First welding attemt(s)

[agsolder]

Larry-- No-- stick uses consumable flux-shielded electrodes, O/A uses consumable bare steel rods. Some general thoughts: first of all, get an absolutely totally safe, clean, uncluttered place to work, well away from anything combustible, anything you might trip on. Sunlight is a great idea, but the wind can be a problem with MIG, maybe not with flux-coating, dunno. I agree starting with O/A is the ideal way to go. You can see the puddle better. But if that's out of the question for now, work on getting comfortable while you are welding, wear lots of protection, jacket, gauntlets, high-topped lace-up boots, cotton or woollen cap, brace your elbow and hand if possible when running a bead. Work hard on learning to see what is really going on down there amid all the sputter and spatter, the razzle-dazzle of the sparks and smoke. Problem with MIG is, it can look great but have no really solid penetration. After taking care of all that, it's like the old bopster joke says about how do you get to Carnegie Hall-- practice, man, practice!

[JohnW]

Larry, just in case you don't know this (I've only read of it), to find your starting point when stick welding (and I suspect for mig welding), start with your visor up, put your hands in the welding position, nod your head to put the visor down, start welding. Or get an auto-darkening helment.

[Dr Dean]

Larry here Is the website that I've been looking for. If you need quality work... The fellow who did all this is Known as Engloid. Another good place to look around Is the other website I frequent. Shop Floor Talk Have fun and keep on burnin the wire. If you ever get in my neck of the woods stop by!

[larrynjr]

I'll try that method John and see if that helps me, it should.
An auto darkening helmet will be further down the road.

Thanks for the links Dr Dean, that Engloid does some incredible work. I can really see now what you were talking about with the smoothness of the welds. Without changing careers I doubt I'll ever get to that quality of welding but with some effort I hope to get to at least serviceable and safe, with a bit more smoothness than I can now.

I'm off to the welding store now to see what I can afford and then the steel yard to pick up more scraps to weld and beat on.

[Black Ink]

No Larry you use a bare wire that faily cheap.Ive heard of farmers and body men using coat hangers.You use a neutral flame for welding .And if you get good Tig will be even easier.Oxy/ace is alot of fun and very forgiving

[larrynjr]

I went to the Oxarc store today and even through the website says they are open Sat. 8am to noon, they were closed.

So I went to the steel yard and loaded up on scrap pieces that I can use for projects, practice welding and pounding. At $.15 a lb. it's hard to go wrong.

[Dr Dean]

Originally Posted by Black Ink

No Larry you use a bare wire that faily cheap.Ive heard of farmers and body men using coat hangers.You use a neutral flame for welding .And if you get good Tig will be even easier.Oxy/ace is alot of fun and very forgiving

Boy it's a good thing that I'm also a farmer! Bailing wire, whatever's handy heck I've even used barbed wire out in the middle of a field to patch up holes in combines.

[eburgblue]

Larry for OA welding you will normally use a bare rod with no flux on it. Depending on what you are welding I have even used baling wire. Actually it is good cheap way to practice your technique. And by the way I also wanted to say HI to a neighbor..... I see you are from Tieton.... I live over in the Yakima river canyon. Maybe if you want to practice sometime we could get together. I have several welders, torch, plasma etc. Looking for a small forge.... anyway HI neighbor.

[larrynjr]

eburgblue, howdy neighbor! I'd love to get together sometime(s) and work on welding / forging.

What type of forge are you looking for? Gas or coal?

[eburgblue]

I think I am leaning more towards a gas due to the quickness of heat and the lack of fleas and such and I think I could put a valve in that would allow to me to vary the heat as I see fit. Seems like it would be more efficient than coal and since eventually I plan on adding propane heat to the shop I would be able to pipe it to the forge and use the heat from it for the shop also.

Yes it would be nice to practice with someone on occasion and as close as you are we should consider it. I could PM you or you me with a phone#. I am usually around as for now....... I am retired and trying to stay that way. My goal is to do metal work to take up some financial slack if needed.

You can find a few examples of what I make in the gallery.