how hard is it to weld?

mk153smaw

mk153smaw

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Fort Lee, Va
I dont know how to weld. With that said, I am not without some knowledge.

Ok, I have the opportunity o rent a welder for a day for $48. It is a Miller wire welder (what the guy told me at home depot rentals, sun belt tools) that can handle up to 1/4" plate.
I would like to weld my perches and shock mounts myself, saving a good chunk of cash I would like to use on tires instead.
Nothing is being welded to the pumpkin, just to the tube.
I figure the surface is prepped to bare metal, I have large metal C clamps holding the stuff in place and I have pieces of metal tube I can practice on.
Is this hard to do? I dont need pretty, just solid.
 
I'm no professional welder...but judging on your question I would say don't try this. You are trying to weld something that is pretty important that it stays put and doesn't break. Why not ask someone in you area to help you out? You may save now, but if it breaks it most likely will cause greater issues and will cost you more in the long run. Don't get me wrong, learning is great...but I would try to learn by having someone who really knows what they're doing help you this time.
 
like Bruce said, this is a pretty important item that your dealing with. What I would suggest that you take the axle to a reputable welder and have them weld it. Welders on average run about $40-55 per hour depending on where your at. A good welder can have those items welded up in an hour or less and have pretty weld that wont take $20 worth of grinding wheels. My local welder runs $45 per hour in shop or $55 per hour on service calls. You could possibly have this done for less then what your rental fee would be.

I am all about a guy building or fabing his own stuff, but start small and work your way up. I learned to weld on scrap metal at the local welders shop. I just started hanging around and one day he told me to grab some scraps and that was that. There are some good ol' boy welders that are excited to see someone interested in their trade.
 
I figured it would be not easy. Sucks with my hand being broken when trying to move parts. I am also looking for a mobile welder to come out and hit it.

I guess I am just frustrated with a stalled project :explosion
 
mk153smaw said:
I figured it would be not easy.
Click to expand...
Well, don't let the above posts scare you. It really isn't that hard (MIG anyway) with some good practice and patience.
I do agree with the above posts about not renting a welder and trying to weld those perches on as your first ever bead. However, I'm sure if you purchased a unit (wouldn't want to rent one more than a week at that price, you are already at the cost of buying a cheap one) with some time and some scrap you could pick it up without to much trouble. I learned on some scrap and odd stuff that didn't really matter to much before I was comfortable welding something that my safety depends on. I'm pretty confident that after an 11lb spool of welding wire someone that is actually trying to learn and heads others advice can lay down some decent (in strength department, not necessarily pretty yet) welds. It will most likely take another spool of wire to make them look pretty (that's what I' working on now ;) ).
 
mk153smaw said:
I figured it would be not easy. Sucks with my hand being broken when trying to move parts. I am also looking for a mobile welder to come out and hit it.

I guess I am just frustrated with a stalled project :explosion
Click to expand...

Call a farm machinery place, ask if they have a mobile welder. These guys are often on the road all day, going from farm to farm. Make an appointment, have some coffee and cake handy, maybe a Beer or two.
I often work 24-7 in the spring and fall, welding farm machinery. There is likely something similar in your neck if the woods.

Community college used to be the place to go to learn welding. Caterpillar paid for my course (way back when), they couldn't find enough talent on the job market and decided to grow there own. Programs pop up fairly regularly.
 
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I have Hobart Handler 140, and I wouldn't be affraid to weld a spring perch onto a 1/2" tube with .35 flux...With that being said, there are a lot of things you could learn how to weld on, but perches aren't one of them...

Do what I did...I picked up an old Weld Pack 100 for $40 bucks and welded everything I could get my hands on! Start on stuff like, rock bars, shock mounts, little gizmo's that don't really matter...

For now hire the perches out.....
 
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Advice:

1.) Take a course at local community college once hand heals up. Worth it's weight in gold.

2.) buy a cheapie welder now to tack stuff together.

3.) take tacked items to pro for final welding - that way there will never be any finger pointing about "you didn't put this in the right place", etc.

Getting a pro to weld stuff doesn't cost much - it is the fab and set up that takes the time/money. Do that part yourself and let a pro do the welding. Besides the best welder in the world may not be the most up on building a Jeep. You do the research, fab and setup and let him concentrate on what he is good at.
 
I'm in the same place as I want to start to learn welding. I can get saturday courses at the local community college, but currently that interferes with work.

I know ideally, I would want to start from the beginning and learn basics with gas. From there I take courses in mig/tig. But this could take me a couple of semesters, especially if I can't take a course every semester. Is there any reason not to jump straight to a mig welder? It seems that these are the most forgiving for beginner welders.
 
welding is fairly easy but it takes alot of practice to be clean. migs are great and easy but it's also the easiest machine to make a superficial weld with. meaning it will look like a good weld but the penetration will not be enough.

If you have access to a decent steel saw, cut cross sections from the scrap you practice on any voids in the welded area is bad. You should also be able to bend the cross section at the weld just as if it was a solid piece of metal.

Reading is your friend.

if you have to weld something yourself flux core mig wire w/ gas will give beginners the best shot at getting good penetration but I agree this is not something you want to do yourself for your first project.

There is nothing more fustrating than trying to clean up someones sloppy weld ie it will cost you double what it would have cost in the first place.
 
See thats why I like this site. No evil "you are an idiot for trying" reponses, just good advice. $35 bucks well paid for NAXJA.

Ok, what I did was mark exactly where everything goes. That way no confusing where I want stuff.

I didnt even think about the farm repair guys duh!:dunce: yellow book on that one.

I think I will wander around some pawn shops to see if I can find a welder on the cheap. Two projects are sucking up the funds right now and I refuse to tap into next months budget :(
 
Welding is easy!!! I mean, this guys has no problems!
155674.jpg


Do everyone a favor, take a class or pay a professional before you attempt to weld.

:D
 
scrappy again said:
Welding is easy!!! I mean, this guys has no problems!
155674.jpg


Do everyone a favor, take a class or pay a professional before you attempt to weld.

:D
Click to expand...

hahaha looks like a dog walked by and crapped on his project. That's got to be the worst I've seen.

Nice
 
it's nice if you have the time/money to take a class. I learned from reading and practice.

Anyone can teach themselves to weld if you take the time to read about what your doing.
 
If not taking a class, then hook-up with a local Jeeper that is an experienced welder. Treat him nicely, he'll likely be happy to show you the basics and let you practice a bit with his welder. I wouldn't waste my time with oxy-acetylene welding, mig is your best bet. Stick is tougher than mig. I can lay down decent mig beads all day, but stick takes more practice.
 
scrappy again said:
That could be you... so please. Don't. :yelclap:
Click to expand...

That would never be me. I wouldn't have taken a pic of that if it were my project. Then again, anyone could have taken the pic after seeing the welds.

Perfect example of how NOT to do something. :)
 
I am sure every good welder became a better grinder at the same time when they were learning ;)
 
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