Learning to weld questions

[85_Ranger4x4]

Flux core is messy but nothing really wrong with it.

After years of getting my dad to do my welding I am starting to play with some of the easier stuff and it is a lot of fun.

I just have a old 225 Lincoln stick welder at home, I need to change the end on the cord so I can actually use it.

Dads Miller wire welder will really spoil a guy.

 

[pith helmet]

Flux core is messy but nothing really wrong with it.

Mine is capable of using shielding gas but I have not gotten any yet. I expect it’s way more satisfying to work with.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mine is capable of using shielding gas but I have not gotten any yet. I expect it’s way more satisfying to work with.

Unless you are are in wind.

 

[tacollie]

Flux core are always ugly! Going gas is a game changer as long as there isn't wind. I've build cardboard wine shields when I had to weld outside. I just started playing around with my Tig. I did trade work for a water cooled Lincoln 255. It's a whole different animal!

 

[socceronly]

In some of the videos I watched, they stressed reversing the polarity when using flux core wire in a welder that would normally use gas.

Cleaned things up spatter wise I guess.

 

[DaveInDenver]

In some of the videos I watched, they stressed reversing the polarity when using flux core wire in a welder that would normally use gas.

Cleaned things up spatter wise I guess.

It's not a secret trick, grounding the positive (this is called DCEN, meaning DC electrode negative, the ground clamp is positive) is correct for flux core wire and with some rods (sticks). This is considered straight polarity.

Normally with solid core, gas shield MIG you use grounded negative (known as DCEP, the clamp is negative), which is actually considered reversed polarity. There's technically a third option, which is AC. It's not really a polarity strictly speaking. The wire or rod will tell you which of AC, DC- or DC+ to use.

One thing to note is dual shield wire exists, which means flux core but still requires a gas shield. So make sure you get the right wire. If you run dual shield without the gas it'll spatter and generally not work well similar to using solid core wire without shielding gas.

 

[alanymarce]

So far no one's mentioned safety. Look for "safety while welding" videos on youtube/google. Protect your eyes (and those of others around you); avoid conflagration by ensuring a safety working area; make sure you're safe in terms of electrical hazards; have an appropriate fire extinguisher handy.

 

[ITTOG]

So far no one's mentioned safety. Look for "safety while welding" videos on youtube/google. Protect your eyes (and those of others around you); avoid conflagration by ensuring a safety working area; make sure you're safe in terms of electrical hazards; have an appropriate fire extinguisher handy.

...and if you will be using a grinder or cutoff wheel please keep the perpendicular handle on. If you want to know why let me know and I can show you first hand experience from my camper build thread.

 

[jeepers29]

Just to update this.

I caught a sale on a Forney easy weld flux core for really cheap.

Seems like a nice simple place to start.

I'd show you my welds.... But out of concern for your safety I won't as you might hurt yourself laughing.

I have been going donw the same road as you. I found a brand new Lincold 180 dual on craigslist with a gas bottle , hood , gloves ect for $600. Was thrilled. I just took a jerry can rack I built to get powder coated and told the guy not to look at the welds for the same reason. Find a metal suppy company that is willing to give you small scraps and start practicing welding things together. It is a slow venture but I have seen my welds getting better. Have fun.

 

[pith helmet]

...and if you will be using a grinder or cutoff wheel please keep the perpendicular handle on. If you want to know why let me know and I can show you first hand experience from my camper build thread.

I bought a full face shield as I entered the 'reading glasses' phase of life a few years ago and safety glasses don't work anymore. I have a torch but use a grinder to cut light stuff. Recently my cousins youngest kid, an experienced metal worker, had a 4.5" grinding wheel explode in normal use and about 1/3 of it lodged deep in his left forearm.

He is good, after a couple surgeries and has full use of his hand, thank God. He says he will no longer work without a welding jacket and full gauntlet gloves.

He texted me pics and I said, "You have to warn someone when you're about to send pics like that!" Looked like the android death from Alien, but redder.

 

[pith helmet]

In some of the videos I watched, they stressed reversing the polarity when using flux core wire in a welder that would normally use gas.

Cleaned things up spatter wise I guess.

There is also a product that you can spray on the weld area to keep the spatter from sticking. I have not tried it, I just use a heavy twisted wire wheel on the angle grinder.

 

[ITTOG]

I bought a full face shield as I entered the 'reading glasses' phase of life a few years ago and safety glasses don't work anymore. I have a torch but use a grinder to cut light stuff. Recently my cousins youngest kid, an experienced metal worker, had a 4.5" grinding wheel explode in normal use and about 1/3 of it lodged deep in his left forearm.

He is good, after a couple surgeries and has full use of his hand, thank God. He says he will no longer work without a welding jacket and full gauntlet gloves.

He texted me pics and I said, "You have to warn someone when you're about to send pics like that!" Looked like the android death from Alien, but redder.

Yeah an injury will do that to you. After my injury I now always wear pants and a welding shirt. I was already doing good with a face shield, tinted safety glasses (double protection), gloves, and hearing protection. Feel free to post the pic's on my build thread (as long as his face isn't shown) if you want to show another example of why using safety gear is a must. We never know when something is going to go wrong.

 

[ITTOG]

Just a thought for the OP and anyone else that is new to welding.

When I began learning, my focus was on learning to weld and I didn't give much thought to the overall process and heat within the metal. I would get a tube where I wanted it and fully weld it in. I would then move to the next joint, and so on. Later, as I was taking measurements I discovered my process to fully weld before getting the structure tacked together was an issue because I couldn't make adjustments if I needed to and the full weld without any other supports would apply too much heat and cause my metal to bend. So, just to give an example. Lets say you wanted to weld a 2' by 4' rectangle. I would weld my first corner fully, move to corner two and weld it fully, and so on. Proper way would be to tack weld each corner. only when you have all the corners are tacked together and you have verified your measurements to show your corners are square should you fully weld the corners. Don't weld one corner and move to the next. Weld one side of the corner and move around so you don't ever overheat a corner.

So, I previously said I taught myself so I am not giving expert advice. Just what I have learned through a lot of trial and error and the changes I have made to prevent repeat errors. Good luck.

PS Always start with learning to weld steel as it is much easier than aluminum.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Yeah an injury will do that to you. After my injury I now always wear pants and a welding shirt. I was already doing good with a face shield, tinted safety glasses (double protection), gloves, and hearing protection. Feel free to post the pic's on my build thread (as long as his face isn't shown) if you want to show another example of why using safety gear is a must. We never know when something is going to go wrong.

Wearing a respirator is also a good idea. The 3M 2097 (P100 with nuisance organic vapor) filter is what I use, it's a pancake filter intended for welding and fits pretty well under a hood. Everyone probably knows about galvanized but you really are sucking in some bad stuff even with plain steel. You want to filter when doing stainless and aluminum (chromium vapor), too.

 

[ITTOG]

Wearing a respirator is also a good idea. The 3M 2097 (P100 with nuisance organic vapor) filter is what I use, it's a pancake filter intended for welding and fits pretty well under a hood.

Oh yes, excellent suggestion and thanks for pointing it out. I wear one for the vapor and particulates. Don't forget to wear it when grinding, which I feel is more important than the welding.