Hey Guys - Just read some of your questions this morning... I'll answer those in this message: Concerning the plasma cutter, everything I cut is free-hand. For my shapes, I will sketch out on paper what I want to cut out; take that paper sketch and spray glue the paper to a heavy card stock paper; cut that card stock, transferred image and trace that shape onto my steel; from that marker image, I will cut out the traced piece and hand form that cut-out piece to fit. I have to do this with each shape I use in my work which is why these pieces take so long, as well as, I am pretty picky about how good of a job I did cutting, so I may have to do it again until I like what I cut. 99% of the time I am close enough to use the piece, as I can grind to shape what portion I do not like... But this is the basic process I use in sculpting.
I have been an artist all my life. Mostly doing design work, magazine and editorial illustration. Have also painted in acrylics on stretched canvas - these canvas works were large pieces, usually around 5 or 6 feet stretched. Some work got into some museum shows. But about 15 years ago I started sculpting with thin, hand-cut steel and used rivets to hold the work together. I enjoyed that for a while, but after a few years, my hands and forearms became quite tired cutting and drilling and riveting. So that's when I began to use a welder. So I guess you could say that I am self-taught with my welding and plasma cutting. Just sorta jumped in and went for it!
The welder I use is the Miller 212. What's really cool about the 212 is that it has an auto-set feature where you set one dial to the wire size you are using - .030 or .035, and you set the then you set the other dial to the gauge steel you are using and the welder accommodates to that setting very good. You also have the choice to go full manual, but the auto portion works pretty efficiently. I can also weld aluminum with the 212, but I do not have a spool gun. The 212 is a 220 volt unit with a higher duty cycle than the 211
Both units will weld 3/8" easily. The 212 has dual feed rollers as opposed to one on the 211. Also has "gun-on-demand", but I only have the mig gun, so I do not use that feature. I have been very happy with the purchase, altho it is very heavy.
Hope my explanations are answering your questions? Thanx for asking as I enjoy sharing what I do and do hope it helps you guys. Please feel free to ask whatever else you have on your mind and I will do my best to explain. Will also post up more images as they become available to shoot. Thanx to All...paulb
