General tips for creating a welding area?

[Cobra4B]

I recently finished a workbench/storage re-do in my garage. One of my goals is to learn to weld now... not going to be fabbing fancy things, but it will help with racecar repairs and, in general, would be a good skill to have. My main question is how much clear space do I need to make a good welding area? What are the basics needed to weld? I assume I can't weld on my current coutner top work bench? What if I covered a section in plate steel? Would the peg board and upper cabinets be an issue? Any tips/suggestions would be much appreciated for a welding noob.

Oh... I've considered making a fold-down metal table on my back or right side wall that I can flip up when I want to do metal work etc. Not sure I have room for a seperate permanent welding table as I only have a 20x20 2-car.

-Brian

 

[BerBer5985]

I weld in my garage in the very middle and move anything flammable away by about 5-10ft if possible. Anything else I cover with a welding blanket. I wouldn't weld on that workbench unless you'd like to ruin it welding spatter and or catch it on fire potentially. I learned how to weld by watching many videos, reading up online and books and u got sone pointers from a friend of mind who does body work and builds racecars for a living. Mig welding isn't bad at all to learn. Just grab yourself a mig welder get some argon/co2 mix and get started. Watch a couple videos and try your hand at it. Practice practice practice on several different pieces and situations and then ask questions on results. There's a ton if good info out there. It's mainly getting your settings right on the welder and then technique. Slow and steady wins the race. Also get an autodimming welding mask. It helps ALOT! Now I'm far from a pro welder by any means, but I'm getting better and better. Iwouldnt trust me welding a structural support on buildings or anything, but for all around hobbies and small projects, I'm getting good. Good luck and have fun! Welding is addictive!

 

[Wackerjr]

Just a thought...

you have a section of bench there that is a smaller piece..... what about detaching only that cabinet and top, putting it on casters with a steel top and making a "rollaway" welding bench that when done can tuck right back into that hole then you got a cabinet uner it for storage as well...

 

[Cobra4B]

^ Now that's a killer idea. I could roll it out to the ceneter area to weld then tuck it right back away.

 

[JamNut]

I agree with what the others have suggested above. A roll around metal welding jig table with locking casters. With a 1/4" thick top (min.) and at least one shelf to hold tools near to hand. Used out in the middle of your open bay would do great.

Safety is the next consideration! Have a couple of large fire extinguishers on hand. I also have a five gallon bucket of water near my work area that I use to quench (cool down) parts. It can also be used on a small fire to save the extinguishers for emergencies. Since it looks like your garage is attached to the house, I also suggest an exhaust fan be installed to **** the welding fumes outdoors!! Get a welder's respirator face mask to filter out the welding fumes also your lungs will appreciate it. 3M makes a decent disposable welder's mask. If your garage doors open out to the street or where your kids play you'll need a screen to block the welding arc from damaging someone's eye sight. A welding blanket hung on a simple metal frame will do the trick. I've used 1/4" plywood in a wooden frame like a roll around chalk board from the floor to over head high to block the view of my welding area. Just keep it pushed away from your hot work!

Good luck on your welding!


K.

 

[Jack Olsen]

The first thing I welded was a small table. It's just shy of 1/4" thick, so it's not really for hard pounding. But you could put one together (something similar starting in this thread) and roll it to the center of the garage.

As others have said, welding and grinding will send little molten pieces of slag out in a 5' or so radius around where you're working. They'll leave black burns on anything they touch, and will occasionally light your clothes on fire.

You'll also get fumes coming off the work, which is why a lot of occasional welders take the work out into the driveway -- (so long as it's out of sight of pets/children/passers-by and other potential arc flash sufferers).

As an aside, I do a fair amount of welding and have been doing it for a few years, and I can't think of much on my race car (except exhaust) that I would trust to my current skill level. There's too much at stake, in my opinion. It's not easy to tell with welding if you've put a pretty bead on top of a joint or if your penetration is where it needs to be for long term strength. It is not as simple or dependable as torquing down grade-8 fasteners with a wrench.

 

[Cobra4B]

As an aside, I do a fair amount of welding and have been doing it for a few years, and I can't think of much on my race car (except exhaust) that I would trust to my current skill level. There's too much at stake, in my opinion. It's not easy to tell with welding if you've put a pretty bead on top of a joint or if your penetration is where it needs to be for long term strength. It is not as simple or dependable as torquing down grade-8 fasteners with a wrench.

True.... but basic exhaust stuff is what I want to master. The local speed shops want $90 hr. to do anything.

 

[Robert Haas]

A flash/spark shield is a must. I do more damage grinding and cutting then I do welding. Learn to grind towards a shield at all times and you will be a happy camper.

I will TIG weld on my bench but the MIG makes a mess and needs more room.

