Ok so i.ve decided to have a go at welding. Yes i know leave it to the pros etc. but really want to give it a go-something i've always thought about but never done.

So who else is in the same boat-who has just started learning and what tips do you have. At present i only have a little hobby mig, 100A with gasless wire-yeah i know not the best for good results but its a start.

Am practicing on some old thick guage steel i have lying about-probably a couple of mil. So i need to know what the motion is for the torch-i'm guessing its not straight along the weld line-do you not have to do little circular motions to cover both halves of whats being joined-i tried going along the join but it gives a thin weld-high but thin lol. I have the settings on power 3 of 4, and feed reel low-2 of 8? Which seems quite fast actually lol. I'm not expecting miracles-just some tips on how to get better thats all. I know settings are everything so what do i need to look out for-both good and bad.

Thanks for reading-hope someone can shed some light on this magic art lol.

ps i will be getting a better mig when funds allow. With gas and a decent torch.

Get the new mig first because those cheap things are no good, you won't teach yourself to weld with that.....i have been fabbing for 20yrs and can't get on with those things.
Straight line along joint.....pushing torch at slight angle to job.

There's a booklet that Halfrauds sell called "Mig Welding Plain and Simple". This is helpful as it's got all the usual tips condensed in a small volume. Worked for me (mind you my welding isn't that good!)

Definitely get a better MIG, at least double that power. Last months PPC mag had some good welding tips in too.

You need to hear the smell of frying bacon .....

You need to hear the smell of frying bacon.

I'm a bit baffled by that one Jasper Hold on, my sausages sound about ready. That egg looks about boiled as well.

For a normal weld heigh you can go just in one line...

Don't ques you are doing an V weld with 30mm plate..

better machine is always better....
more amps give better prenetation...

i recommend to weld more than you think you need because mig wels always look fine but the strenght isn't the same..

it can fool you allot!

Tks

weld something and test for striping
with the hammer its the only way of testing....

you will need to see V in the weld also not an high weld... (to cold)..

.8mm is best

Oh yes, not smell of frying bacon - SOUND of frying bacon!!

Don't weld long lines - better to 'stitch' weld, do an inch, leave an inch etc, then go back if you need to and fill in.

Pity , Iv'e never heard the smell of bacon frying but I would suggest getting yourself along to a welding course to at least learn the basics. sell the gasless mig and get a proper welder! Invest in the best you can afford . S/H is worth a look

The only time you will smell frying bacon, is when a wasp or similar decides to do a kamikazee impression and flies into the weld pool, dunno how something so small can smell like a bacon butty , but they do

[Edited on 16/7/05 by Wadders]