Newbie: I have the welder, now what?

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Interested in getting into welding, but knowing absolutely nothing about welding, I purchased a used Lincoln Electric SP-125 plus MIG welder and accompanying cart recently.I've read the manual a couple of times through and familiarized myself with the welder's anatomy (haven't plugged it in yet). I read Lincoln's How To Weld that's in the manual, as well as the MIG section of the Haynes Welding Manual.In educating myself, I've purchased the necessary bits & pieces for the welder. Next on the list to buy is the gas and some metal stock to start practice welds with.Once I've got my ducks in a row and ready to go, I'll actually plug the thing in and start with the practicing. So, as part of getting those ducks organized I've got a few questions:- Is a set of coveralls sufficient upper body protection (it'll be Carhartts and steel toe boots down below & I've got a pair of leather welding gloves) or is a leather welding jacket required?- The welder came with an older auto-darkening helmet. Seems in not too bad a shape, but would I better to just purchase a new one? Or does the auto-darkening mechanism not 'wear out' or work less well over time?- To practice on, would purchasing some small-ish pieces of mild steel of 2 mm to 5 mm thickness, as well as some square tubing, angle, etc. be a good place to start?- What sorts of clamping equipment should I be looking at getting? As a woodworker, I have a skabillion clamps, but I suspect only the C-clamps are going to be of any use here, right?- I 'd like to learn more about the theory behind welding in general and MIG specifically, and more about basic welding skills. What books/manuals/DVDs/sites have you found educational and useful?- I tried signing up for a MIG Fundamentals course at a local trade school but it's been cancelled the last couple of times due to insufficient enrollment. Is taking this course a must do before getting started, or would my time and $$ be better invested in self-teaching?- Are there any other questions I'm not asking, so that I don't go  ?Any thoughts/advice/guidance is appreciated!
Reply:Originally Posted by Roland Coppens- Is a set of coveralls sufficient upper body protection (it'll be Carhartts and steel toe boots down below & I've got a pair of leather welding gloves) or is a leather welding jacket required?
Reply:Nice response - hard to add to that, really.  I guess just remember welding is a very FUN thing to do, and the safer you do it the more enjoyable it will become.  .  Welcome to the wild world of welding Roland!Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:It's very difficult to add anything now after Tensaiketi posted that very comprehensive answer. Thanks Ten  I'll try though...- Is a set of coveralls sufficient upper body protection (it'll be Carhartts and steel toe boots down below & I've got a pair of leather welding gloves) or is a leather welding jacket required?Depending on what you want to spend i suggest a leather apron over flame retardant overalls. Obviously a good pair of gauntlets too...- The welder came with an older auto-darkening helmet. Seems in not too bad a shape, but would I better to just purchase a new one? Or does the auto-darkening mechanism not 'wear out' or work less well over time?Sounds ok to me, especially to learn with. It should last for years if it's been looked after. You will need a stack of clear protective screens for it what with the spatter from the MIG. Might be a pain tracking them down? Or improvise. I couldn't find my screens so i cut it leaving enough for the solar panel, then slid a normal screen underneath over the bit i see out. Works great...- To practice on, would purchasing some small-ish pieces of mild steel of 2 mm to 5 mm thickness, as well as some square tubing, angle, etc. be a good place to start?Again great move. What i did to start, and i'm sure most do is a pad. Basically a 7" by 7" flat plate of 5 > mm thickness. Basically you do beads from top to bottom until it looks right. A run on the top side then the bottom, then flip the pad over and repeat. Helps with distortion as the heat is added more evenly...- What sorts of clamping equipment should I be looking at getting? As a woodworker, I have a skabillion clamps, but I suspect only the C-clamps are going to be of any use here, right?Pretty much, for now. There are a few clamps to learn with (Outside corner etc) I'd say a G clamp is fine for now...- I 'd like to learn more about the theory behind welding in general and MIG specifically, and more about basic welding skills. What books/manuals/DVDs/sites have you found educational and useful?Good man, learn as much as you can. This will get you started...http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ture/c4200.pdfIf you like you could also email me with questions and what not? I'm working my way through my apprenticeship in the Ship building industry right now, I'd be happy to pass on what i get taught. Might make up for the issue with no training round your way? Kinda anyway...- I tried signing up for a MIG Fundamentals course at a local trade school but it's been cancelled the last couple of times due to insufficient enrollment. Is taking this course a must do before getting started, or would my time and $$ be better invested in self-teaching?It would be better if you can do a course, but many welders are very good and they taught themselves. I've seen tradesmen who are a bag of s***e while guy's who learned themselves bury them in rod ends!- Are there any other questions I'm not asking, so that I don't go  ?Hmm, can't think right now. Any thoughts/advice/guidance is appreciated!Mind yer eyes...Metaltrades.co.uk
Reply:Great answers!   Have fun with it.  The only things I can think to add are:welding tablea chop sawdrill pressdrill bits (many, many)4" grinderband sawtubing benderoxy- fuel heating torch for bendingengine cherry picker for lifting heavy metal projectsHa, lol,  you get the idea!   You are just peaking into Pandoras box of welding addiction!!
