Just joined the site

[wildernessrob]

Hi all

I’ve been lurking around the forum for a few weeks now, and found it really helpful & informative.

I’ve very little welding experience (just some very basic oxyacetylene welding at college in the early 80’s), although I grew up watching my father who was a very practical engineer that seemed to be much more common with that older generation.

So I’ve decided that Id like to learn to Mig weld for my own enrichment & development. I hate the way that so many things you buy are poorly made tat & to buy something of good quality costs an arm & a leg. Or worse being unable to repair things or fabricate metal items to solve to problems.

I’ve not got any grand projects lined up, save some form of ‘go kart’ for kids to launch down the hill! But I would like the idea of being able to able to create something from some raw materials, and some car repairs. I will only be able to be able to work in the limited space of an average garage, which is cluttered with the excess of modern life.

I’ve been loaned a very elderly hobby type Mig (of undermined origin!) with disposable bottles and hope to use the guides on the site to get a basic idea of the process. I was intending to try & find a local college to get some expert tuition, which should be easy, as I know nothing!

Hopefully then I will be able to buy myself a suitable welder, although I’ve already changed my mind a couple of times on what will suit my needs (actual & fantasy!).

Thanks for the excellent information & advice you guys are supplying.

 

[shenion]

Disposable Ar/CO2 bottles last about 10 minutes of use. Get some CO2 ones, they last 40 minutes or so. Still real expensive.

Read through the tutorials; they should get you going.

 

[Flapdisk]

Hi mate welcome to the forum, Yeah those disposables are just a money pit if you are going to do a fair bit of welding.

 

[marlinspike]

The disposables ones will cost a fortune and be frustrating as you they will quickly run out. Also, whilst you are practising, I reckon you waste a lot of gas just getting the gear set up correctly.

If you don't want to commit to a big outlay or don't need a lot of gas (Volkszone deal probably best if you do - see the thread about it), then I would look for a deposit only deal, where you pay a deposit then just pay for refills of the gas. Hoobyweld are one supplier, but if you say exactly where you are someone will probably know a good place for gas and supplies.

We have had our welder a while but have only just got to the stage where the car is ready-ish to weld. It's addictive though. You find yourself looking round for other stuff to needlessly fuse together.

 

[BrokenBiker]

adams gas are a good deposit only supplier. quite a few motor factors are dealers too so you can just pop along and exchange your empty for a full and be on your way for a few quid.

 

[wildernessrob]

Hi, thanks for the advice on bottles. Due to my inexperience Im not sure what sort of size would meet my needs. I would expect quite heavy use whilst learning to weld, but this would settle down to weekend projects once Ive got to a exceptable level of skill.

Im near Heathfield in East Sussex, so have Eastbourne to the south of me or Tunbridge Wells to the north, these would be the bigger towns nearby, Im not sure if there is anywhere around hear? I think BOC are in Crawley, near Gatwick airport.

Ill have a proper read through the 'Volkszone Offer' thread to see if it might suit me.

This is kinder typical, I start off thinking about needing to weld something, then its secondhand units on Ebay, then a new Clerk 95en - 135TM, now a 160TM.

Incidently I see that Weldequip has discontinued selling the Clerk products? Are Machine Mart OK to deal with, they have got a shop in Brighton, or would I be better speaking to other people?

 

[Cobbler]

Hi Rob,
See if you can get registered with M. M. Before you buy, if you can get a VAT free voucher it will give you a big saving. They come out every few weeks & are often passed on to others on here, keep you eyes open as I haven't had one recently, so must be due soon. The vouchers are supposed to be not transferable I think, but I have passed on several & I don't think they bother who uses them really. Quite a few on here use Clarke welders, I have a 160tm

Cobbler