Whats a good first project?

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Hey, I have just gotten a mig welder and am slowly learning and have made my first square tube out of metal flats and the welds held after being dropped of my garage roof but looked realy bad. I am looking for an easy beginers project. What would you guys suggest? I love welding it opens up so many doors and you can make so many things. =DAdiosJosh
Reply:Welding cart, welding table.
Reply:ya make a welding table its a good first project and if your anything like me in six months you can make it another good project when you make a real welding table. My first one sucked but i just finished my second one and i think that will be around years after me.
Reply:Yea, can't do much welding without a good flat welding table to work on.
Reply:BBQ grille.  Easy, quick and once your done, you cook out and celebrate.  Show folks you are the master of meats as well as metal. Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:LOL thats a good idea cuz right now our welding cart is plastic (stinky) and then we have a bench that has rubber on top that we usualy lay a piece of wood on (again stinky and fire hazard lol). All I need is material then. Any suggestions on what to use to cut metal? I may try the bbq grill first not sure...ThanksAdiosJosh
Reply:Skill saw with a metal cutting blade will work.  Not fast but with patience it's quality is better than oxy/ace.  Lay the pattern out with a red sharpie on the metal and try to make one cut be two edges.  Saves time and blades.  I'd start with just the basics, no top, just the bottom and the grille.  You can always add a top later if you like.  I used to make these for everyone in the family.  Steel chevy rim as the base, cut out a big rectangle and bend it or cut it into thirds and weld at the cuts.  Add the sides and the pole.  It's a very basic design but it works like a charm.  You can always add a top with the same general pattern.  Rebar makes a good grilling surface.  I based mine on those you find at every state park in the country.  You can even skip the rim and cement it right into the ground.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Originally Posted by smithboySkill saw with a metal cutting blade will work.  Not fast but with patience it's quality is better than oxy/ace.
Reply:Well I haven't seen this mentioned much on here but in my opinion a O/A Torch should be something any metal worker should have.  You can find complete torch outfits on ebay (minus bottles) for little of nothing.  I have bought several torches for 20 to 50 bucks.  Being able to use a torch is as important as welding when it comes to metal working.  The key is being proficient at it.  If you take the time to learn you can cut any carbon steel and it should not take much grinding if it is cut right.  You can use it to heat and bend shapes, bevel edges of plate, and even weld or braze with it.  another option is to get some cut off wheels to fit on an angle grinder.  If you don't have a grinder I would get it before anything, and then you can use it to cut and grind.    Good luck  ~Jackson
Reply:Yeah my neighboor (the same one my dad bought the welder with) has a torch he keeps in our garage cuz he doesn't hava a garage. We have grinders and all that too. I also got a book called the welders hand book or something like that. It helped a lot, not as much as I had hoped cuz Im one of those step by step guys but only at first then I can get up and go. I made a realy good T weld after reading it. It also covers how to cut and fit stuff and has a project section w/ directions and materials you need. I think Ill do the welding table in there. They also have a bbq but I don't like it so Ill design my own on my computer then Ill make it.  Thanks for the tips on cutting d(^_^)bAdiosJosh
Reply:Viper, just my 2 cents worth but I agree with halbritt and hammack.A skill saw is ok for thin stuff but a gas hatchet does a really good job once you get the hang of it.If you need to cut thin stuff(decking)you just lay it over at a pretty good angle and go like h**l and you get good cuts, very little slag.It takes some practice, and a certain amount of skill, but a good torch hand is good to have.
Reply:Back to the Post...  you could do a little gate say 3'-0"x3'-"0 That you could bolt to a wooden post with hinges and a latch, once you get it done it would be cool Huh..
Reply:I just thought if he asked, he might not have the o/a outfit.  But you fellas are right as rain.  I would use o/a, of course, before a friction blade, but if you're facing the purchase of the outfit just to get going on your first project...well.  That can be a bit of a stretch on the old pocketbook.However, I feel appropriately smacked for saying such a thing.  Skill saw?!....who the hell recommended that!? A mind is a dangerous thing, and should be stopped before it hurts someone.  Last edited by smithboy; 08-16-2005 at 03:26 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:hmm  I think we should take a step back here and atleast admit that although there are better cutting methods, I do believe smithboy had very a very valid point and he shouldnt be beaten into silence.  This isnt the Soviet Union and y'all fellas aint the KGB.   If you were I reckon thered be a lot less chit chat goin on in here.  I personally think its good for members to speak freely without fear of getting gang banged.  I personally would prefer the torch when available.  However, that would depend.  The torch is more expensive for one.  For two, sheet metal is better done with a plasma or an abrasive like that circular saw or an angle grinder.  And for cutting out stock, pipe and angle and such, I prefer a bandsaw.  I actually find myself using my torch almost rarely.  I used to use it for everything. Now I just use it when I need it.  Go figure.  Well just my thoughts.
Reply:Chris,I wasnt offended.  I actually laughed outloud at the fact that my first idea was a circular saw.  I always assume everyone is trying to take the cheapest way first, not the easiest or most effective.  And, a $2 blade definately qualifies as cheap, but there are better ways for thicker stuff.  I do, however, appreciate the thought.  I work for the government and have a lot of experience being wrong in pubic. Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Thanks for all the tips guys I appreciate it.Welding is never having to buy something.
Reply:Not to veer off the subject, but Yesterday I also would have recommended the HF 14" cutoff saw. I got mine for $50 on sale. But guess what, it was probably a waste of money. Last night I was cutting some thin, THIN tubing. And durn thing died. Now ordinarily (read:American Made) I could order whatever part I need for it and be good to go. But I doubt very seriously if the fellas at the factory in China (or the HF store for that matter) would FedEx me the part cheaper than I could buy another one for. SO looking at things from that point of view paying 3 times as much might have been a good idea. Considering the inconvenience of having to get out the hacksaw again. Before you ask, I don't know what is wrong with it, I couldn't stop beating it with the hammer long enough to find out. My point to the fellow that started this string is buy good, dependable equipment if there is a chance you will grow to rely on it.I'm not a Engineer, I just play one on the weekend.
Reply:I need to correct myself a bit. I didn't mean strictly "American Made" but good equipment from people that service and back up what they sell. At the very least supply what you need to maintain their stuff. HF stuff is good sometimes in a pinch but now i'm starting to question the economics of that train of thought.I'm not a Engineer, I just play one on the weekend.
Reply:HF stuff sometimes works out, sometimes it doesn't.  I've used an HF chop saw to great effect.  It's underpowered, but works well on thin stuff or anything setup vertically.  It has a hard time getting through horizontal sections.  I've made a lot of cuts with mine, so it's definitely been worth the $50 spent.  The downside is that I have a functional chopsaw, so it's hard to justify a decent replacement.  I'm not sure I'd recommend it to someone unless they knew how to make it work.  It'd be too frustrating to use, otherwise.  It started dying on me, so I pulled out the brushes, cleaned 'em up a bit, and it's worked fine ever since.  I also got one of the $15 angle grinders, which died too quickly to be worthwhile.-Heath
Reply:TxRedneck, perhaps you misunderstood. I think we all are trying to help by exploring all the options. Smithboy did have a good idea. Sometimes a skill saw is the only way to go.  ( BTW,I would not be interested in gangbanging him anyway.) LAUGH, thought I'd die.
Reply:Plaaaazzzzzzmmmmmmaaaaaaa!
Reply:Cheapest I've seen.  $800 at......HF. I don't think so.I'm not a Engineer, I just play one on the weekend.