Howdy

[Furry Freak]

Hi all, just bought my first MIG today, 180 Butters (Weld Wizard), getting to grips with it already I guess. Been reading the forum for a little while. Only been on a stick for 3 weeks, but been welding for England. In our house, if it's metal, it's been welded! Wish I had learned years ago. It's all hobby and home stuff, but so far made sides for my trailer, a high tower for deer stalking and various tow bar attachments for my 4x4. Ahh, I feel I was born to weld!

Looking forward to leaning the art from you Guys. I guess you never know it all, but a good start is important in my book. Someone please tell me I have bought a decent set. I didn't want one from Halfords.

FF

 

[Tino]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I don't know about the new Butters sets but Butters were very very good quality. I would guess it will be far better than any thing from Halfords.

 

[Furry Freak]

Well, I wanted to be bottom end of professional rather than top end of hobby if that make sense, but there is obviously a big leap in price. The guys in the shop really knew their stuff and just gave me all the pros and cons really and the choice was pretty obvious. They threw in a whole bunch of spares, wire and advice so I'm happy with the deal. It certainly sounds like a good set and so far seems to function beautifully. It's all down to me now.
I'm running Argoshield Light size X and 0.8. But I have some 0.6 too. Looking forward to melting some metal this weekend. Fingers crossed.

FF

 

[chunkolini]

Hi FF

Good quote ''if it it's metal it's bee welded'' the way to go.

re Butters welders, I bought mine 3 years back a 180 amp model, I have used it to death and back again, I would see it as entry level pro or high end amateur, a huge step up from a cheapo thingy. I was gobsmacked how much easier it was to use than a basic model.

Note, I bought it for my wife as a wedding present. I had just resigned from my job to try and make a living as a sculptor, we had the wedding thing aranged, then my old Clarke welder croaked. So ho hum she had a lovely orange welder as a present. And she didn't kill me.

next stage, chop up your push bike and make a chopper/tallbike. This is the way to learn the art.

Chunko'.

 

[Furry Freak]

Thanks for that. I have to say that even being new to Mig and having heard stories of people having great difficulties setting up, this machine works like the proverbial Ronseal promise. It says Butters UK on the side and Weld Wizard on the front. It's pillar box red. The chap in the shop said that Butters had gone bust and this machine was made by the people who bought them out. ( I can only tell you what he said). He reckoned to know them well and had been dealing with them for a long time. All I can say is that it looks and feels very well made.

Been making a 90 degree bend out of straight exhaust pipe today. Strewth I need a power cut off saw. But I really do think that this welder is making it easy for me. Posted first proper welds on here yesterday. Don't think people believed me! Never used a mig before in my life.

Not sure my Missus would appreciate a welder for a present. I think she actually wants a new rifle.

FF

 

[Bigjoe]

Im guessing you bought the weld wizard from DIY welding (aka central welding), It would be nice to see some pictures of it in action (We like pictures )

Its the best way to make yourself skilled with a mig,practice,practice as there are plenty of 'People' that can pigeon poo bits of metal together.

Regards

Joe

Whoops just remembered you posted some pics t'other day!

 

[Furry Freak]

Well this is what the set looks like. Yes, I got it from Central Welding. They were extremely helpful and we struck a decent deal.

Here it is. I've been making a rear load system for my 4x4. This is the start of the headboard.


FF

 

[Furry Freak]

I suppose I could have put this on the welding machine thread, but it's as good on here. I have a very small leak on my set - when I turn off the gas, the gauge very slowly falls to zero. Not a great surprise, but though I'd see if I could find where it's escaping from. I took the side off for a look at the guts. Now, I really don't know what should be inside a MIG set, but in my view, this looks like a well made (by a real person) job. There was a comment the other day that posts of welds by newbies stood out when they had a really good set. I have to say that getting good quality from this set is effortless. I'm not saying that it's necessarily good welding (ie glued together properly), but getting a bead, penetration, control, smoothness etc does seem a cinch. Welded some box today - oops wrong piece. Ground the welds off flush and still had to batter it with a hammer to get it apart again.

Anyway, here she is naked!

 

[Drains]

Welcome to the forum Furry Freak. You'll have to get together with Wozz - he likes a pair of flares too. Hippies.

You must have a bloody big dog if he's not going to get through that new dog guard for your 4x4!

 

[Furry Freak]

Flares? Hippies? What? Where did that come from? It's a 4x4 not a VW camper van stuffed with marijuana.

It's not a dog guard. It's a 'dog guard' - I had to find a name for it. Cargo separation barrier seemed a little grand. My dog doesn't go in the back. He shares the driving on long trips. How's he going to drive if he's in the back? Honestly!


The only flares I have are hand-launch miniflare 3's.

Is this just because I have....

a beard?

FF

 

[Drains]

Flares? Hippies? What? Where did that come from? It's a 4x4 not a VW camper van stuffed with marijuana.

Is this just because I have....

a beard?

FF

You must be Phineas then?

 

[Furry Freak]

No, more like Fat Freddy! And I used to have a cat. But never a hippie. (wow, man)

Ahh, you got me. Wondered where you got the reference from. Don't think that they did much welding though.

FF

 

[Furry Freak]

Thanks Guys, had a good day today, seem to be able to see a bit better. (as in where I'm going) I have got a better style going on. Probably all wrong, but instead of pushing the tip away from me, I am still pushing, but actually toward me. Been welding up, down, left, right even left handed! Had to grind welds back because of the function of the workpiece, but it's been a shame to. They have looked really good. Did some plug welds today and some little sort of on-off stitch welds that looked a bit like they'd been done with a stick - like little ridges flowing into each other.

The anti spatter spray worked very well. The shroud stays nice and clean.

OK another question though. I have got through about half a bottle of argoshield size X and the tip and shroud all look really good. When do I need to replace them and why? I mean is long life a sign of something good - or actually a symptom of NOT doing something right? I know they're cheap, but the Guys I bought the kit from gave me a load of each and I thought that I'd be getting through them like billy-O.

FF

 

[zardoz]

I love the Fabulous furry freak brothers. I still own all the comics from the 1970's and 1980's