In Need of Beginner Setup, Advice and Tips

[monkeh]

So ive ordered the parweld xti 160, got it off ebay for £217 and it comes with a wp9 tig torch which will be handy in the future.

I also got a XR936H mask which should be good when i get around to trying Tig.

Right, now on to the questions

I think 2.5mm rods will be good for me to start with as i'll mostly be using 3-4mm material?
Im not sure which brand to get: Bohler 5KG pack for £27, siftrode 5KG £20 or should i get some cheaper ones just for practicing like super6 5kg for £13

next problem is where do i get some cheap scrap to practice on? I dont really want to waste money and good steel while i get a hang of it.

Finally, work space. As i'll be doing this outside what advice can you offer. what should i work on, how do i protect the drive, should i just get a welding blanket until i can build a small rolling workbench. What about passers by, at what range does arc eye not become a problem? Its possible people could walk past as close as 5 meters to me.

Cheers, sorry for all the questions.

 

[123hotchef]

don't buy cheap rods to practice with they wont help u learn, I thing I would also get 3.2mm rods to learn with too.

as for scrap do you have a metal fab place nearby or a yard that makes rsjs ect?

 

[monkeh]

I live in corby, we have quite a lot of steel fab places, ive already emailed the 6 nearest ones, i was just trying to think of other places. maybe the recycling center or the local collage scrap bin etc... Im sure they wouldnt mind as long as i brought it back after as it can still be cleaned of and used again or weighed in.

 

[123hotchef]

lol yep or ur local scrap center, Go into them rather than email them and I am sure they will give you a big bag of what ever they have

 

[Parm]

Don't email them, Just turn up and explain your situation. Most will be more than happy to help. Quite often you don't have to pay a thing sometimes it helps to throw in a few quid for the tea/beer fund

 

[monkeh]

So any advice for welding outside on the drive without causing any damage to the drive.

 

[Deltic]

What about passers by, at what range does arc eye not become a problem? Its possible people could walk past as close as 5 meters to me.

Cheers, sorry for all the questions.

You could get a couple of welding screens if you are working this close to members of the public. Or if this is too much I'm sure you could rig something up with any non flammable material you could find.

 

[Jim Davey]

Keep sparks off the ground with old plywood sheets or anything fairly non flammable, like welding blanket but that can be expensive, old canvas sheets work well for shielding passers by from arc rays. Sparks wont mark tarmac but the rust can affect block paving, concrete or slabs.

 

[eSCHEn]

If you're working next to UPVC then make sure you aim any grinding sparks away from it. The red hot bits of metal melt into the plastic and then go rusty.

Don't ask

 

[Badger1bear]

(Many years ago) Be careful of grinding sparks on glass, windows in houses or cars

Again............. Don't ask

 

[Badger1bear]

Adequate PPE (personal protective equipment) is essential, be careful grinding near your trousers because in no time flat your have your trousers on fire and your be doing the knackers pat to protect the Crown Jewels lol

 

[monkeh]

Thanks for the advice guys. Ive actually managed to clear a little area out the back, its not ideal but once i get the hang of it i'll sort something better. No passers by is a bonus too.

 

[Brad93]

Super6 is not worth the time of day. ESAB, Lincoln, Bohler all good.

 

[monkeh]

I have 5kgs of siftrode 2.5 and 3.2 atm, they seem alright from the little go i had with them today, i only have some 60 x 60 x 2mm box i had left over from a job and it was hard to get a good bead on it as i couldnt see the weld puddle. I also blew a hole in it at one point trying different settings and such. The 3.2 rods were no good at all, i think the 2.5 were to big too.
My dads bringing me round a few bags of offcuts he got from a guy he knows at a local fab plant so i should have a lot more luck tomorow.
Is it harder to see the weld puddle when outside or was it just because i was using to big a rod for the 2mm box section and it was heating up way to fast?

 

[Brad93]

Probably need a better helmet if you can't see the puddle. Have you tried running a straight bead at a bit less amperage to learn how to manipulate the puddle yet?

 

[Brad93]

2.5 electrode.probably get right down to 60-70amps and still light up okay.

 

[addjunkie]

Try taping a piece of cloth to the mask, stop light getting in from behind you, might help outside

 

[monkeh]

Yeah it seemed better with lower amps it was just harder to get lit up with a cold rod as it would just constantly stick. Once it was hot it wasn't a problem. Yeah addjunkie that's exactly what I'm going to do it should stop the light bleeding in from behind and stop the sparks too

 

[monkeh]

in this video around the 23.30 minute mark you can clearly see the weld puddle. When I was doing it all I could see was the arc and the molten slag it might just be because I had the wrong settings.

 

[addjunkie]

Is your eye sight good, do you wear glasses normally for reading etc, are you wesring them to weld?