tools to get started welding?

[Spike00513]

Decided on picking up a MigMax 215 the other day

Anyone know what else is needed to get started using it?
I also got their welding cart to hold it,
I'm guessing besides that it would be
-mask
-argon cylinder
-gloves
-grinder bits (already have grinder)

really not sure if that's it, or if anything else is needed
If anyone knows please post!
Am also trying to figure out which gas cylinder is best
a big heavy tall one, or a little small one
All the pictures I see of people using this machine have a large argon canister, usually green
and that seems better

maybe it's heavy but still can be lifted/carried/transported if needed,
and it seems like the safer bet to have extra gas, then too little/not enough and end up "stalling out" in the middle of a job running out (wastes time)

helmet I'll try and find out what's good; I hear it needs to be high quality, reputable brand, auto darkening; I have seen ones that don't seem crazy expensive starting in the $100 range

goal (these types of welds):

 

[Jswain]

For a mask I would just get a regular non auto darkening for now if you want to save money, because eventually down the road after you buy a nicer one you will still want something less expensive for grubby work. If you buy a cheap auto darkening look for one with at least 4 sensors and replaceable batteries, I have a cheap Lincoln with 2 sensors and solar powered only and there was a 30% chance of getting flashes which left your vision piss poor for the rest of the weld. Upgrading to the Lincoln viking 3350 was the cats *** but a good fixed shade protects your eyes equally well

Gas buy as big of a cylinder as feasible as it will save you money in the long run with fill prices. I use an 80cuft and it's probably the minimum I would recommend but it does last me quite awhile.

Welding magnets are nice to hold pieces together, clamps etc the more the merry. A flat metal welding table would be a good first build for you after you figure out how to weld.

Grinders it is nice to have more then one so you're not switching wheels back and forth. A cutting disc / grinding disc / wire wheel / and flap discs or resin fibre discs

Set of decent welding pliers to cut the wire with a consistent stick out, nozzle dip, scribe for marking the material

A leather apron / set of sleeves will protect your clothes & don't forget a big faceshield for grinding

 

[Kscardsfan]

Welding pliers, nozzle/tip cleaner, spare consumables, that spray on splatter cleaner has fans but I’ve never used it. I’d also say lay in some flap discs. They’re nice for cleaning up without too much stock removal.

 

[Spike00513]

For a mask I would just get a regular non auto darkening for now if you want to save money, because eventually down the road after you buy a nicer one you will still want something less expensive for grubby work. If you buy a cheap auto darkening look for one with at least 4 sensors and replaceable batteries, I have a cheap Lincoln with 2 sensors and solar powered only and there was a 30% chance of getting flashes which left your vision piss poor for the rest of the weld. Upgrading to the Lincoln viking 3350 was the cats *** but a good fixed shade protects your eyes equally well

Gas buy as big of a cylinder as feasible as it will save you money in the long run with fill prices. I use an 80cuft and it's probably the minimum I would recommend but it does last me quite awhile.

Welding magnets are nice to hold pieces together, clamps etc the more the merry. A flat metal welding table would be a good first build for you after you figure out how to weld.

Grinders it is nice to have more then one so you're not switching wheels back and forth. A cutting disc / grinding disc / wire wheel / and flap discs or resin fibre discs

Set of decent welding pliers to cut the wire with a consistent stick out, nozzle dip, scribe for marking the material

A leather apron / set of sleeves will protect your clothes & don't forget a big faceshield for grinding

honestly had $100 in mind
the cheap Miller one is about $100
I'll take a look at the Harbor Freight vulcan one
the $100 Miller is auto-darkening but has a smaller lens than their $350 ones. $350 just seems crazy now for a DIY project as opposed to a professional welder doing it for work every day.

hopefully a fixed shade isn't so dark that it makes seeing anything until the weld starts impossible
like pulling down the visor then trying to find the area visually that needs welding before pulling the trigger
unless maybe a flashlight could help

it's gonna be fun figuring out the best way to store argon cylinder in an apartment and if to keep at work or not, or to rent storage, etc.
would not be fun if it leaked out and displaced oxygen causing asphyxiation

was looking at this one
sounds like you're saying it might not be good due to 2 sensors
is however battery powered and not solar I think

https://www.millerwelds.com/safety/...title=classic-series-fs-10-2x4-flip-up-263038

$99, Classic Series, FS #10, 2x4 Flip-up

if anything was just going off of trusting the brand reputation

they also have $44 non auto darkening MP-10™, Black

https://www.millerwelds.com/safety/helmets/mp-10-series-welding-helmets-m00473

I'm really not sure how much the sensors matter
Harbor Freight has at least 3 helmets ranging from $40 to $150
still with 2 sensors
I'm guessing it's the 2 dot hole looking things atop the lens area
hopefully as long as those 2 dots/sensors are facing the weld they will detect the arc and activate

interesting pic on the HFT Vulcan helmet saying best clarity lens is 1/1/1/2
I'm guessing that will take some practice/training on scrap pieces of metal to build the "muscle memory" of being able to match how it looks under helmet, to ideal weld appearance to the naked eye (penetration discoloration, etc.)

looks like the best is their...
NEW REALVIEW LENS TECHNOLOGY
or they're just...good at selling things...

 

[bczygan]

Training and lots of it.

Bill

 

[Lwel9226]

At least an 80cuft cylinder, a 150cuft would be better.... an auto dark hood for a new welder to learn with is the best way to go.... Miller, Jackson, Weldmark, are a few good ones I can think of.... Later, as you get more comfortable with welding, pick up an extra cylinder so when you run out of gas late on a Friday nite and cannot get a refill till Monday you are not stuck unable to work.....

