Welder, simple questions

[freebo86]

So I'm welding stuff here and there, still very amateur and my skills are not that good. However I had a few questions;

1- My welder is just a flux core, lower end unit. From some online reading most recommend changing out the supplied wire that came with the unit for some Lincoln NR- 211. So I've picked some of that up to give it a try as it was on sale.

Also some say that its beneficial to change out the grounding clamp. Can someone shed some light on this and if this is in fact true?

2 - Since right now when I weld I use one of these tables with a larger wood top. Of course this doesn't help the fact once the metal is hot it actually burns the wood a bit.

Now I am no wheres close to actually building myself a true welding table as I don't weld enough to justify that but can some of you recommend something? What do some of you use when welding thats portable and can be stored away easy. Perhaps I was thinking of putting a sheet of metal over the wood to prevent this but I'm unsure of that thickness steel I'd need maybe 3/16s?

And before some say that I should get a bigger/better welder, right now the cost to justify it is not there as I am still trying to learn and don't weld enough.

 

[readhead]

As long as the ground clamp connections are tight and not frayed the clamp you have should be fine. HF sells a fold up welding table that is pretty handy.

Work with what you have for now. You'll know when it's time to trade up and you will have a better idea of what you want when that time comes.

 

[jhn9840]

If your not planning on beating stuff on it 1/8 should be plenty good. Tack a piece of angle or channel on it so it can clamp down tight to the Workmate and you got a pretty decent welding table.

jhn9840
John

 

[Train]

This will sound absolutely bush league but it works. When welding small parts, I've laid a piece of metal flashing on that same Workmate, and used the ground clamp to clamp the flashing to the Workmate. Then just laid the part on the table and welded it. Worked great.

 

[stsmytherie]

Yeah, as recommended above, get some plate steel to work on. Scrap if you can find it or I think Lowes sells 12 x 12 x .25. Handy to have around anyway.

When I was taking welding classes, most of the apprentice workstation surfaces were so beat up with slag and grinding and general beating that, if I had any even remotely precision work to do I'd grab a plate out of the scrap room and throw it on the table.

That HF folding table looks nice too. I've seen $59 coupons for it.

 

[MoonRise]

re: welding table

Get the H-F portable welding table. Goes on sale pretty regularly for ~$60-$70 (coupon, sale, and/or a 20% off coupon). It's a decent item and 'works' (it's a metal table ).

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html

To me, welding on a 'wooden' surface just means that the wood will burn or scorch (to varying degrees, no pun intended). I much prefer to weld on a metal surface.

Heck, I (well, it was actually my 'helper') just recently set a hat on fire. Some weld spatter/melt-through 'jumped' or skittered about 10 ft, outside, in a driveway, and landed on a ball cap that was next to a tool box.

re: ground clamp

Unless the clamp that you currently (no pun intended) have is absolute rubbish (poor connection from the cable to the clamp body/pads, poor spring tension such that the clamp doesn't really clamp, melted, etc), it should work. Otherwise you can spend $10-$20 (or more, if you want to get 'fancy' or somehow think that you need a 600 amp capable clamp) and get a clamp.

http://store.cyberweld.com/twcogrclgc30.html

http://store.cyberweld.com/groundclamp300.html

http://store.cyberweld.com/grounclam500.html

http://store.cyberweld.com/twcogrcl500a.html

http://store.cyberweld.com/sthagrhoggrc.html


re: flux core welding wire

Lincoln NR211-MP flux core wire is a 'decent' wire, especially when used within its 'limits'. RTFM on those 'limits', I don't feel like typing the paragraph (again). It generally works well with machines that have lower open circuit voltage (like most 'small' machines).

You did get the same wire diameter as what the machine used/has/had, yes? Especially the small 'cheap' machines you really have to keep to the same wire diameter as the OEM (for FCAW, that is -usually- 0.035 inch diameter). The small 'cheap' machines often don't have much adjustability (and you haven't even told us what machine you are dealing with) in output parameters.

IMNSHO.

 

[freebo86]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. Well I've been doing some googling and I'm basically $hitless scared now to weld inside my attached garage" due to perhaps starting a fire.. lol.

I'm gonna have to find a way to protect the sparks, maybe Ill have to pick up a few welding blankets and build myself a hut if you will.

In regards to the welder and wire, the wire I got was .035 the unit accpets .023, .030 and .035. It came with .030 so I figured I try the .035 and I've seen people report some decent results with the larger diameter.

The welder itself is this unit here, got it at a real cheap price brand new a couple of years ago for way less than half of the price. You can even see the clamp on it.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-mig-and-flux-welder-0588195p.html#srp

 

[jimgood]

The Miller folding table is pretty nice, however make sure you go to a dealer to get. Take it out of the box and check the top to make sure it's flat. Refuse it if it's not dead flat. Mine wasn't (has a significant crown in the middle) and I wish I had done that when I picked it up at the dealer.

The table is well made otherwise. Heavy but folds up and will slide into a 4" - 5" inch gap between shelves or benches.

https://www.millerwelds.com/accessories/workstations/arcstation-f-series

 

[astroracer]

Thanks for all the inputs guys. Well I've been doing some googling and I'm basically $hitless scared now to weld inside my attached garage" due to perhaps starting a fire.. lol.

If you keep the floor clean and leave no piles of wood or other combustibles on the floor you will be fine.
The best thing you can do is buy a good fire extinguisher and mount it on the wall near the welder.
Mark

 

[freebo86]

If you keep the floor clean and leave no piles of wood or other combustibles on the floor you will be fine.
The best thing you can do is buy a good fire extinguisher and mount it on the wall near the welder.
Mark

Well I already got the fire extinguisher. The wood I gotta take care off I got a pile of it sitting in the corner since I recently did some wood cutting and I don't have another place to put it.

Might have to move it to my overhead storage.