welding???

[myles.artus]

hey Guys so i finally found my stupid camera charger since i moved... :woot:

gonn put up some updated pictures of the rig... still a big work in progress but hey i guess it always will be! :)

i was looking into maybe taking some welding courses... possibly even buy a welder next year and i was wondering what kind of equipment you folks use and maybe even some suggested types of welding... i started getting into some intense talk with a buddy about the truck but i dont think i can do half of those things without a welder...

what do you guys think? not sure but i think i saw some pictures of a welder floating aroundon the forum... any tips? what works best for you guys? :popcorn:

also i have a slew of light im looking tobuy and install on the truck and i was wondering if i have all the lights and the winch hooked up to the battery if im over using it? maybe should carry a spare on the trails ??

[TheOtherSide]

I have a Millermatic 175. 220V welder and it can do a max of 1/4" steel... and does so well. Love it. I took a one day course that was lame... and I'm not the best welder by any means... but I'm getting better!!

:welder:

[myles.artus]

oh ok cool... what kind of power source are you running that off of? what di it cost you ?

[TheOtherSide]

220V 30A service on a double throw breaker. Cost... I dunno... I had a friend come and wire the place up to code for me... and the materials and parts were cheap enough.

It's not that bad... as long as you're not paying the labour to get it wired up.... and also depends on where you panel is compared to where you want your plug.

[myles.artus]

is this wired in your home? garage? workshop? (by home i mean a special outlet maybe in the garage... )

just wondering.. i dont think this is someting i can do myself... there are some pretty high currents and im by no means an electrician...

i will definitly need to do more research on this... not sure if my current electrical can support that.. plus im renting so electrical modification could be a no no ...

next year hopefully...

[Sero]

You could look into an extension cord for your dryer outlet that would convert to the style of socket required for the welder. Our dryer circuit is 30 amp service.
Something you should still check with an electrician about.

[myles.artus]

interesting idea i didnt think about that... i could ask a friend to take a look... electricians are good friends... ill bribe him with beer lol

[TheOtherSide]

is this wired in your home? garage? workshop? (by home i mean a special outlet maybe in the garage... )

just wondering.. i dont think this is someting i can do myself... there are some pretty high currents and im by no means an electrician...

i will definitly need to do more research on this... not sure if my current electrical can support that.. plus im renting so electrical modification could be a no no ...

next year hopefully...

I have mine in my garage... which is seperate from the house. It has a 60amp service to the garage in a panel by itself... so I added the 30amp 220V to it. Was fairly simple... but done by a pro so I don't burn my place down.

:D

[myles.artus]

ya thats what i thought.... damn i dont have that kind of power in my garage.... too bad. i would still like to learn to weld though... i guess maybe in a year or so when i move ill check for that.. too bad... i think ill ask a friend about that dryer outlet SERO mentioned

[BackCountryPunk]

Home Depot sells a pretty good book in their welding section, covers all sorts of welding. Also has a blurb about the dryer plug extension cord.
I bought a little stick welder from Cdn Tire last year, in hindsight I should have saved the extra $200 & got the wire feed welder, they are alot easier to use.
Remember: cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Prepping your metal makes it all work so much better.

[myles.artus]

that sounds awsome i will definitly head over there and check that out! thanks man .. atleast that way i can understand all the details... and maybe i can get one.. do you know how safe the extension cord is?

[TheOtherSide]

Remember: cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Prepping your metal makes it all work so much better.

Yep

[Titanwinch]

ya thats what i thought.... damn i dont have that kind of power in my garage.... too bad. i would still like to learn to weld though... i guess maybe in a year or so when i move ill check for that.. too bad... i think ill ask a friend about that dryer outlet SERO mentioned
hi Myles i see your in Burlington if you need some advise or possibly even want to play around with either a MIG or TIG unit drop me a PM and you can stop by some time and give it a try
Cheers

[240 Jordy]

I STRONGLY encourage ANYONE learning to weld read this:
http://www.brewracingframes.com/87c8ee40.jpg



:canadian:

[myles.artus]

Is that you Duncan????(Titan winches) that would be great! maybe in a week or so i could drop by and say hi..

OH and i did buy a welder.. the mastercraft one from Canadian tire... but i think i need to convert to gas... still dont know how to use it.. but thought since it was on sale i might as well get it.. lol Impulse buy

Myles

[Landy_Andy]

Hi,

Watch the vid's here :

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/mig/

Google around, you'll find plenty of online tutorials for MIG welding, deff convert to gas much better weld quality. Get some scrap steel & play.... as the old saying goes.... practice makes perfect ;)

Cheers,
Andy

[Titanwinch]

Is that you Duncan????(Titan winches) that would be great! maybe in a week or so i could drop by and say hi..

OH and i did buy a welder.. the mastercraft one from Canadian tire... but i think i need to convert to gas... still dont know how to use it.. but thought since it was on sale i might as well get it.. lol Impulse buy

Myles

Hi Myles yes it is me.
Sure give me a call and drop bye some time Preferably sooner rather than later i have a couple of shipments arriving the end of the Month and i will not be doing any welding or Fabbing untill i get them sorted out. My Roof Top tents and Awnings are arriving so i need to figure out where i am stacking them.
Cheers
Duncan

[myles.artus]

Thanks Andy, i will look around and starts playing around i guess.. i got in contact with a guy from praxair so im trying to see what a conversion will cost... but for now playing around is a good start... gonna upsize the panel so i can run without tripping the breakers... lol

Sounds good Duncan! ill be in touch soon...

[xkid]

I have a Millermatic 175. 220V welder and it can do a max of 1/4" steel... and does so well. Love it. I took a one day course that was lame... and I'm not the best welder by any means... but I'm getting better!!

:welder:

Is 1/4 inch steel usually good for making bumpers,sliders etc?Is that size usually strong enough for that sort of thing?Took some welding in high school,long time ago,would like to get into it again myself.

[Landy_Andy]

Is 1/4 inch steel usually good for making bumpers,sliders etc?Is that size usually strong enough for that sort of thing?Took some welding in high school,long time ago,would like to get into it again myself.

Bumpers are always a trade off of weight against strength, a well designed bumper with boxing, triangulation & gusseting can be as strong or stronger than one just made out of thick material. All comes down to the design at the end of the day..... and to answer your origional question, 1/4" (6mm) is common in bumpers.