More Questions on Welding!!

[Helenginger]

Hi All,

After a couple of weeks with Clover in which I've got her engine running and brakes sorted I now need to get to the important work of chasis repairs and body work refurbishment!!

(I know I'm supposed to do this first and then come back to the "easy" engine bits, but had to get her running for the plesure of driving her up and down the road!!!!!)

However, I have fully itmeised all the work that needs doing and bought a welder. After reading lots of the threads on here and some MIG Welding sites I'm all ready to get cracking.

This is the welder that arrived yesterday:

http://www.ccw-tools.com/product.asp?st ... re+Details

Anyway, here is the problem, I now have welder, big gloves, full mask and a bottle of CO2 and Argon Mix. Got it all home, and the gas doesn't fit on the regulator. The regulator seems to be for big, screw on type gas bottles and I have bought a titchy little disposable cyllinder. As I'm now skint after buying the machine, scrap steel etc. what is better value for money and will be mopre useful for me in the long run, a new regulator for the titchy bottles, or keep the regulator and investigate the big "commercial" bottles? Which gas is more use for me? CO2, CO2 and Argon Mix. Value for money is key here as I'm all spent up and I just want to get on with blowing holes in some of my "new" scrap!!!

Also, if I go for big bottles I have no idea where you get them from, and am confused by cylinder rentals etc?

Any help would be gratefully received!

Cheers,

Tom

[les]

Your welder is supplied with an industrial regulator, so fits the large bottles, which as you say involves rental from boc, which amounts to a yearly charge plus the bottle refills. You would probably be better off getting a regulator for the small bottles to start with if cash is tight. You may have to join hoses at some point as the diameters may differ. The large bottles are more economical in the long run if you have miles of welding to do. Others will be better placed to give further info.

[MGFmad]

I would also advise using the small bottles unless you are doing loads of welding -BOC rental prices are expensive.

You will need one of these regulators for a small gas bottle -
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... gas-bottle
£14.94 is not to bad !

[Dean]

I've seen the smaller gas bottles in Machine Mart, so they probably do all the hoses, regulators and connectors. Get plenty of wire too.. I use .8mm (make sure you have the right size tip in the gun), those little reels disappear quite quickly.

[millerman]

Try your local Air Products depot. you may be able to do a deal

[polo2k]

If you dont mind using CO2 then have a word with your local landlord ;)

[Helenginger]

Thanks Fellas,

Top advise as always......! I've got a few things to go at! When I get it going I'll post some pictures, probably of lumps of melted steel and bent metal!

Cheers,

Tom

[Leo]

I would suggest what seems the most expensive route but will save you money and time in the end.
BOC bottle hire is about £70 per annum plus about £50 for argonshield gas. This should be sufficient to see you through a fairly large welding project and will produce first class welds.
Air Products may do a slightly better deal.

Leo 69 Traveller

[morris62]

get yourself over to www.mig-welding.co.uk as there are some good articles on welding and what gas to get/use on the forum side.

[britab1967]

Helenginger

I know I'm probably going to get shouted down butI've done all my work so far with cored wire. You do get a weld that looks like something the pigeons have left behind, until it's cleaned up. But it is far easier to use because you have more flexibility in the gap between torch and metal ie you don't need to keep the gas shield intact, and if you are working in a draft, like me in the lean-to, it doesn't matter.
The downside is the comparitive cost of the wire and you have to be able to swap the polarity of the gun (don't ask me why, but you do), but you don't have to buy bottles of gas. Last lot of wire I bought was boxes of 2 450g 0.9mm from ALDI for £9.

All the best for the jobs in hand.

Brian

[linearaudio]

There is the "in between" bottle route which I used. First, DO NOT waste £10-£12 a time on those silly little disposable bottles, they last about 20 minutes each. Also whatever you use, do not just rely on the regulator tap to turn supply off, I found mine didn't quite, resulting in no gas after a couple of days!!
I use the small type regulator, but get (I think 7Kg, but can't be bothered to look it out at the moment) re-fillable gas bottles. The one off charge was about £30 filled, refills about £8, MUCH cheaper than the disposable type. It has a Sealey label on it so should be easy enough to source- mine came from my local paint/refinishing supplier. CO2/ argon seems to work nicely! Looks like a very good welder for the price - thank God you didn't fall for the SIP joke which probably would have cost much the same
Oh, and don't try welding in a draught until you are used to things, it tends to blow the gas away and you'll be wondering what is wrong with your welding!!

[mick64]

Hi

You will soon lose the big gloves ,I have been welding for years in just shorts and a T shirt...

I can weld with the fluxed wire but prefer the gas...

Good luck...

Mick..

[bmcecosse]

CO2 cylinder from the pub seems to work well for some - certainly very inexpensive if you can come to an arrangement with the Landlord. Cored wire is used too by many of the Mini lads and they seem to get on well enough with that. But not all machines can take it. Otherwise - the 'refillable' cylinders sound like the way to go.

[linearaudio]

Hi

You will soon lose the big gloves ,I have been welding for years in just shorts and a T shirt... Mick..

I'd forgotten my early days- took more time dressing up in heavy gear than ever welding! But you need that extra confidence at first. Now if I catch a hot bit I tend to shrug it off rather than flinch and lose my bead!
Mind you - skin cancer, burnt ear drums etc, etc, its your choice!

[Helenginger]

Plunge Taken...

I've aquired a bottle of Coogar 5 welding gas (93% Argon 7% other stuff) sourced from Air Products who were prepared to do a deal on the cost, and didn't take any money off me, but will direct debit me in a months time.... (After Payday!!)

I now have a garage full of splatter, and not much weld stuck to metal.. I seem to be getting quite a lot of smoke, and tiny balls of molten metal flying around like a firework!!

Any easy hints?

Cheers for the help and to "millerman" for his tip with Air Products!

Tom

[les]

Sounds like you may be keeping the wire too far away from the metal, rather than sort of pressing into the weld. The speed of the wire feed may need fiddling with. You only need the regulator open enough to hear a light hiss when you press the trigger, this also preserves the gas.

[PSL184]

Your work pieces need to be clean and free from grease as this will cause splatter. Also you may need to turn up the current as it sounds very much like your penetration is poor.....

[Dean]

Move the weld tip over the join too, this gets the two pieces to be joined hot. You can then flow the molten material over the joint in a nice slow controlled way. Take your time, if the material starts to disappear, you have too much ampage going through.

[superchargedfool]

as said the gas should sound like a subtle hiss, not a big gale.

Shroud should be about 5 to 10mm from the point of welding.

Don't turn your welder up to a high setting unless welding something thick, less is more as they say.

Start at a lowish wire feed speed and go up a little at a time untill the welding seems to get quieter. You know when it is about right because it gets very quiet.

Do turn of the tap on the bottle after every session as said because the regulator may leak a little.

Pleased you went for arg mix, it is the best option. Pub gas is only just good enough and does make it harder.

If you are freindly with your local garage you could always ask them to show you, if you take your helmey you can watch.

I have shown customers of mine in the past.

Just keep practising, it isn't that hard.

[Dean]

Hi

You will soon lose the big gloves ,I have been welding for years in just shorts and a T shirt... Mick..

I'd forgotten my early days- took more time dressing up in heavy gear than ever welding! But you need that extra confidence at first. Now if I catch a hot bit I tend to shrug it off rather than flinch and lose my bead!

Reminds me of my apprentice days learning how to Arc weld. I wrapped up to the nines, but a small splatter went down my front... painfully chased it down my bare chest. How.. sods law I don't know but it settled in the base of my pants simmering until I moved where it singed the base of my brass monkeys.