Don't laugh.

I'm going to buy a welder...but I don't know doodly squat about welding including "how to".

Should I buy a welder and practice or learn to weld, then buy a welder?

 

Cheap Mig Welder(harbor freight tools), start welding. There is no book that will ever make you a better welder, the only way to get better is to practice.

 

Buy a cheap argon gas MIG welder and some sheet steel then cut and weld T pieces you will soon get the hang of wire speed/power and hand speed to produce a good weld.
What you are looking for is a good bead with good penetration, once you have mastered T pieces do some butt welding (2 pieces side by side) and look for good weld and penetration.

The trick to welding car body work is to stitch weld short welds well spaced then go back and fill the gaps. This stops/lessens distortion.

Advice you buy an auto dimming helmet as they are ace and much safer making sure you don't get ARC eye!

Have fun

Stu

 

X2 on auto dimming.

 

You will be much happier using an Argon CO2 mix instead of FluxCored wire. Much cleaner welds and easier to see your puddle while practicing. Harbor Freight all the way for the welder and auto tint hood. Theres no thick metal on the XJ so a good little 110 welder will work. Dont use a small or extra long extention cord! You will have an amp draw that will affect your welding. Its an investment, but worth it in the end.

 

The responses so far raise a couple questions...

I don't mind spending money on tools...good tools. How much does a good helmet cost and which company makes a good one?

I need the welder for a couple reasons...one is fixing sheet metal but the other is farm stuff. I broke a heavy tongue jack on a haybine made out of 3/16" steel tubing. I have a plow for a small tractor with a broken mount bracket - that is probably 1/4" stock. And I have a few other items piling up around here that need welding. Will 110v unit get the job done on this stuff?

Also, how do you learn how to set up the Argon or CO2 flow? Is all this kind of thing covered in the owner's manual or should I go take an extension class??

 

Mask-Miller, Jackson, Speedglas

Your lookin at around $200 for a GOOD auto darkening mask.

Go for Hobart or Miller, somewhere around 300 amp if you plan on doing some semi heavy duty stuff.

 

I've been flashed before - many years ago on a construction jobsite. Just mild but I didn't even know how it had happened.

Are those auto-darkening helmets safe? I mean, how do you know if they are working? I know...pretty ignorant question but I know NOTHING about welding and I'm a little concerned about harming my eyes.

 

You will see fine after your mask comes off. Not all white and blue spots.

Simplest way to put it, upkeep on batteries and theres way to test them before you use them

 

I have been welding for 28 years. About 2 years ago bought my first auto dark hood. Best thing I could have bought. So much better then a regular hood. Buy a good welder like a Miller, Hobart or lincoln. You get what you pay for. I have a hobart handler 175 and its a little small for some of the things I do like making bumpers. I use 80%argon/20% co gas mix to weld with.

Do you have a vocational school around you. Look up to see if someone offers an adult ed class in welding to get started.

 

To add to the above, check your workshop power isolation board and if the main breakers is set high enough, say 20 amps, you may set the power circuit at 5amps lower than this, say 15amps, this will allow continuous load and save having to re-trip the breaker... BUT PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL SPARKS...(ELECTRICIAN) and inquire of your local power supplier as to the codes applicable to your power zone. Rational... INSURANCE NEGATION (denial)....
Insurance companies go for the throat for premiums...and go feral when it comes time to pay... and do remember...they will find any excuse to welch on what appeared to be a deal...not all will take this strategy... but just ask yourself... how come all the dough gets into the deep pockets of CEOs on Wall St via Manhatten... (the square mile that sucks) meanwhile loads of citizens are loosing their homes... and jobs.... Some say ' insurance?'... 'Seems like its the working mans burden'... on this matter they may be close to the mark... But you are up **** creek without a paddle, without it! So check your policy... better still get a lawyers advice on the matter.The insurance company will... If it comes to paying out...For-warned is for-armed. With Regards Bonehunter

 

I do have one. They charge $225 for a ten week course. I have no idea what they teach you in ten weeks but I'm game.

I do have a question: What goes wrong with welders? I see them on craigslist for $400 or so, saw a Lincoln ProMig 180 - brand new, used once - $600. I have NO idea what to look for to avoid buying junk. Already did that with a set of torches...stupid me, bought a set of those small bottle type used for $200. Has about eight minutes of burn time. Useless for farm duty, tanks out of certification, etc. Don't want to make another expensive mistake.

 

AS a retired boilermaker/ship builder.. For what It's worth the auto dimmers are required by industrial safety law for welders! Having used one for twenty years and still do...they are virtually fail safe... Some have battery power and others solar (light) power... I have never been 'flashed' since they arrived on the scene... Why... super fast light circuitary...and you can see what you are doing to set up THROUGH the mask.... in the past we had to often lift the helmet to manage the work pieces...that was when we got 'burned'...on one job, a new stainless steel paper mill, we were all using TIG in those days... in 4 months of work I spent three days in eye hospital... not in the least enjoyable... due not only to my work, but the surrounding welders 'striking arc' around me...the stainless steel reflecting 'strikes' every where... we all suffered this industrial madness.
So as Stu says... you will be safe... the technology is now cheap....early masks could cost as much as a grand per unit.... another point, if you have an eye-sight problem you can now have a correct lens fitted to your mask...should you only have a diopta (age) problem the correct lens is avaliable 'off the shelf' in 1/2 diopta increments... good luck and best Regards Bonehunter.

 

Thanks - I appreciate the info. I do have age-related eyesight issue ... use a 1.75 magnifcation all the time - wearing them right now to see my computer screen clearly. I buy 'em four pairs for $20 at Sams.

How fast do you get "flashed" when it does happen? I mean, is it instantaneous or does it take a few seconds?

 

Depends on the welder what will go wrong with it. If it's a wire welder then the inner sheath ? that allows the wire to move around and not kink can go bad after time. Also the feed wheel ( shoves the wire through the hose to the gun ) goes bad after a little while. While not always cheap they are a great investment and wonderful to have around. Flux core or self shielding is ok for most of what you might do but gas is sooo much nicer. Auto tinting helmets are nice but don't leave them in the box all the time as they can get screwy and not dim right. Also pay the extra money and get a nice auto dimmer with adjustments for the light exposure and the reaction time as it's worth every penny to have those features. Invest in a good welding jacket ( check your local welding shop or Tractor supply ) and good leather welding gloves. Did all but the helmet when i started welding and really wish I had bought the nice helmet. Everything that i started with is still around and working great though.