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I just bought a Hobart 140 Mig Welder for about 500 bucks and i am looking to get into MIG welding and eventually arc. If this welder sucks please tell me why and maybe i will cancel it but the reviews were good.Any advice for a beginner would be great, i basically know nothing.I have a welder,gloves, wire, gas, gas cylynder and a welder helmet. Any other necessities i may need?Do i need a welding table??? I want to build one but my first project will be welding in my new exhausts but first im gonig to get some scrap metal.Also how pricey is metal? How much would it cost to build a nice welding table. Thanks!!!
Reply:Steel can be fairly cheap if you look around. Do not buy steel from big box stores (HD, Lowes, TSC, etc.)I searched for "steel distributors" in my area then started making phone calls. Make a list of what you want, how long, how thick, style, etc. Call around before you start driving, some places have minimum orders, some will only take cash when dealing with small orders.Consider transportation: Most places sell stuff like angle iron in 20' lengths, if you can't haul that you will need to cut it at their site or have them cut it. Some places will cut for free, other charge an hourly or fixed rate and really get you on it.I picked up 40' of 1.5"x1.5"x1/8" angle and 10' of 1"x1/8" strap all for $25.When you show up if you humble yourself and let them know that you are learning you can ask for cutoffs or trash scraps and they might give you some for free. I had one place let me walk out with all the 1/4" thick 4" tubing in 12" lengths that I could carry after I told him I was learning to weld and needed practice material.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:What do you guys use to cut the metal tubing? grinder? plasma cutter? whats the most affrodable yet practical solution to cut the metal in half or do 90 degree cuts?also what are most tables made out of stainless steel or aluminum?
Reply:What you use depends on what you have. I use the grinder for small gauge or short cuts, O/A for heavier stuff. I have a metal cutoff blade on the 10" radial arm saw for lots of repetitive cutoffs.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:whats an O/A?
Reply:Originally Posted by Steven4estwhats an O/A?
Reply:could i cut an exhaust pipe with a grinder?
Reply:Yes. You can use a cut-off wheel (it's a thin abrasive disk) on a 4.5" grinder to cut just about anything. You can get the grinders on sale at Harbor Freight for $15 and grinding wheels and cut-off wheels there as well. If you're a hobbyist, this stuff will work just fine. (If you're a pro who's losing money every minute a machine is sitting idle, then you're better off with much more expensive tools.)The HH140 is a great 110v machine. I built three welding tables with mine, as well as a wrought-iron fence for my front yard and a bunch of other projects. If you're going to be working with steel that's thicker than 1/4", then you'll need a 220v welder. For cutting exhaust pieces, a 4-1/2" grinder is the cost-effective way to go. You could also get an abrasive cut-off saw (cheap at HF, more expensive if you want one to last the rest of your life). If you're cutting thicker steel, or cutting a lot of steel, then a dry-cut saw and/or a horizontal band saw are good long-term investments. An Oxy-AC torch is good for cutting if you also need it for other things like heating up stubborn bolts. But if all you need to do is make the occasional cuts, I'd say the learning-curve part of it and the safely-storing-Acetyene part of it might make an argument against going down that path -- again, assuming you're just a hobbyist. (I bought an Oxy-AC setup two years ago, and still haven't found a use for it.)You're going to need a heavy jacket to protect your skins from burns (and also from the UV light that comes off an arc, which is much stronger than you get lying on the beach). If you're welding indoors, or working on any steel that's galvanized, you'll need a 3M mask and the 2097 (I think I'm remembering that right) filters. Depending on what kind of projects you're working on, you'll need lots of clamps, anti-spatter dip, a metal thickness gauge, a cap to keep hot slag out of your hair, wire brushes, extra tips and some more clamps.Another good building project is a welding cart -- you don't want the C25 bottle sitting unsupported while you work.If you post your location, you'll probcbly get some good suggestions on where to get steel near you. Don't go to a hardware store for it.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:hey man thatnks for the great respons. Im in chesapeake, VA. I think ill just get a grinder. My first build after i do some scraps is gonna be a welding table. Is it okay o weld outside like near grass? I Dont have a garage and not a huge driveway but i have a backyard, i just dont want to start a forrest fire
