Self taught welder

[andyvh1959]

Our local Fleet Farm store sells a 20 cu ft Hobart blended gas bottle, Argon-CO2, for $199.99, but I'm pretty certain that is the cylinder only with the valve, no gas

I have no idea if that is a good price or if I should only go through Airgas or Linde, and pay their retail price. I'll also check with my brother as he manages the tools/supplies department for a large machining company in Appleton WI. For me, one bottle will last a long time, so is there any sense in buying my own bottle?

 

[cjcocn]

Our local Fleet Farm store sells a 20 cu ft Hobart blended gas bottle, Argon-CO2, for $199.99

I have no idea if that is a good price or if I should only go through Airgas and pay their retail price. I'll also check with my brother as he manages the tools/supplies department for a large machining company in Appleton WI.

Here in Manitoba, Canada, I have found it cheaper to buy a bottle and just pay to have it refilled.

I used to rent a bottle, but found that it would sometimes stay full enough where it was costing me more to rent it than it was to use the gas.

FWIW, I am using 75/25 (CO2/argon) based on recommendations and it is working well for me.

 

[Jswain]

Are you having issues with using CO2? I found my miller 250 welds just as damn good/clean with CO2 as c25 mix. Certainly not a big enough difference to run out and buy a second bottle, if I didn't already have one anyways.

If you are planning on only doing thin sheet metal maybe, but lots of trigger time will do you more good then changing bottles IMO

 

[andyvh1959]

True. The tank on my welder is mine, so basically I just need to get it filled if I choose to change the gas. Eventually I will be doing a lot of sheet metal welding on my 56 Dodge, so then Argon may be the better choice.

 

[Jswain]

Oh ok I picture a 20lb CO2 style tank but if it's the same as an argon tank your styling. May have to change the valve unsure on that

 

[Monza Harry]

Andy so you are a "Blue guy" and I'm a "Red guy" they hsve both been around for ar100 years so not likely to go too far wrong with either. However the things I looked for were a shield with a setting of less than 9 [my Lincoln 3350 does 5-13] other Must Haves were replaceable battery, and ability to use a "Cheater lens". Without the replaceable battery when the built in dies the helmet is garbage! Do not underestimate the cheaters if you need prescription glasses or you are over 35 (+/-) years of age. Harry

 

[andyvh1959]

You mentioned welding on a bike frame. A good weldor knows metallurgy. You don't want to be MIGing on 4130 on anything that your life might depend on. That is unless you send the frame in to a heat treating company. Study welding and technique and do the practice, practice thing. Build racks out of bed frames, none of it matters. But if you're gonna ride it, it matters.

Yup. When I built my third bike frame I just spot welded the frame parts in the jig, and left the entire frame in the jig when I brought it to a pro to be TIG welded. I figured the MIG spot welds were not enough to compromise the Chromoly.

 

[andyvh1959]

I probably need to update my torch as well. Right now I have an old GA15-C gun that uses small OD contact tips held in the gun by screwing the nozzle on which creates a compression grab on the contact tip. Miller no longer makes the contact tip, and I've not yet found any on CL or FBM. The contact tips are about 3/16" OD by 1.25" long for the .025 wire I'm running. If anyone has these contact tips I'll buy your old stock.

 

[Jswain]

I probably need to update my torch as well. Right now I have an old GA15-C gun that uses small OD contact tips held in the gun by screwing the nozzle on which creates a compression grab on the contact tip. Miller no longer makes the contact tip, and I've not yet found any on CL or FBM. The contact tips are about 3/16" OD by 1.25" long for the .025 wire I'm running. If anyone has these contact tips I'll buy your old stock.

See if you can fit a Bernard diffuser & use their consumables. Works on the m25 style guns

 

[conrad1972]

Here’s another option, not in Greenbay but only about 30 minutes depending on where you are at!

 

[skeer]

I learned the bit that I do know from Youtube, a $60 inverter stick and an old job site trailer frame. Cut and welded a usable trailer out of that thing two summers ago. It's fugly as all get out and I'm talking about the welds! But it's usable.
Cannot overestimate having clean material to work with.

 

[andyvh1959]

Here’s another option, not in Greenbay but only about 30 minutes depending on where you are at!

I'll check if the Green Bay Tech College has the same class. Plus, my employer would cover the cost as a skills training improvement.

 

[clutch47]

Self taught with the help and merciless ball busting of a professional welder friend.
His advice was imperative, but years later I can say for sure... practice was the real teacher. I bought a book and a Lincoln tombstone the same day.
That tombstone has proved to be the best welder of them all for me. Ended up adding a tig torch and some argon to make a scratch start tig that works really well for what it is.
Knowing the characteristics of the steel you're welding, being able to see the heat moving through your piece and working the puddle are things that will come. Practice.

 

[andyvh1959]

I'm sure that many of us who take up welding find a lot of satisfaction in the process; the material selection, the prep, the process of laying a good bead, watching the pool, the crackle of a good weld, and especially the results of building a design of your own.

Release the crackle!

 

[andyvh1959]

Made a good FBM buy today, $180 for a Miller Digital Elite welding helmet with Clearlight technology, adjustable light/dark setting and three modes of use for welding/cutting/grinding. Came in the storage bag with the manual. Very clean, the sweatband showed no use at all, no discoloration. Brand new its a $395 helmet. At least now I know I have top notch eye/face protection for welding, and I'll be much better able to see the weld pool as I lay a bead. Better visual, better welds, less grinding.