Trying to weld for first time

[lrrowe]

Thanks!

[justageorgiaguy]

I've heard that "sizzling like bacon" is another good comparison for good wire speed

[lrrowe]

The YouTube series I have been watching do talk about a good sound and a bad sound.

[Socal Tom]

one thing I learned along the way from some seriously good welders ( the kind that have their welds xrayed) is that a good weld its as much about preparing the metal for welding as it is the actual welding. Grinding and cleaning the area first isn't optional if you want a good clean weld.
Tom

[skinnedknuckles]

Just don't make any adjustments on the welder while it is under load ( aka burnin wire ). I like the sizzle like bacon sound but it will make you hungry I always figured it as fast popping popcorn since I don't like popcorn it does not make me hungry A clean weld area is a good thing especially when welding with a gas shield, with a flux it helps float some bad stuff to the surface. Just please don't use brake cleaner it emits a toxic gas when heated.

Have fun burnin' wire
Paul

[lrrowe]

You guys are making me anxious. I am in a real slump lately with little to no engery.....one thing to talk to my doctor next week. But I did force myself to get out in the garage this afternoon and did start to take all the welder parts out of the box and assemble the welder. I have put a stake into the ground about welding something this weekend.

[KCStudly]

Your Dr. might suggest Vitamin D supplements. In the winter there is less sunlight, er go less vitamin D in our systems.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

[lrrowe]

Oh, I am convinced I suffer from it. And I am taking Vitamin D. Now I shall see what my blood work says.

[lrrowe]

I performed my first attempts yesterday for welding. I tried to use all the suggestions posted here and all the youtube videos I had watched. Other then that, I had no real training. While I would not enter any of my work into any contest, I think it turned out ok. Not pretty, but for the end to end weld, I bent the rod and it would not snap. See below.

My $50 used 85 Amp, but 10 year old new unit (i.e. 10 years old and never used by previous owner)


First weld, two rebar welded end to end. Would not snap under bending test.


Not so pretty limb welds


And the final product. My wife's request to build it as my first welding experience. Now we need to drink more wine.


Now on to more CT work as I seem to have been on a 5 month hiatus.

[aggie79]

Very nice Bob!

Our situations are similar - I've been wanting a welder and my wife wants a wine bottle tree - but I haven't found a solution as you did. i just started the next task on the honey-do list. (I'm building a retaining wall using about 500 of the 24-pound precast blocks.) As soon as that is done, and adding another 6 months for my back to recover, I figure it will be 2017 before I tackle a welder.

Take care,
Tom

[lrrowe]

Funny thing, a much smaller mason block wall is on my agenda also. My wife says "no" to my doing it myself. Looks I will need some cheap labor.
You may not be far off with your bad repair estimate. Just take it slow.

[skinnedknuckles]

Bob, its a start. Re-bar is kinda sloppy to weld anyway and pretty soft - bends easily, all sorts of impurities in it ( it does looks good for ornamental use on my rat rod that I am building ). Once you start welding on some flat stock you will get the feel of it and pushing the puddle. Remember practice, practice, practice . You will get the hang of it and then you will open up a whole new project world for yourself.
Have fun
Paul

[lrrowe]

Thanks Paul for the encouragement.
I had my first welding disappointment the other day. The hard blowing wind knocked it over and one of the limbs broke at the weld. Upon inspection, it was clear that the weld was bad. In soldering terms, it looked like a "cold" weld.
But I do see improvements in each weld effort. One thing I am having problems with is wire speed. I have got to slow it down.

And the other bad news, good news thing that happen is that a bottle broke. The good news is that we will have to drink more to replace it.

[Dale M.]

Now that you have tried your hand in it, go back to http://weldingtipsandtricks.com and see if what Jody says make more sense and if it help you processes...

Dale

[lrrowe]

I had seen some of his videos before. I just quickly viewes the first six of them and picked up another tip or two.
Thanks for the link and just maybe I will come back to it every now and then.