LynnW

 

[Jlarson]

I'm partial to the Lincoln/Viking helmets but then I do this all the time so I'll spend $$$ on something I can wear hours at a go.

Main tool I've got if I'm hard wire welding is a pair of channellock welpers. If I'm dualshield or flux I have a good chipping hammer handy.

 

[MushCreek]

Most people run an argon/co2 mix for welding steel. You'll need side cutters/dikes/diagonal cutters or whatever people call them for cutting wire from time to time. I use an angle grinder a lot with grinding wheels and a wire brush for prepping steel for welding. Also nozzle dip and consumables for your specific machine, such as tips and nozzles. After that- a milling machine, a lathe, a bender, a plasma cutter.....

 

[metlmunchr]

If you're going to be storing a gas cylinder in an apartment or any place where you have to carry it back and forth to wherever you're welding, it would make more sense to use straight CO2. A bottle of CO2 that contains roughly the same quantity of gas as a 150-175 ft bottle of C25 can be carried in one hand while the C25 bottle is heavy and awkward, particularly if any steps are involved.

 

[foghorn1966]

When buying clamps..... buy in pairs minimum.

 

[Kscardsfan]

When buying clamps..... buy in pairs minimum.

This is true for all clamps and to a lesser extent for pipe wrenches/pipe handling tools.

 

[yatg]

Get a flowmeter regulator.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/140514184508

 

[Copymutt]

My skills jumped big time w/ auto darkening lens, wear cheater glasses under helmet, spot light on the work.
Either work outdoors or have a pro air exhaust set up.

 

[crazybrit]

I have the above HTP flowmeter. Consider the dual version if you'll be doing anything that requires back purging (I'm a TIG guy so no clue if back purging is even relevant for MIG).

Where i live a 150 argon cyl is $10 more than an 80, so a 150 is hands down more cost effective of course harder to move.

The HTP welding helmets are good for the money but the Lincoln ADF helmets are much much nicer and last way longer but for a first lid the HTP is probably a good bet. I have a Jackson Safery fixed shade helmet, headgear is really nice, way better than HTP but as a beginner I'd get an ADF first.

 

[speed bump]

Buy a good helmet, seriously just spend the $250-300+ now. Go to a welding shop and try on stuff (make sure its comfortable) and ask their advice on what a good helmet is. The difference between $50-100 hood and a expensive hood is hard to appreciate before you have done any welding you will thank yourself for saving that $100 one day in the future.

Safety glasses and wear them all the time. The number of people I know who have had something bounce up under their hoods and glasses saved them is crazy.

half mask respirator, this will leave you feeling way better after a day of grinding and welding and save your lungs long term. You can probably get away with a dust mask for hobby use.

Ear plugs, first because loud noises and second burning metal in your ear isn't good.

I have a 125 CU ft 75/25 cylinder and its right at the convenient to carry around size. Considering the price of argon right now I will probably get my second cylinder filled with straight CO2 for when i'm not doing thin stuff.

Lights are awesome, i'm not a great welder so the more I can see the better I do.

Buy a couple of sets of gloves. Heavy gloves for higher settings on thicker stuff. General purpose leather gloves for 90% of your work. Tig gloves for when you need the dexterity.

Wire brushes in a couple sizes.

Grinders, a couple cheapies for wire wheels and sanding discs. A 12+ amp 5 inch with a grinding disc for metal removal. Buy the big one first and supplement over time.

Fab layout tools. Start with a couple combination squares, a tape, a compass, soap stones, Dykem, awls, speed square, and an angle gauge.

Right now the welder is a big expense but everything you will acquire to fabricate is way more expensive. At $10-20 a pop you will have a couple hundred in vice grips. At $30-75 a pop you will have $500+ in clamps. A couple hundred in hole drilling tools. Potentially thousands in cutting tools.

 

[PhantomEB]

Definitely don’t cheap out on the welding lid. My next one is to be a Miller Elite. Gloves that fit. Cut up Lots of coupons (bits of retangular steel) and practice away in various forms, flat, verticals. Google and schools when they open up are your best friends!

 

[crazybrit]

Definitely don’t cheap out on the welding lid. My next one is to be a Miller Elite. Gloves that fit. Cut up Lots of coupons (bits of retangular steel) and practice away in various forms, flat, verticals. Google and schools when they open up are your best friends!

I've been generally happy with the HTP lids. I've owned 2 and both were under $100. During this time I've learned what I like and what I don't and feel I'm in a better position to evaluate features of more expensive ones. In this time I've also learned how to take care of them and not abuse them . My point, its not always a bad idea to start off cheaper. Still as I said above, the Lincoln lids are really nice. Next time they have a corporate promo plus Welding IOC is stacking on their own coupon (like 2 years ago) I'll be buying one.

Sent from my MI PAD 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Bubba Fett]

Check out your local community college. They may offer evening classes, and will have basically everything. It might be a good way to try out different tools/gear, as well as learn/practice new techniques. There may be a materials fee, but the skills gained are worth it, and you will get to use things that you wouldn't normally be able to do.

The one near me has a huge welding shop with a top-of-the-line ventilation system, lots of safety gear (including helmets), and can teach all types of welding. They even have CNC plasma tables, and a welding robot. They also have a full curriculum program if you end up really liking it and want to become a professional.

 

[Mas78]

I bought a new Hobart inventor series helmet last fall.
I'm impressed with it for the $100 range of helmets.