Newbie

[Nick65]

Hi All,

I am very very new to welding to the point I know nothing about it, so please go gentle with me.

My dream is to go to dumps and pick up various bits of metal etc and try welding stuff for fun - Not to make any money or create anything of us, but just to try and make weird and unusual things.

So, what sort of welding should I be doing?
Where can I get training for this sort of thing?
What are the basic requirements I should know before I even buy any equipment?

I don't want to go out and buy a load of stuff that I may not use or is not suitable.

Any comments welcomed

Cheers

Nick

 

[Nick65]

Can I just ask another stupid question?

Can you weld anything to anything? Or is it a case of you cannot weld certain things to other things?

 

[shenion]

If you need to weld this stuff, then a gas MIG welder will be needed.

For most other stuff (1.6mm and thicker), an arc welder will do fine and is the cheapest to get started.

Most steels can be welded to similar steels and welded using just about any welder. Aluminum takes special rods/techniques/wire to weld. Cast iron is difficult.

You can't really weld ferrous (steels) and non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass) together.

There are tutorials for MIG and arc welding on this site thanks to the work of Malcolm.

 

[chunkolini]

HiNick65
Are you thnking of scrap metal sculpture? it can be a good way to pick up skills, and cheap.

I would start with a Mig welder, as this is the easiest technique to pick up and in my view the most relevant to this type of work.

As shenion says you can weld steel to steel easily, aluminium is mnore advanced so i would not bother with this for starters.

Iwould reccomend trying to get hold of a 130amp or bigger Mig welder, Clarke welders are the bees knees of budget welding, if anybody offers you an SIP welder, chuck it in the harbour.

For starters a welder, angle grinder, big hammer and mole grips will get you going.

Collecting dead bikes and build death trap choppers is a great way of learning how to do stuff.

Regards training, see if there is a college locally who run an introduction to welding course, that can make life a lot easier, or bribe mates whoo can weld with beer tokens, course is probably cheaper. Also of course there is this excellent site as well.

Chunko'.