First Day Welding - Need a good laugh?

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Well, i just picked up my first welder last Thursday. I laid a few practice beads, and got to work on Saturday. I am running a harbor freight 90 amp, with Lincoln .030 flux core wire. Heres a few pictures of my work. Had to make an elbow for my turbo, it’s a 1.75 OD 90* to 2 OD. Not pretty, but it works!Also fabricated an exhaust for my car. i throw fabricated out very loosely as I picked up a pre bent kit, and it needed minor modifications. All in all I am super satisfied that I didn’t pay someone to work on my car. And although the initial investment was more than I would have paid to have it done, (welder, gloves, 2 helmets, long sleeves, 2 spools, chop saw, tubing, extra set of jack stands), I now have the tools to do the next job cheap. The welding bug bit me, so my fiancé and I decided we wanted to double up on the filing cabinets as the 2 short ones were taking up a lot of space. Lol. So it became a little project, we are stripping it right now, and sanding it down for texture, let it get a light rust, then clear coating it. Ill post a pic once its completed. Woohoo! Attached Images
Reply:keep practicing and don't try to do more than what the machine can handle (anything structural or safety concerned is out). Eventually you'll want something bigger but for now just focus on getting technique down. Add gas later and go to a solid wire and your beads will look much nicer.
Reply:your are doing great kid.Keep it up. The bug tends to grow stronger as well. If you don't keep it in check you will be buying a TIG unit as well as a wire feed. You will want to be welding bigger and bigger things all the time. If you get the bug bad enough, you could end up in debt from swiping the credit card at the local welding supply shop. It is a sick sick bug to have.  You do realize that there is no known cure, right?Now you are going to die with this bug. Nobody gets out alive.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Not bad for starting. What's the inside of the pipe look like? Be sure to get all the wire out from in there. I'm willing to bet this lasts you 2 months TOPS before you buy something better. The bug bites pretty hard.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:thanks guys for the positive feedback. it has bitten hard! its so much fun. now i know what all the talk about watching the puddle is about. cant wait to get my own mig and tig. hopefully i can resist long enough. hahathe insides looks good(i think). i dont think i burnt through it once. but saw good penetration. i might be taking the elbow off to make a nicer fitting one, this one is a little off, but works just fine. Ill make sure to snap some pictures then...
Reply:That's about how my very first welds looked, not to long ago. I am still going to school for welding thoe.I am sure with practice we will both get better.PROUD   AMERICAN
Reply:Good thing you started with quality wire. That harbor freight FC wire blows.
Reply:Every body has to start some where, right?  Looks pretty goood for a first project.Like the other lost souls have told you, it's an addiction.  The LWS becomes your connection.  You start sweating when the pressure gauge falls below 500 PSI and it's only Saturday afternoon.  Look out when the wife starts wanting a zap ever now and again.  Dually addicted couples have been known to build shops and buy twice the equipment!RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:thasnk again guys. whats sad is that these welds look a lot better than the welds from my last exhaust which was done at a local muffler shop :-/and yes, i want to have my fiance give it a shot see how she likes it. hopefully that doesnt translate into $$$$$ spent on welding equipment soon! lol
Reply:Open your wallet - it's a bumpy ride Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:LOL   LOLJust kidding!     Nice job!  Welding and fabrication can be crippling diseases. But some of the best cures come in blue.Peace Attached ImagesPOVERTY...is the Mother of InventionMillermatic 211Millermatic 140Miller Thunderbolt XLArcOne 100STS inverter w/TIGThermal Dynamics 38XL Victor Oxy/AcetyleneJancy Slugger Holemaker IIJet 5x6 BandsawNever enough time & sleep.
Reply:Best cures come in a stainless steel case or grey case and bellow diesel smoke and flying sparks. They tend to make you roam the states they can build or break confidence.  Just kidding blue makes good stuff also........ I haven't personally used any but have heard. Lol all in good fun Welds look good considering what you were working with. Now dig up a crusty old welder and have him show you a few things and you will be on your way.
Reply:Originally Posted by specopswelderBest cures come in a stainless steel case or grey case and bellow diesel smoke and flying sparks. They tend to make you roam the states they can build or break confidence.  Just kidding blue makes good stuff also........ I haven't personally used any but have heard. Lol all in good fun Welds look good considering what you were working with. Now dig up a crusty old welder and have him show you a few things and you will be on your way.
