Welding??

[pigpen]

I have always wanted to learn welding & after getting the Harbor Frieght catalog in the mail I have decided to get one when I have some cash. For gunsmithing purposes & other odds & ends, what is the most versitle, easiest to use welding set-up?


And Tanker, hows about a welding sticky???????????
Please.

[texlurch]

Best all around is a mig. Get one that has the gas option, some of the cheaper ones are flux core only. For the cost from HF, you can find one of the Lincoln pocket migs on Ebay or around town.

Next choice would be tig, a little harder to learn and more cost initially, but better for thin metals, and aluminum and stainless.

[Simon]

If you are thinking about getting a HF welder, one of my classmates got one and he hates it. On the other hand, he's had better luck with his HF auto-darkening helmet he got for ~$50 than some people have with their $100 models.

Migs are easy to learn, Tigs are hard but particularly handy in some situations. Both are fun.

And make sure you PRACTICE with your welder a lot before you try any gunsmithing stuff. It is extremely easy to burn through or otherwise damage the piece.

[cimmaronkid]

Save your money on the Harbor Freight welder and go get a good used Lincoln like Texlurch said. Learn to use it with the gases and you will do fine. Tig is a lot harder to learn and for 95% of what you do in gunsmithing, the mig gas set up will work. Also, a nice acetelyne set up comes in handier for me as I use mine to silver solder and braze all kinds of parts. You can find these cheap in your local paper. Get the small one that the plumbers use as it is a lot handier than mine which requires a cart.

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I will echo what the Kid said.

I will add that I originally bought a Harbor Freight welder and I was back to the store more times that I really wanted exchanging it for new ones. It was, in short, crap.

I eventually bought a Lincoln 3200HD wire/gas welder. It welds great.....unlike the Harbor Freight pos.

I also got the Lincoln/Harris portable acetelyne torch set. It has small tanks but it gets brazing jobs done easily. If I put the cutting tip on it eats gas because of the smaller tanks but I knew that going in.

I would recommend both set-ups to anyone.

[M1 Tanker]

I can make a sticky, but here are some links I picked up using the search button and typing in welding.

Types of welders to buy (http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=1006&highlight=welding)

Types of Welding (http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=649&highlight=welding)

Tig filler material (http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=396&highlight=welding)

Welding Advice (http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=326&highlight=welding)

Ya'll figure out excatly what you want, becuase welding is a LARGE topic.

[texlurch]

Maybe just add those to the AK builders sticky? There are not that many gun kits that require welding. And you sure don't want to try your fusion technology skills out on a gun as your first thing....

[Perro]

There are not that many gun kits that require welding

i disagree on this one
most of the kits require welding here or there
most of the kits have receivers that have been torch cut, and the only way to build the kit is to reweld the cut receiver.

there are only a few available at the moment that DONT require welding
off the top of my head

1. FN FAL
2. AK47
3. ar15


mig is easier to get good quality welds with as a beginner than any other process, you just adjust your speed dragging it, and the wire speed till it sounds like perfect bacon sizzling, and youre good to go.
takes time to get to that point, but the first time you hear the bacon sizzling, youll know its right, and your weld comes out right.

lots of spatter on mig and arc to clean up

mig produces a large raised weld bead, and the beauty about this is if its messed up, you can grind it down and lay another right over the top of it.

a peanut grinder is a must too - you will be grinding LOTS of welds off, and youll need it to prep the metal before welding - clean bright metal is important for this.

also - definately get the GAS - flux core SUCKS imho
flux core can be made to work well by good welders, but in general, the gas will give a beginner much better results

and for any beginner, the auto darkening helmet will help GREATLY as well


tig is better by far at alot of things, but there are things that mig can do that tig cannot. Its also harder to learn starting out. Id suggest starting out on MIG for sure.

i can help you as im sure many others can too if you get your machine. If youre getting a mig, i suggest a millermatic 135 to start on - start with the best, and you wont be discouraged as much as you will with the cheapo machines


my opinions only

[texlurch]

Well, I meant the generally available kits out there now... ma bad!

