back at it after.....

[weldcelt]

I got my nvq level 1 and 2 in 1994/95 and got a job welding for a few years. After that I ended up on the building sites and haven't touched a welder untill last week. I actually forgot how to use it and kept getting the rod stuck!

I'm wanting to make a set of gates for the side of my house and have a few questions. First is - how do I stop getting the rod stuck to the metal. I know this sounds silly because I should know but I've been away from it a long time and its like starting all over again. I've tried high- low settings but couldn't weld it right

My house is an old stone house rendered and I'm wanting to make a set of gates that's between mine and the next door negibours which is also an old stone house rendered. The measurements between the 2 houses is 1.3m wide and want the gate 2m high.

Is it possible to set the gates in box section that's not bolted to either house. Don't want to break into tge plaster and stone walls in case it beings damp through.

What size materials should i use for the gate and box section where gate will be attached to.

 

[Richard.]

It's a technique used for striking off rods where you simply give it a positive tap which breaks through the flux on the front and strikes up. If the flux is already broken on the end and your trying to strike on the metal core this will almost certainly result in sticking so chuck it out and try again with a new. Some modern units have an anti stick feature but tbh you don't need it. Just practice getting them struck up and running. If your currents too low they will stick rather than strike a swell.

 

[backpurge]

Keep practising, it'll come back to you, bit like riding a bike. Make sure you have the machine turned up high enough and follow what Richard says above

 

[Bill Edwards]

What make and type of rods are you using?

It's something you'll just learn with practice, but having good rods is practically a must - cheap ones can be truly awful and inconsistent, which does not help.

 

[Kent]

It really shouldn't go away that much ( I assume you did a fair bit of mma?) I have had a few long breaks from it myself

Is it the set? Or is it you didn't do that much mma?

As regards the gates there are often good reasons to hang them from steel posts rather than walls. Totally no reason you shouldn't just make sure you have proper connections at the base plate or underground

 

[weldcelt]

Thanks for the encouraging replies. Im sure it'll come back to me. Its just funny how I've forgotten it all. I used to use arc welding everyday and also mig so I'm sure it won't take to long to come back.

As for the gate posts, will 2inch box section bedded in ft deep be enough to hold the gates or will i need thicker box section and deeper in the ground.

 

[Kent]

Depends on ground and weight of gates being hung. You can't honestly go too deep but you can too shallow
If you require a dig over base plates I recomend you don't go less than 3 ft on anything but a small gate
The section again depends on the gate I might double what you suggest on large gates and normaly fit a field gate on 80x 80

 

[Bill Edwards]

I can't think of any post that I would tend to put in less than 18" deep in normal conditions. As to the size of the box to use for a post for such things I tend to think 80mm as the bare minimum, but you may need much more - how heavy will the gates be, are they open or clad etc - all things which need to be taken into account.

 

[Kent]

I think if you did a great deal of stick then it's most likely going to Ed up a machine fault. Just posted this because I am interested will the machine run a bead if you don't hold on to the stinger just flick it off on a flat bit

What size rod in relation to amps?

 

[weldcelt]

Dont know what amp or rods I'll be using.

The distance between the 2 houses is 1.3m and will make them 1.7m high. Not really wanting anything heavy but nothing to light either. Any ideas on what thickness of materials I'll need both for the gates and posts. Going to buy it tomorrow if I get a chance