Reply:Originally Posted by BobcatterGreat answers!   Have fun with it.  The only things I can think to add are:    You are just peaking into Pandoras box
Reply:Weld something You only need to be 2% smarter than what you are working on.Lincoln pm140hacksawa big hammer
Reply:Hey you found us Yeah great answers above so get to it and show us what you got Gmaw is a great process and some folks just dont give it enough credit Just burn and go to town! weld it like you own it
Reply:Thanks for all the great responses everyone, especially Tensaiketi - wow! that was great!I've already got:- a Makita 2414NB cut-off saw- a benchtop drill press- drill bits, but mostly for woodworking use- a 5" angle grinder- Delta 8" variable speed bench grinder- a propane 'tiger torch' for pre-heating- a small 115V plasma torchI take it by band saw, Bobcatter meant a portable metal bandsaw, right? (If not, I of course have one for use with wood.)I'm going to need to procure a welding table. I was thinking a bench grinder stand as a base and bolt a steel top on - would that work?I hadn't considered these, so thanks for the suggestions:- tubing bender- oxy- fuel heating torch for bending- engine cherry picker for lifting heavy metal projectsI'll be sure to post pics of my first welds to get some more advice!Thanks everyone!Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:hey roland, a table is the first thing a new welder builds, just after his mig cart. ha ha
Reply:That last post twigged a few more questions I realized I should ask. But first, I forgot to add to the list of stuff I already have is the a cart that came with the welder, which looks to be shop-built and is fairly nice.Now, the questions:  First, what things would need to be looked to see if they need to be replaced? Gun cable liner, gas diffuser and gun tip seem like they'd be likely candidates. Anything else - anything in the wire feed drive mechanism, etc.?Second, what kind of shielding gas and how large a bottle? Third, what kind & size of wire? Most of my welding at the start will be practice welding on the mild steel plate, tubing, angle, etc. After that it'll be all small project hobby stuff for the first little while. I'd mentioned in my OP. From what I've read so far, C-25 in a small bottle (unfamiliar with the terms, but the bottle I'm thinking of is ~3' high) seems reasonable - any thoughts on that? There seems to be a dizzying array of wire & I'm frankly not at the point I'd be able to match up the kind of wire to its intended purpose.Fourth, what sort of regulator equipment is recommended?Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:One of the first things I found I needed was more tips for the gun.  These go by the size of the wire you use.  I ruined a few when I started, now I go a couple months before I have to replace one.  Get a pack of 10 (or whatever, they are cheaper in the pack).  Once I found out about "nozzle dip", it made things much easier.  A one pound tub cost $4 and it will last me 10 years.  Smear this on the tip and inside the nozzle of the gun and it keeps it clean.  I have also heard of using it on the project to keep spatter off important parts.  Your local welding supply (LWS) will be a big help as to gases, tanks, regulators, and wire.  Talk to them.  You will have to have one to get gases, anyway.  I went with a little larger bottle, since they don't cost much more to fill than the smallest ones.  That way you don't have to get it refilled so often, maybe once every six months.  Less likely to run out in the middle of the next project!   I was joking about the whole list of stuff, you don't have to get that till..... you really need it!   A good metal bandsaw starts at close to $1000 (used), but there are much cheaper ones around, see other threads.   Sounds like you are on your way, just..... do it!
Reply:My welding table is a piece of 11 gauge steel about 24" by 38" with some angle iron welded on the back so it fits on top of my Craftsman heavy duty tool cart.     I wheel it around in the garage.  It is far from perfect but it works for me, no big heavy projects.  I think the leftover piece of 11 gauge (about 1/8 inch thick) was 2' by 8' and cost something like $70 at the pipe and metal supply (and probably weighed 70 pounds).  It is sturdy and hasn't bent on me.  I cut it up with a sawzall and used it on several little projects.