They have spray available, to help cut down on the splatter, FYI. It helps on the cleanup. And ideally, if the heat and wire size is matched to the metal, the weld bead shouldn't be that large on the mig. But the thinner the material, the harder it is to get a good weld and smooth bead.

And a big +1 on the auto darkening helmets. Especially as most of the lower priced migs are hot all the time, makes it much easier to line everything up and strike.

[pigpen]

Hey guys thanx for all the sugjestions. Yeah, Tank I guess I should have tried a search first. Ma's porkroast was cooking & I was ready to go see if she needed any help getting lunch ready. I love Sunday dinner. Hope you can understand.

[cruffler78]

+ one for the spray sugestion. Most welding shops have it in stock and the stuff I got works very well. Just spray all around the area and nothing sticks. I have a flux core that has deffinately paid for itself in usefulness but o how I wish it were a mig or one that I could retro fit the gas to it.

[bulldog]

I have a 135 amp clark mig that can do both gasless and gas. I had been using the flux core but with mylatest build decided to get a tank. It makes a huge difference once you get the gas flow figured out. i wish I had done it sooner.

[Shovelheadfxwg]

Pigpen, If you would like to have technical help, support, someone to show you how to use it, make suggestions on how to make better welds, show you how to set it up. Also take care of warranty issues, if you have any, hopefully you wouldn't, then buy a welding machine from reputable welding supply store, not a discount outlet, mailorder, or flea market. As an employee of a welding supply store, I can tell you that we help people with this stuff everyday. Sometimes the machines may cost a little more, but the added value of having someone to call when you need help, is well worth a few extra bucks. We send our employees for product training, process training, and troubleshooting classes regularly.
If the place you go to purchase a machine isn't knowledgable about the machine, the consumables, or the processes, go somewhere else. If they aren't courteous and helpful, go somewhere else. It surprises me that so many people aren't aware that your local welding supply guys are a great source of information and support on your projects. If you're not getting this from your welding supply, you're shopping at the wrong place.
Also, try to find a knowledgeable sales person, and get to know them by name, then you'll have a direct line to all the welding information that you could ever need.

[Bulletboy]

This is good stuff guys, I also will be needing to learn to weld, so I appreciate this. As far as actually learning to use the good quality welder you should be able to get thanks to the advice here, there are some videos at smartflix on how to do it that look decent.

[Woodman in MO]

Does your local community college offer any class or workshops on welding?

[okie shooter]

Does your local community college offer any class or workshops on welding?

Night school type of courses at your local Vo Tech too. At least they offer them here in Oklahoma and back home in Kansas too.

[Perro]

if its a video youre looking for
try
technicalvideorental.com

i rented a few from them for there gun vids before, and if i recall right, they have welding vidz too

[pigpen]

Thanx for all the info guys. I don't have the cash to attend any formal training just because I want to go to school. I can however, scrounge up enough cash for a decent welder, hopefully late summer or early fall.

[Shovelheadfxwg]

I don't have the cash to attend any formal training just because I want to go to school. I can however, scrounge up enough cash for a decent welder

When you go to buy that welder, ask the sales rep if he would be willing to give you some instruction on it. Ask if he will show you how to set it up, give you some pointers on make different types of welds and such. You can even ask if a Factory Rep from Miller or Lincoln would be able to give you some instruction. Be aware that Miller and Lincoln both offer classes from beginner to extremely advanced classes. They usually charge a fee for these classes, it can range from $25 to $500. Sometimes when customers have asked me for training, I have called my Factory Rep, and they were able to get them in the classes for free. Travel cost would probably be your responsibility though. If you live close enough to a training center you could just drive over. I have even taken a factory rep to a customer's garage, or workshop to set up the machine, and make sure they know how everything works. It is usually yours for the asking. As another bonus from the factory reps, you may get ball caps, T-shirts, or even a protective cover for your newly purchased machine. In all, they just want you to be satisfied. A happy customer is a repeat customer!!!

[Bulletboy]

if its a video youre looking for
try
technicalvideorental.com

i rented a few from them for there gun vids before, and if i recall right, they have welding vidz too

technicalvideorental IS smartflix :)