Reply:The downside to working outside is wind can carry away your shielding gas. You'll notice it by your welding being porous (looking like bubbles rather than sitting flat) so avoid that as rework is costly and as much fun as homework.Although I've recently bought a welding table, for a lot of my stuff (shelves etc) I just welding it up on the garage floor. Welding tables are great as you don't need to constantly move your earth clamp, but for a while I used a sheet of 1mm steel on a B&D workmate & it worked fine. Welding tables can be expensive as the steel top is a reasonable chunk of material.Although the abrasive chop saws get bad press, they're cheap and do a reasonable job. They cut quickly but accuracy is not their strong point (a bit like me...). Having said that, as long as you know in which way they're inaccurate (mine cuts on a slight angle), you can easily work around it. They save huge amounts of time for the low initial outlay of funds.A heavy cotton shirt or overalls will do until you get a welding jacket. I avoid the cost of a welding cap by having very short hair and putting up with the occasional red mark. My welding tutor had so much hair product, I sometimes thought he'd go up like a candle.I also would doubt if you're welding mild steel or stainless inside that you'd need a breathing filter. The gas is inert and I've never noticed any fumes, but I could be wrong. By the sounds of things, you're unlikely to be welding galvanised steel, which does give off fumes.
Reply:Steve, I didn't see a gas regulator on your list. If your gonna GMAW, you definately need a reg. It may come with the welder, dont know, but worth a look see. Looks like ya got it covered otherwise. Try to stay away from Galvanized at what ever cost, it's way bad for you to breathe those fumes, and it makes a big mess on your project.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys? Trade?
Reply:Regulator and flow meter unless you're going flux core. I really would strongly suggest an auto darkening helmet and good lighting so you can see where to go-really makes life simple. Always helps to have a fire extinguisher handy.
Reply:Steven,I would highly recommend that you go to millerwelds.com and click on the resources tab. There you will find an offer for the Miller Student Pack. It includes a tig manual, a GMAW manual, a GMAW-P manual, a SMAW handbook, welding calculators, and a bunch of other goodies. It's $25 including shipping and will be the best money you ever spend on welding.I'd also pick up a couple of the "welding handbooks" from the box stores. They'll answer many of your basic questions.Not saying it can't be done, but trying to learn to weld on your own without formal instruction can be difficult and very time consuming. I'd recommend looking into taking a basic welding course at your local community college. Will shorten the learning curve greatly.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:You will quickly end up spending more on welding accessories than you did on your HH140. It's interesting that you purchased a welder without first looking into the entire minutia that surrounds actually making a project (metal costs, cutting accessories, clamps, tanks/gas, etc.). As far as hobbies go, welding is not cheap.Learn on projects that won't involve your (or anyone else’s) personal safety. In other words, don't start with structural elements on trailers, cars/trucks, motorcycles, etc. Start with handy projects such as a welding cart, welding table, and other "around the house stuff". Educate yourself as SundownIII wisely recommended.The HH140 can be a fun and useful little welder. However, know that is has limitations based on its 110volt power supply.
Reply:Originally Posted by joedirt1966 As far as hobbies go, welding is not cheap.
Reply:Originally Posted by Matt_MaguireI don't know about that? I'm thinking Golf, Fishing, Auto Racing and any number of other money holes out there.I suspect that welding as a hobby, if anything, is a bit less social. But unless you burn yourself to the ground seems to be a good way to stay out of trouble.Matt
Reply:It's only a money pit if you fail to consider all of the cost involved to begin with. If you are fully aware of the cost then it is no longer a money pit but a decision to invest. Unfortunately too many people get the bug, and get about 1/2 way into the investment and realize that the wife is pissed about how much you have already spent. So budget your time and money wisely and you wont end up sleeping on the couch with rufus the dog. Great info on the money pit side of the hobby though, cause rufus will be pissed when you take the couch away. An I like the dog better than the wife sometimes. Hee Heee...I'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys? Trade?
