Possible Dumb Welding Question

[ol Curt]

Well,

I have my new welder and am getting gas for it on Friday. I'm wanting to practice welding on some scrap metal. This may sound like a dumb question, but do I need a metal table to lay the piece on before laying some short beads?
I realize many of the panels I'll be welding will be held onto the truck with clamps, etc, but never really thought about welding on a scrap sheet.

[msgross]

you can lay it on the floor of the garage as long as you hook the ground clamp to it... or a piece of plywood on some sawhorses...

The metal wleding table is nice so you don't have to clamp the ground to the part, just the table... You could put them in a vice too...

Just don't lay them in your lap or on a gascan!

[TheDark1]

I weld for practice on the garage floor all the time. I don't know if this what you want to know. I wouldn't weld on a wooden table or anything else flamable though.

[ol Curt]

Yeah, that was really what I was asking. I wasn't sure if it could burn through to a piece of plywood, or if I should lay it on the concrete floor. As my wife really doesn't see the need for a welder, I don't want to catch the garage on fire my first time!

[msgross]

few spotwelds for practice wont hurt but dont weld right before bedtime... give yourself 30 minutes or so after you're done to make sure there are no fires... also have water and an extinguisher around...

here are some nice pointers
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...88971/#1588971

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by msgross

few spotwelds for practice wont hurt but dont weld right before bedtime... give yourself 30 minutes or so after you're done to make sure there are no fires... also have water and an extinguisher around...

here are some nice pointers
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...88971/#1588971

Ya and turn off lights while in garage/shop and stand there for a min look toward area you were welding just to make sure nothing is glowing

[ol Curt]

I have one extinguisher, but you guys have me wondering if I need a second!!

All very good advice that is much appreciated by an amateur!

[LILRED66]

ol Curt:

Although not necessary, a welding table or work surface of some sort is very helpful. The more comfortable you are the better, so you can concentrate on the process of welding and not your aching back or sore knees.

Happy Holidays and post some pictures of your new set-up and your practice welds.

[RunninLo]

on my main welder ( have 5 total) i replaced the clamp with a magnetic ground. Now it stick's to whatever I'm working on. great for shaving handles since I can never seem to find a good place for a clamp. When i use the vise I can just put the magnet on the flat spot above the screw. ( ya know where you beat on stuff like an anvil) It's also handy to just flap wheel a bare spot on a frame and let it hang.
Josh

[mbgmike]

Just remember when welding on cars and trucks in your shop to not close up the shop right after welding We have a policy no welding on anything 1/2 hour before closing the doors just to minimize the chance of fire.

[TheDark1]

Originally Posted by RunninLo

on my main welder ( have 5 total) i replaced the clamp with a magnetic ground. Now it stick's to whatever I'm working on. great for shaving handles since I can never seem to find a good place for a clamp. When i use the vise I can just put the magnet on the flat spot above the screw. ( ya know where you beat on stuff like an anvil) It's also handy to just flap wheel a bare spot on a frame and let it hang.
Josh

I like the idea RunniLo has about the magnetic ground. Can you tell me how you made it or where you got it from. Also it's standard policy offshore to stop welding 30 minutes before quitting time. You don't neeed a fire, especially when you're on a platfrom full of natural gas and oil. Or when you're at home getting ready for bed.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by TheDark1

I like the idea RunniLo has about the magnetic ground. Can you tell me how you made it or where you got it from. Also it's standard policy offshore to stop welding 30 minutes before quitting time. You don't neeed a fire, especially when you're on a platfrom full of natural gas and oil. Or when you're at home getting ready for bed.

Most any welding supply shop has them or you can buy them online

[MXmaniac]

I think you should weld yourself up a nice table to practice on.

[ol Curt]

Originally Posted by MXmaniac

I think you should weld yourself up a nice table to practice on.

Now THAT is a capital idea!!

[ol Curt]

All right, I thought I would be doing some practice welds this evening, but in putting the welder together, I don't find any contact tip for the gun. Since they refer to using the tip matching the wire size, I would suspect they would at least ship one to match their free spool of .030 flux core wire. Am I missing something(other than a contact tip!)?

[msgross]

don't know... you would think they would send something..

flux core doesn't need gas though right?



just kidding

[66burban]

No flux core does not need gas, it has the gas "inside" the wire.

[ol Curt]

Problem solved. I called my son in Indy. He was excited and helped open the welder. He told me he laid a package on my work bench...three tips!

Thanks guys!!

Mike....pics tomorrow of some practice beads from one VERY virgin welder!!

[LILRED66]

ol Curt:

Once you get the hang of it, try using .023 solid wire and CO2/Argon gas. I found the smaller gauge wire, in combination with gas, makes welding sheet metal a little easier.

Good luck and show us some pictures.

Happy Holidays.

[ol Curt]

Yeah, I'm planning on going that way...just waiting for a buddy who tells me he can supply me a tank thru his business. I don't want to push too hard on that offer!! I'm hoping he'll get it next week. Unfortunately, it is not warm enough right now for him to need, or me to offer any landscape advice for him!

[ol Curt]

OK, so I don't have to bear the wrath of Mike and Joe I thought I better post some of my welding...errr attempts to weld. I'm still struggling a bit to tell how close to have the tip, how much wire to leave out of the tip and wire speed...I think that about covers all of it, doesn't it?

The first pics are of just some practice welds. Some are after I cleaned them up with a wire wheel because of the flux core wire. Pics toward the end are from where I thought I should check the penetration. That might be a bt more than I thought. I felt the back side of the metal looked more like what a weld should look like!! Maybe I'll weld everything from the opposite side.

[ol Curt]

My dog Gus took one look at the welds and his response was...

[scotts62]

Thats funny

[msgross]

Where those continuous weld beads?

Was there a lot of "popping"?

i'm no welder but I can tell you had good penetration, maybe to good...

try joining two pieces with a butt weld...

[jholley]

You can get the magnet at Harbor Freight or Northern Tool if you have those in your area. It will be a lot cheaper there than at a welding store.