Reply:James I new I'd get an sa runnin man to bite. Ha ha have to agree they are awesome weldin machines. I really like the 200d. Those old flat heads sure do bark to high idle   Nothin sounds like em. Cheers.
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Reply:Right on man not too shabby of a start! But be careful.....this bug bites hard just as the others have said! I started with a Hobart 115v mig.........Now I am upto five machines...... But hey I like choices Mig Tig Stick... and soon planning to add a LN25 wire feed to my stable, Oh and maybe a syncrowave while i am at it.lol... All I can say is that lil rig you got will be just fine to learn the ropes on, but please nothing structural them little rigs just don't get hot enough.  Keep at it and remember hit all us up with any questions you got or weld advice there are some smart folks on here....  Oh and get your self a bucket of horse shoes to weld stuff like coat racks towel racks etc....nothing smooths over purchasing a new welder like making the wife something for  the house.....Millermatic 30aMillermatic 210Miller thunderbolt 225 ac/dc/ccMiller HF15-1-wg tigLincoln ranger 10(honda powered)Cebora 175 mig Too damn many tools but oddly not enough......
Reply:Originally Posted by mitsuman i want to have my fiance give it a shot see how she likes it. hopefully that doesnt translate into $$$$$ spent on welding equipment soon! lol
Reply:haha you guy are funny. some good advice in this thread! i will have to make her a little something for every purchase lol. cant stop looking at welding pictures, and drooling over some really nice looking tig welds. getting very jealous. and you know what that means....
Reply:my best advice comes from own experience for the best results from HF open the lid insert a dollar bill close lid  and throw unit away at least you can say you throwed something away
Reply:Originally Posted by SMC WeldcraftLOL   LOLJust kidding!     Nice job!  Welding and fabrication can be crippling diseases. But some of the best cures come in blue.Peace
Reply:It's likely that very soon you will outgrow the HF machine....... Heck....it may have happened already........Before long you will have a precision TIG machine for $1200.... 6 months later upgrade to a bigger machine..... 6 months later start saving money for an SA-200........ It will become worse than a crack addiction....... The LWS and steel suppliers will know you by first name soon I'm sure......Precision TIG 185 and MP 210Bobcat 225NTCutmaster 42O/A tanks.... 2 Argon tanks...... 2 C25 TanksFacebook...... F2 Metal WorksETSY....... https://www.etsy.com/shop/F2MetalWorksF2MetalWorks.com....... http://www.f2metalworks.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTI'm not picky about color. Welds look great OP! you are well on your way to no money and lots of tools!
Reply:Originally Posted by SMC WeldcraftTouche!
Reply:Exactly. My 140 is set up with .030 and is setup with a bottle (hidden behind). And the 211 is set up with .035 flux. My old 130 I bought in '97 and is truly a beautiful thing with .030 flux. I've used many brands...but to me..nothing touches the Millers. All as smooth as glass and never had a malfunction...save for an occasional liner change etc.  For really heavy work I have access to several Big Blues at work and a couple of Ln-25's.POVERTY...is the Mother of InventionMillermatic 211Millermatic 140Miller Thunderbolt XLArcOne 100STS inverter w/TIGThermal Dynamics 38XL Victor Oxy/AcetyleneJancy Slugger Holemaker IIJet 5x6 BandsawNever enough time & sleep.
Reply:From someone that welds for a living and all I've ever done work wise it makes me happy to see people that start out welding with purpose.  You seen a need for welding and you went for it. There's lots of guys that weld for a living that wouldn't begin to build something for there car or there home. Some people weld and some people weld for a reason. Keep up the good work and you'll be as good as you want. Not sure where your located but if you are close to me I'd help you any way I could.Horseshoes! Lots of horseshoes. For us, it was another way for our horses to pay for their keep. Every 6 weeks we have a few new napkin holders!!! Cowboy181's right. Don't know where you're located but if its rural, you shouldn't have too much trouble. Horseshoers are glad to toss you a few.
Reply:well its been a few months off, sorry for not responding to a couple of you. im located in socal, orange county. bug bit me again this weekend, didnt have anything to weld so i just started practicing welding together anything i could find that i didnt need. forgot how fun it was!now i need to think of something creative for valentines day....
Reply:Lots of so cal folks here ...Over by Hemet caBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by Rog02... Like the other lost souls have told you, it's an addiction....