Welding Basics

[Phatvortex]

Just bought a MIG welder to try and fix my kart, and to learn how to weld. Never touched a

welder in my life before, so I decided to practice a bit first. Then my attention span got

the better of me and I dived right in! Just wanted advice on how well my welds will

actually hold. Took a picture of the first weld I made.

Using 0.6mm wire and 100% argon:

Any thoughts/ tips?

Can you get regulators for disposible bottles that have pressure gauges? With the cheap one I got with the welder, it's like a guessing game! Can you get welding gas in bigger calor style tanks that are refillable?

Cheers

 

[kibble]

Doesn't look too bad. 100% argon is used for welding aluminum, though. You should use CO2 for welding steel.

You may want to put up the model of the welder you got or pics to know what you're working with.

 

[Phatvortex]

That's the best pic I could find, I'm not at home at the mo.

 

[modelengineer]

http://www.tonywelding.com

Many video's to help with welding. All free.

 

[thgrahamjr]

You should be using 25/75 gas (25% CO2 and 75% Argon) like kibble said 100% argon is for aluminum. And yes you can either buy the big bottles and have them refilled or you could just rent them.

 

[zero1dhd]

Not too bad at all for your first weld. Get the proper gas, Steel Mix as it is called at AirGas. And definitely get a regulator on the bottle (if you don't already have one)
Looking at your weld the gas was too low in the beginning and end of your weld. Not sure if maybe that's a regulator prob or welder prob. If need be purge the gas with the gun before welding. Try using your other hand to steady the tip of the gun to control your weld a little more. Make small back and forth movements for the type of weld shown there.
And looking at that weld, it should hold up just fine. Make sure to weld both sides of the part you intend to fix (or all the way around if you can) for maximum strength. You said you are using .6 mm wire, what wall thickness is the tubing?? If I recall correctly .6 is good to about 1/8" (.125); .8 is good to about 3/16" (.1875) depending on the welder (I'm assuming you are using a cheap 110 MIG). And also I would grind/file the paint a little farther away from the intended weld as well. The gasses released from the burning paint make it that much harder to get a good looking weld, as well as them being toxic.
All and all by far the best "first time" weld I think I have ever seen. GOOD JOB!!!

 

[Scout]

It's hard at first, but don't watch the arc. Watch where you are going, but also watch the puddle. "Push" or "drag" the puddle. Watch that the base metal melts and flows into the puddle. Listen to the arc. It should be a very even sizzle, some compare it to bacon.

From the pic posted I'd say its a good start, but slow down. Get yourself a bottle of c25 (co2 argon mix) and some steel. Practice by building a welder cart (mandatory first project for a new welder) and then a welding table. Those two things will help you get the hang of welding in a won't hurt anyone if the welds fail.

Also, get an angle grinder with a flap wheel and clean the paint and rust off before you weld.

 

[nichole]

For a first timer? well it looks great. For sure as you go through to it, you will probably be a good welder in the future. Nice one! keep it up. Follow the suggestion of other comment here it will surely help you in welding.

 

[fluxcored]

Also, get an angle grinder with a flap wheel and clean the paint and rust off before you weld.

That's the part most noobs often get wrong. You shoot yourself in the foot if the area to be welded is'nt clean.

 

[fluxcored]

If you want to weld with an extra little bit of bite use 100% CO2, but Argomix is the norm, yes.

CO2 does have a teeny bit more spatter tho but that never bothered me.