Self-taught welding

My math skills suck.

 

I chose the largest 220 machine I could get. Can also be wired for 440 volts

 

Same. LOL. I'm terrible at math. Still manage to bumble through it though. One of the great lies I was told in high school was "You won't always have a calculator or be able to look up how to do something". Now I have a computer in my pocket or within reach at all times.

 

But, I can read a ruler. Figure out angles. And I can cut like it's no body's business

 

I got the exact same machine. Can also be run on 3 phase.

 

Honestly, if you can that you're ahead of many of the journeyman welders I know. So many struggle to cut angles, especialy when it comes to angle iron.

 

Math skills suck here as well. Main reason I'm not a carpenter. After the 3rd trip to buy lumber that I cut wrong, I found it was easier to just reweld what metal I cut wrong.

 

Yup. I went to the local place to buy it and the salesman gave me a bunch of crap. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a wad of $100's and said " say good by to these!" Went up the road about 10 miles and walked in the place. The salesman said what are you doing here? Dave, I want to buy a welder, matter of fact I want this one right here. He says hey guess what, it's on sale and you get the spool gun with it!

 

I butcher wood too.

 

Here's a butcher's block countertop I made

 

My math sucks also..

 

That’s nice!

 

Thank you. I posted some of the stuff I have done on the home improvement thread

 

I see what you did there... that looks damn good btw. What woods did you use?

 

Black walnut, cherry and poplar

 

WTF?!

I thought this was a welding thread?

 

You cant weld wood?

 

Nah. I prefer making boats.

 

We just have fun doing different shit at my shop. Makes light work of this exhaust, a body mount chop, small jobs like that. We're also doing a full resto custom build on my 88 Fox. The whole reason I built it, a place to hang out, build some crazy shit, drink beer and tell lies.

 

They claim ( I dont know who they is) that you should disconnect the battery when welding on a vehicle. I haven't had any issues , but dont want to have to replace a CPU over a $5 weld job

 

I tell myself that Everytime, but always forget.

 

This has been a good read. Welding is something I have wanted to learn for a long time. It would really come in handy in a lot of my projects.

 

You dont need to spend big $ on a welder. You can oxy acetylene weld. Then it's just the tanks regulators, hose and tips

 

This is how I started and you learn all about beads pretty quick

The one thing I didn't know is to keep your sticks dry.

After I lost about $5.00 in rods (I was 15 and it was early 80s) I bought a cooler to put them in

 

I used one of them big styrofoam cooler ya get like Omaha steaks in with a 5watt bulb. Keeps them nice and dry

 

I was thinking about a stick welder to start with. I hear they are somewhat forgiving. I'm not looking to build anything structural yet. Maybe just a few target stands to start.

 

That's the harder one. Mig is the easiest

 

I agree. With the options available today, start with MIG welding. The ease of use will make it worth the increased start up cost.

It's true that competition drives the price down. I can think of at least 5 brands that I would have no issue purchasing. The new inverter based MIG welding rigs are a serious game changer.

I like the Lincoln and Hobart machines about the same as I like the 2 lines of Harbor Freight welders. they are all very high quality. I really like that HF is open everyday. If I need wire for the welder, I just need to be there by 8pm.

It really is insulting that I can buy a Titanium 170 from HF with the spool gun for less than I paid for my Miller spool gun alone. You guys today have no excuse for not trying out welding if you even have a slight interest.

With You Tube vids and being able to post pictures or vids of your welding, the learning curve is exponentially reduced!

Go to it!

 

Nice work dude!

 

Nice work man. You can learn a lot from those old heads.

I see a skid plate off your pro. Send it my way lol