Reply:At best, I would call myself a weekend welder, but I'm really just a newbie even though I have owned the welder for several years. I purchased a metal chop saw from Harbor Freight for $90.00? It works great. If it is metal, I cut it up and weld it back together, including old lawn mower blades. My metal distributor has a scrap metal pile and bucket, they sell the scraps by the pound. If you get small pieces, you can get a lot of metal for $10.00,.Here is my welding table,,,,,,, it works but is far from perfect and is only a temp thing until I figure out what table I want to build. Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:Darn nice chunk o steel for a table. Looks like a 1/2 inch or better. Sooner or later add some legs and youll be good to go. If ya anchor it you can add a reciever tube and make some attatchments for a grinder or vise to slide in and out to change at will. Takes a little less room, and gives a little flexibility to the shop. I put reciever tubes on all 4 corners facing both directions on my big table (4x6), and it keeps the top open for fit ups and projects. Gotta get my camera going for pics.I'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys? Trade?
Reply:Someone mentioned getting some clamps so I figured I'd pass on something my welding teacher clued me into. Lowes has had a clearance for a while on their locking clamps. They are pretty solid (they basically feel twice as solid as the ones I got at Harbor Freight for the same price).You mentioned welding outside, but if you do end up doing any welding in your garage I also recommend making sure you have a good light source of some sort. Trying to work on projects when it's hard to see what you are welding is not fun. Even with a simple auto-dark helmet from HF, it's sometimes hard to see things at certain angles when starting your weld.If you end up welding frames for things I also recommend either the welding magnets HF sells for cheap, or the 90 degree frame clamps you can get at HF or Lowes. I just finished a welding cart and got a lot of use out of the frame clamps when making the base, the platform for the welding, and a frame to support the gas bottle.
Reply:IS there any danger with welding near grass? i live in a townhouse and have a 15x15 backyard and thats about all i can weld in. Any suggestions on what to weld on? im guessing a piece of metal. I have to build a welding table but until then sheet metal is what i have been welding on
Reply:Get a 4.5" angle grinder. It probably has a grinding wheel included. Buy a 10-pack of the thin cut-off wheels. You'll use them alot to do your cutting. They can wear down fast, and can break; so you'll go through 10 of them before you go through the grinding wheel. Get a cupped wheel brush too. Eventually you'll get tired of switching wheels around and buy a 2nd grinder. Get another set of gloves too. Welding gloves are too big when you're using an angle grinder. Get ear protection too. Also get one of those 1-to-3 extension cord adaptors. You can plug 3 tools into one cord. Get a heavy gauge extension cord too. Get 3 or 4 welding magnets and some clamps.HH187Harris O/AInfrared thermometerHalf a dozen angle grinders
Reply:Dry grass will catch fire. Green grass won't. But get an inexpensive welding blanket from Harbor Freight. However, don't weld where neighbors could look at the arc. You probably don't want to deal with the parents of some kid who's screaming from getting flashed after watching you work.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by little JeepHere is my welding table,,,,,,, it works but is far from perfect and is only a temp thing until I figure out what table I want to build.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenYou probably don't want to deal with the parents of some kid who's screaming from getting flashed after watching you work.
Reply:It is impossible to own too many clamps. Used clamps work just fine, you find them at garage sales, estate sales, used tool stores, swap meets; etc.An auto darkening hood, in my opinion, will make you a better welder.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Hey Steve, you have a good machine there. Start off with .035 flux core, makes learning easy. Also, when working outside you will not have to worry about your shielding gas blowing away. You can build almost anything you want with this machine. Good flexible welding gloves and auto darkening hood are real valuable. A 4 1/2 inch grinder, rough file, and a good wire brush should be all you need for cleaning your welds for now. You will probably need a 12 gauge extension cord- fifty footer will be good. Get a green welding jacket and button up to the neck when working. Couple of clamps and you are good to go. Best, Ralph |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:16:37