Beginner welding projects?

[iwannadie]

I just got my first welder and can't wait to get started and try out some basics and start learning. Does anyone have suggestions or sites for good beginning welding projects. Google offers millions I was thinking maybe someone here has had first hand experience with something in particular. Maybe something useful like a welding cart hmm.

My setup is a Campbell Hausfeld 115v wire feed flux core, it is very basic from what I have read but I consider it the fischer price my first welder :anon: . I don't need to hear how under powered it is or anything. I got it cheap and can only go up from here.

I wasn't sure if this was OT or tools or what, I figured not tools because it's more about what is made with the welder not discussing the welder itself...

 

[asp]

Something practical, not too difficult, and that will benefit you in the future would be to make a welding cart.

Edit: And 'grats on getting a welder

 

[time2getdirty]

My first welding/fab project was a rack for my welding jacket, and my welding helmet. Take a chunk of 3/16th weld a footlong piece of 1.5 tube with a 15 degree bend in the middle. cap the tube. drill 3 holes to mount it (I did a triangle shape I believe) and countersink the holes for flathead screws. drill into wall of garage and done.
Now you dont have your stuff siting on your welder. My welder came on wheels already so I didnt need to make a cart.

 

[ehall]

Make some jeep parts

 

[asp]

Make some jeep parts

:twak: Bad idea

 

[GrimmJeeper]

www.weldingweb.com

if you're anything like me your first project would be every single piece of scrap you have being welded together

 

[iwannadie]

I'm still liking the welding cart but I am not sure that would be a good 1st project. That's all I need is the cart to fail and my welder falling on the ground. I am starting to like the welding coat/helmet rack as the 1st thing that's a really good safe idea.

I was just eyeing all the random junk I have collected and trying to picture how I could piece it all together ha.

The first jeep part welded will of course be a body lift!

 

[crimsondragon]

My first real welding project was welding these C channel stock to my roof rack for lights. I then proceeded to hammer on them with a sledge to test it. I did a combination of welds on it. One plug weld and a bead all around where it made contact to the frame.

My second project was welding reinforcement gussets to my bumper. That was a quick and dirty job. Not too proud of my workmanship but glad they came out pretty nice.

I also fixed my downpipe where the hanger cracked all around and proceeded to drop my pipe onto the crossmember. I'd definitely grab a 1/8" piece of steel and experiment on the different heat settings and feed speed. I did that first, then I started making beads making microadjustments to the settings till I was able to get that bacon sizzling sound.

 

[xcm]

learn to weld before you start building crap you dont really need.

go cleanout someones shop for their scrap, then weld scrap to scrap untill you can weld ok enough to do usefull stuff... practice practice practice.

 

[rockclimber]

I built a rear bumper and tire carrier for my first real welding project.


just do some practice on a few pieces of scrap to get the feel for it.

and be prepared to cut things apart and re-weld them.

 

[Jeep450r]

my rock sliders were my first project.

Just practice on some scrap and youll get he hang of it.

 

[wheels]

Listen to the guys telling you to weld scrap first, the toughest thing you are going to have to learn is heat control and keeping the flux out of the weld. You don't want to have to rely on your first attempt at welding if you have never welded before. Stay away from galvanized metal it will make you sick if you breath the fumes use a resperator if you are going to weld galvanized metal.

 

[xcm]

Listen to the guys telling you to weld scrap first, the toughest thing you are going to have to learn is heat control and keeping the flux out of the weld. You don't want to have to rely on your first attempt at welding if you have never welded before. Stay away from galvanized metal it will make you sick if you breath the fumes use a resperator if you are going to weld galvanized metal.

good advice as to the galvi stuff... but breathing any fumes isnt good.... keep vigilant about not breathing fumes! its not worth dieing young!

 

[Begster]

learn to weld before you start building crap you dont really need.

go cleanout someones shop for their scrap, then weld scrap to scrap untill you can weld ok enough to do usefull stuff... practice practice practice.

www.weldingweb.com

if you're anything like me your first project would be every single piece of scrap you have being welded together

X2 to both of these. This is how we would teach people in our machine shop at school.

 

[XJFrankenstein]

When you get good at welding scrap, Miller has some good projects on thier web site:

http://www.millerwelds.com/interests/projects/

 

[xcm]

My setup is a Campbell Hausfeld 115v wire feed flux core, it is very basic from what I have read but I consider it the fischer price my first welder :anon: . I don't need to hear how under powered it is or anything. I got it cheap and can only go up from here.

we'll respect your welder if you do so first. i learned on an oxy/acy setup, and later 'graduated' to a home depot lincoln 100, its not nearly how much you money you spend, but rather how much time you spend with it learning the craft.

im not gonna sit here, and say MIG welding is difficult, its not. however its when stuff goes WRONG that a good welder shows his stripes.... like welding frame stiffeners on the underbody of a vehicle... or the tops of a roll cage in a closed cab vehicle... etc etc.

practice practice practice, then talk to/watch other welders who do the same kind of fab work for tips

IF ANYTHING, get a bottle/regulator setup for that thing, i wouldnt worry about being underpowered... as much as i would about being nasty flux core.... ::yuk::

post pics once you get going.