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Hey Guys
At some point my feather is going to need some welding done. Is it something you can just buy and learn through practice? I've watched a few videos on YouTube and it seems relatively straight forward. Also advice on welders would be appreciated. I intend to weld steel box section and steel bar together (if that's do-able/recommended?).
Thanks
Yeah milder steels can be easily welded, and its pretty easy to pick up.
stick welders are good for thick steel and give a sturdy weld (it can be used on thinner steel its just not as easy)
tig welders give sturdy welds and are the tidiest
mig is technically the weakest as it doesn't give the level of penetration and its strength comes from volume of weld
I have a few mates (and my Dad) that literally went out and bought a pile of box section and an Arc Welder.
From what I hear MiG is like a metal glue gun. I've never really gotten involved but its on my to do list over the next 60yrs or so.
Mig welder is perfect and easy too use, just get loads of waste bits and play :-)
It's not so bad... I think its the best option for a beginner in terms of cost and ease of use. And as long as you're not welding a 1/2 plate you'll be fine! :lol:Quote:
From what I hear MiG is like a metal glue gun.
If I had the cash to buy and time to learn I'd go for Tig... :roll:
i find arc (stick) is the cheapest as you don't have to buy gas and and you can get the welders quite cheap but unfortunately i haven't found electrodes for titanium and aluminium is a pain
Okay cool, think I'll go for an arc welder to begin with and maybe upgrade in the future if need be.
Is something like this pretty standard?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ferm-Power-10 ... 3cbb0b86ed
Thanks guys.
im using a 160A arc welder and its been used on all 3 of my robot shells so far 3,5 and 8mm midle steel shells
We have bought two beginner-range arc welders (much like the one you linked) over the past few years and have yet to weld anything very satisfactorily. I don't doubt it's largely down to our own inability to weld, but it doesn't feel like it's our entirely our fault. Even after a lot of practice it is worlds away from just welding. We hope to invest in something better soon, which will either prove us incompetent or prove us a little less incompetent :lol:.
Take my advice... Get a MIG welder.
It's so simple to do, aim the wire and fire... Get loads of scrap and practice and you'll pick it up.
I spent 5 minutes with alex marler showing him, and left him to practice on my welder and he picked it up really easy !! 1 hour later he was welding alsorts.
Honestly take my advice.
John
Robot Wars
Mig is the easiest to pick up. I will always say though that if you can get a good weld with a stick welder then everything else is easy. I bought a tig as I wanted to do titanium. Love it
Wow advice from the owner of Robot Wars and the last Robot Wars champion, can't really go wrong here! :lol: MIG it is then, better start saving my pennies...
Thanks guys :D
When I was taught to weld my teacher had the same philosophy, took ages learning to stick weld then he showed me mig welding which is much simpler.Quote:
Originally Posted by typhoon_driver
Although you do have to mess about with gas and speed which is a pain relative to the simplicity of Ark welding.
The other issue with MIG is the gas versus gasless issue. I've always been told stay away from the gasless stuff as it's crap but perhaps those with experience could shed some light on the issue?
I would always say MIG, much easier to get good welds. As Gary says avoid the gasless wire, it's very expensive, doesn't do a very nice weld and produces alot of smoke (so much that half the time you cant see what your welding).
As with anything you get what you pay for, I would always go for a better branded 2nd hand one than a unknown new one.
Thanks for the advice Alan, what brands do you recommend?
Esab, Murex, Kemppi, Miller, Lincoln, Thermal Arc, Cebora, Migatronic to name a few, I would avoid Clarke/Sealey (especially the smaller ones). Your probably looking £300+ for a 180amp one of the above names 2nd hand. As your only going to use it occasionally, I guess it won't matter all that much, but a good brand wont loose there value.
Thought I would just recycle this thread rather than start a new one
Looking into getting a welder in the 300 pound range. I would rather get well branded one that is rather limited and lasts for a while.
Another limitations is size. Have little space in my flat so mig and gas isnt really ideal so most likely ARC
Got some some experience welding with a cheap Mig SIP but it eventually died and I chucked it.
Would like to weld up to 4mm mild steel at least
Willing to pay more if any one has a strong recomendation but since I usually prefer plastics over metals its really only for the odd jobs which my MIG SIP used to do
Found a rather cheap thermal arc
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/18080...f13=80&ff14=66
Would this sort me?
Thanks in advanced and any trusted retailers would be super sweet.
Cheers guys.
100A will happily weld up 4mm steel so it's over powered but should last you a lifetime. I started out with a £40 welder from makro that lasted me around 5 years before I sold it to Jamie, believe it's still going strong.
ive got a clarke 160a ARC welder yoused it on all my robots 3mm to 8mm steel its lasted me 11 years now and still going strong, we got it from machinemart they have still sell it
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...&TC=SRC-welder
but you can get slightly cheaper versions lidl and aldi sometimes have them quite cheep and the bonus with the stick welder is there is less to go wrong
also the bonus with the 1 your looking at is that you can convert it to a tig
Smoke and splatter might be an issue in your flat, TIG would be the 'cleanest'
Creat stuff guys. Ordering now.
Liz would kill me if I welded inside alan. I have a tiny garden which is where I plan to weld. Its about the size of a balcony.