ThomasPowers Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Note that stale rods can be harder to weld with; but once you get good you can weld with a lot of stuff going against you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Took them to my friend who owns the Welding supply and he recommended I just toss then. Said they probably wouldn't even serve to do tack welds. Said drying them in an oven changes their chemistry and is really a waste of time and electricity. Oh well. While I was in his shop, I bought one of those slag hammers and he gave me an automatic welding mask that was there when he bought the shop. So he just left in there with other things to have on the shelves so it looked like a business. Told me it's probably not a good one Had a $40 price tag on it. Better than nothing, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 If the helmet (mask) is auto darkening and has a battery it probably needs replacing. If solar powered set it in the sun to charge it, you can probably get a manual for it online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Solar. Been sittin' inside the building for a long, long time, so I'll take your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 I have welded quite a few things with old rods. Before tossing them, give them a try first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 That's what I'd planned on doing. But not knowing how to arc-weld, I think it's going to be a rocky road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 I found a good book at the used book store. It's a Haynes Techbook 10445 Title Welding Manual, well worth the $2 it cost and I've been welding for 30+ years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Thanks, IFC. I did a search on-line and couldn't find a used one. New ones are $23 and up. I'll keep looking though. Nix that! I just found and bought it on a used textbook site for $5.37 delivered. I can handle that. Maybe this book will keep me from having to embarrass myself in front of some friend I'm asking to "show me the ropes", ya think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
671jungle Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Welding Manual Haynes TECHBOOK by John Haynes Just found this on the website named after a south american rainforest. Ordering one now. Thanks for the reference Iron Dragon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 That's what I bought, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I've a question for those of you who weld............which is probably everyone on the forum but myself! This helmet that was gifted to me has an auto lens that goes from 2.7 to 11. Is 11 dark enough for any level I might be using this 225 amp welder at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 No, it's not. Send it to me, and I will dispose of it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 So I take it, this lens will be satisfactory all the way up to a 225amparc? I really need to know because I've had two retina surgeries this past 12 months and the surgeon said I have to be really protective of my eyes. That's why I bought a #3 flip-up attachment to put on my RX glasses for use at the forge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Grabbed these saw blanks from CL- they came from a company that made diamond- abrasive blades. 4" to 18", ~ 14 to 20 ga. I think I will go into the Odd job hat rim business. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Check to see if John Steed needs a re-line too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I have this chart saved, shade 11 will be a little light according to it. Most of my welding is at 175 amps or lower and I've found for me the chart is a little to dark so I set the hood at a number lower. That chart came from the Miller Welding web site, lots of good info there. 3 hours ago, Chris C said: will be satisfactory all the way up to a 225amparc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Okay, I might add that I bought a flip-up #3 for my glasses to look into the forge. (Dr's Orders!) If I wear the #3 on my glasses when I'm using the #11, does that add up to 14 or does it not? By the way, thanks for taking the time to post that chart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I'm not sure about that, one would think it will. If it does add up I'm sure you will find it too dark, I have trouble seeing the arc with too dark of a shade, and set the lens lighter. I very seldom use 225 amp unless I'm welding very heavy stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Those are cool Stash! Lots of possibilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 11 minutes ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said: I'm not sure about that, one would think it will. If it does add up I'm sure you will find it too dark, I have trouble seeing the arc with too dark of a shade, and set the lens lighter. I very seldom use 225 amp unless I'm welding very heavy stock. Okay. I highly doubt I'll need to be welding anything that thick. Probably the thickest I'll weld is 1/8" angle making racks and things like that. This is a "fixed" Weldit lens. I don't see any way to change the shade amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les L Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Chris, shade 10 or 11 will work for you, the #3 under the hood won't make much difference. For the 1/8 plate you'll be using 3/32 or 1/8 rods, for someone just starting I would recommend 6013 3/32 rods for 1/8 mild steel, if your welder is A/C, 6010 if it is D/C. I use a #10 mirror lens in the hood I use for pipeline welding with stick and a #11mirror lens for mig or tig . I don't use the auto lens, (my co-workers tell me I'm old fashioned) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 14 hours ago, Chris C said: Okay, I might add that I bought a flip-up #3 for my glasses to look into the forge Doesn't that only protect from UV and the damaging light emitted from a forge is IR so it wouldn't really afford much protection? I'm asking because I may be doing some forging in a gasser. I know not to look any more than necessary but I'm curious. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 pnut, You might find this thread interesting: https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/5514-welding-glasses/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 On 1/24/2020 at 4:58 AM, masonred said: Thats so cool that you found that book. It was produced by the Guild of Metalsmiths in Minnesota back in 90 or 91. At a guild meeting last year the subject for the meeting was that book and the history of it. Some members brought in some of the original pieces pictured in the book. Very cool!! Nice find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Bet that would be an interesting one to look through and emulate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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