 

[gorilla]

The best way to learn to weld is to take a class at a local junior college or trade school. If you do this before you buy a welder it will give you a chance to learn what kind of welder will best serve your needs. I have a small roll around table that I use for most of my welding it's good to have the ability to work from all sides of a weldment I try to do most of my welding outside because of the mess. Good luck learning to weld it will open up a whole world to you.

 

[Cobra4B]

^ I looked into the Jr. College classes. However, I have a local buddy who's an engineer by day and racecar fab guy by night. He's getting back into his '68 camaro resto-mod and made his own front sub-frame using Corvette A-arms and a custom IRS rear for it. He's going to teach me the basics so long as I come over and ******** in the garage.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I try to keep the welding area in a corner, with and exhaust fan above, where I can contain as much of the mess as possible. Mainly the grinding dust. Hang the welding clamps, squares, etc, within easy reach and keep the flamibles away.
When I have a big project that needs it, I can pull the welding bench out inot the middle of shop, but otehrwise it all stays in the corner.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

As an aside, I do a fair amount of welding and have been doing it for a few years, and I can't think of much on my race car (except exhaust) that I would trust to my current skill level. There's too much at stake, in my opinion. It's not easy to tell with welding if you've put a pretty bead on top of a joint or if your penetration is where it needs to be for long term strength. It is not as simple or dependable as torquing down grade-8 fasteners with a wrench.

Wow - that surprises me! From what I've seen of your work, you could easily do any of the welding required on car - heck, even build a frame -- maybe you just need some more heavy stuff to for practice!

 

[cnc-me]

Make sure, you have something else to work on, for a couple of
hours after you weld. (fire watch)

 

[bobadame]

I'm starting to think that ceramic tile on the wall might be a good idea. Most of the welding I do is TIG. It is a slow process compared to MIG or stick but you don't have stray molten metal rolling around on the floor with TIG.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Wow - that surprises me! From what I've seen of your work, you could easily do any of the welding required on car - heck, even build a frame -- maybe you just need some more heavy stuff to for practice!

Thanks. I did a bung for an O2 sensor a couple of weeks back. But the car hasn't needed anything welded in a couple of years. I'd still be nervous about structural pieces.

I'm starting to think that ceramic tile on the wall might be a good idea. Most of the welding I do is TIG. It is a slow process compared to MIG or stick but you don't have stray molten metal rolling around on the floor with TIG.

I put aluminum flashing all around my welding table, then painted it to match the rest of the walls.

 

[Joe From NY]

Make sure, you have something else to work on, for a couple of
hours after you weld. (fire watch)

Great advice.

My welding table is a rolling table with a plywood top that found on trash night. I put a vise on one side, and I lay a larger piece of 1/4" plate over when i weld. When i was building my DIY press brake last week, after tacking it together, i went in to get some lemonade for a minute. i came out to about a 5 foot circular section of my dead dry lawn in flames. the flames were up to the edge of my deck. Luckily, i always keep a garden hose turned on and ready. If i went to the store for a minute, i would have had a problem. Always stick around after you stop welding to make sure nothing is smoldering or burning.

 

[rasit]

I'm starting to think that ceramic tile on the wall might be a good idea. Most of the welding I do is TIG. It is a slow process compared to MIG or stick but you don't have stray molten metal rolling around on the floor with TIG.

Make sure the tile isn't glazed. If it is, every little spark that hits it will leave a mark (kinda like little bursting stars).

 

[airrj]

Have a couple of large fire extinguishers on hand. I also have a five gallon bucket of water near my work area that I use to quench (cool down) parts. It can also be used on a small fire to save the extinguishers for emergencies.

One of the best things you can buy is a 2 1/2 gallon pressurized water extinguisher. It is rechargeable at home with a hose and a air compressor. This way you are not shy about using it. I have seen too many people dancing around on something that is on fire and not using their ABC dry chemical extinguisher because they don't want to have to pay to replace/refill it. Not a problem with the water can. I would not have this as my only shop extinguisher, but it is a great suplement to a big ABC. This one was $115 on Amazon, and you see them on ebay used all the time.

Plus, along with fire protection and quenching, they are great for amusing the dog and scaring the neighbor kids.

R.J.

 

[Joe From NY]

One of the best things you can buy is a 2 1/2 gallon pressurized water extinguisher. It is rechargeable at home with a hose and a air compressor. This way you are not shy about using it. I have seen too many people dancing around on something that is on fire and not using their ABC dry chemical extinguisher because they don't want to have to pay to replace/refill it. Not a problem with the water can. I would not have this as my only shop extinguisher, but it is a great suplement to a big ABC. This one was $115 on Amazon, and you see them on ebay used all the time.

Plus, along with fire protection and quenching, they are great for amusing the dog and scaring the neighbor kids.

R.J.

the NYPD carries these to shoot pressurized water in the face of psycho cases to help subdue them.

 

[padronanniversary]

you can pressurize these with just compressed air ?

 

[airrj]

2 1/2 gallons of water and 100psi of shop air. Works great. Oh, and don't freeze it if you have an unheated garage.