch long has a capacity of about 3600#. Keep that in mind when you're welding, generally speaking the smaller the weld the easier it is do a decent job.

More or less, different capacities if the resistance is parallel to the weld or perpendicular the throat. The weld size shouldn’t be greater that the thinner of the two metals welded. of course he'll be using gas wire, so the size won't be problamtic.

 

[SLUPSU]

More or less, different capacities if the resistance is parallel to the weld or perpendicular the throat. The weld size shouldn’t be greater that the thinner of the two metals welded.

Yes, that good to add about metal thickness. Moments, tension, parallel, perpendicular, axial loading, not likely to make a difference when welding furniture.

 

[step.eng69]

Yes, that good to add about metal thickness. Moments, tension, parallel, perpendicular, axial loading, not likely to make a difference when welding furniture.

I like they way you think SLUPSU. You & i are more-less talking structural welding.

 

[SLUPSU]

I like they way you think SLUPSU. You & i are more-less talking structural welding.

Do you want to talk about shrinkage?.... oh never mind

 

[step.eng69]

Do you want to talk about shrinkage?.... oh never mind

At closing in on 70 yrs old, shrinkage is a problem. I've been using tongs to dig deep through the zipper to find that thing that once had a great personality.

 

[HazletonLion]

Some advice about welding in general, don't over do it. Keep in mind that welding creates very strong joints. iirc from my structural engineering courses, a 1/16" fillet weld one inch long has a capacity of about 900# in tensile strength and a 1/4" weld, one inch long has a capacity of about 3600#. Keep that in mind when you're welding, generally speaking the smaller the weld the easier it is do a decent job.[/QUOTE

When you guys are looking for a project to toy with.....

Probably make a few $$ with PSU fans . As self appointed agent for Fairgambit Enterprise, I’ll be happy to contract with you a finder’s fee.

The LOGO looks like a CNC plasma burner cut, if it's done free hand with plasma , that's one heck of a job.

 

[step.eng69]

One of my fellow co-workers sent me this two years ago, she had it made by a guy in Altoona. I believe the fellow was splitting from his bride at the time Patti contacted him.

Following is the mail sent to me.

Tom,
'I spoke with Bryant Sweitzer and he is the process of selling his home. He said he will probably start making fire pits in the spring again. The cost is $160.00 with a grate".

Patti

 

[SLUPSU]

At closing in on 70 yrs old, shrinkage is a problem. I've been using tongs to dig deep through the zipper to find that thing that once had a great personality.

LOL.... I said never mind WELD/JOINT SHRINKAGE!

 

[step.eng69]

With my lovely wife, I need no outside help.

Possible for you to lease or rent thru Gambit Enter.?

 

[fairgambit]

Possible for you to lease or rent thru Gambit Enter.?

 

[step.eng69]

LOL.... I said never mind WELD/JOINT SHRINKAGE!

OH......

 

[Ranger Dan]

Funny. I've read a decent number of discussions online regarding welding, and almost every time (literally) someone makes a crack at the Harbor Freight welding equipment.

With that said, this seems to get fantastic reviews regarding its quality and operation (the negative reviews seem to be centered around a missing part or the such): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric-120-Volt-140-Amp-Mig-Flux-cored-Wire-Feed-Welder/1072945

I don't know how much $$ the HF welding thingamajig is compared to this, but this seems relatively inexpensive (at least relative to what I thought this equipment costs).

Lincoln and Miller seem to be the two legit players.

 

[Ranger Dan]

In soldering you're heating a copper water pipe for example, the flux or paste is applied to the area, then heat is applied with the torch, when the heat is optimum solder is applied and is drawn into the joint.
In gas welding you heat the area to be welded, the flux can be applied to the rod by dipping it into the flux container, or buying flux coated rods. The skill here is running a continuous bead or weld while maintaining the proper heat, too much heat the weld pops like a firecracker, too little the filler wire won't melt.
The next process is stick welding, the rod already has flux on it, so mostly your dealing with how much current or heat you set your machine at. The hard part is how you maintain hand skills, speed, distance from metal, angle of rod, and weave pattern.
As i explained above MIG & TIG are next. Welding is the process of joining two metals together , soldering is one of them, but it's a beginning process. The skill increases as hand manipulation is required more, MIG welding requires the least amount of hand manipulation and is best for the beginner, and many machines have parameters for speed, and voltage controls on their booklets.

I know what both soldering and welding are. My point was that they are not the same. In soldering you are not melting the base metal and you are in welding. Vastly different.

 

[step.eng69]

Lincoln and Miller seem to be the two legit players.

Will they be back next season or register for the draft?

 

[step.eng69]

Thanks for the awesomely comprehensive feedback, Hazelton (And herrli). I'm super excited now to get started

Try not to pee yourself Boulder

 

[HazletonLion]

I know what both soldering and welding are. My point was that they are not the same. In soldering you are not melting the base metal and you are in welding. Vastly different.

My point is the development of hand skills from soldering to gas welding, it's the next step. I Silver Soldered often in my career, you are joining 2 metals together. SS is used when joining fine screens as to not melt the metal screen with excessive heat, used this process for a part on a screened burner that was used in Peru, because of high altitude adjustment.
But you are right you are not melting or " fusing " the base metal.

 

[step.eng69]

Cat got you tongue?

 

[hotmetal]

I'd like to pick up the skill because I like to build stuff, and while I have plenty of room to grow from a quality perspective with woodworking, I'd really like to open up the possibilities and add the ability to integrate metal.

Two thing come to mind where I would like to employ welding: Furniture (ie wood/metal table), and the railing/banister/whatever in the house I'm building.

So, knowing that, what kind of welding and welding equipment should I be looking at? I've done a decent amount of soldering (copper), and I've heard that some welding has some similarities with that.

Any/all thoughts and feedback appreciated!

Lincoln Electric used to produce instructional videos. Maybe the company can advise you.

 

[HazletonLion]

Right on Hazleton

I would enjoy talking with guys like you( Engineers) at work it really helps the process in maturing and gaining knowledge, aside from shrinkage there are often concerns for expansion too

 

[Obliviax]

I'd like to pick up the skill because I like to build stuff, and while I have plenty of room to grow from a quality perspective with woodworking, I'd really like to open up the possibilities and add the ability to integrate metal.

Two thing come to mind where I would like to employ welding: Furniture (ie wood/metal table), and the railing/banister/whatever in the house I'm building.

So, knowing that, what kind of welding and welding equipment should I be looking at? I've done a decent amount of soldering (copper), and I've heard that some welding has some similarities with that.

Any/all thoughts and feedback appreciated!

Yes...I've been happily married for over 20 years. But thanks for asking.

 

[PSU Mike]

Have you given any thought to the environment you’ll be doing this in? Weld smoke can really penetrate and linger. My father used to weld various things for his drag racing passion in the attached garage under our bedrooms. Not pleasant.