Learning to weld

Mr S1 · Jan 4, 2016

As title - I'm looking to start to learn to weld. I'm a total novice, never even tried it before but seeing as I've recently bought a Land Rover Defender thought I'd better learn

Have enquired at a local college about a course, but there's nothing like hands on experience. Bearing in mind any welder of mine is going to be piloted by an idiot (

) what would be suitable for what I and what do I need ? I know I'll also need a mask and gloves etc.

Any opinions ? Want something simple to use, and I'm told I should get a gas one (?)

Thanks in advance !

boguing · Jan 4, 2016

I'm going to be watching this thread, because I'm very slightly ahead of you. Bought the welder, watched hours of youtube and now waiting for a nice day to make a mess. Oh, and I bought all the safety gear. I won't say what I chose just yet.

Whereabouts in Surrey are you?

andy_v · Jan 4, 2016

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/find-new/2278157/posts

could have look over on there ^^ very friendly and helpful lot, just like here

Kwakerman · Jan 4, 2016

Don't know how far you are from Basingstoke but our local tech college (Basingstoke College of Technology - BCOT) does a hands on beginners course. 8 weeks course Tuesdays or Wednesdays evenings 7 - 9 PM. Next available course starts in April and is £125 including all materials I know as I'm on it for the same reason as you.

ER1C · Jan 4, 2016

Mr S1 said:
As title - I'm looking to start to learn to weld. I'm a total novice, never even tried it before but seeing as I've recently bought a Land Rover Defender thought I'd better learn

Have enquired at a local college about a course, but there's nothing like hands on experience. Bearing in mind any welder of mine is going to be piloted by an idiot (

) what would be suitable for what I and what do I need ? I know I'll also need a mask and gloves etc.

Any opinions ? Want something simple to use, and I'm told I should get a gas one (?)

Thanks in advance !

Just weld... its the only way... get some scrap and weld away...

Mr S1 · Jan 4, 2016

boguing said:
I'm going to be watching this thread, because I'm very slightly ahead of you. Bought the welder, watched hours of youtube and now waiting for a nice day to make a mess. Oh, and I bought all the safety gear. I won't say what I chose just yet.

Whereabouts in Surrey are you?

Hi John

Hope you're well. I'm near Gatwick.

Kwakerman - bit far for me there, but that sounds ideal ! Just need to maybe find one local to me !

Andy V - many thanks chap, I'll check it out

freelanderoig · Jan 4, 2016

hi ..ive got a gasless sealey mig...uses fluxed wire easy to get used to ..i used to stick weld but that puts to much heat for cars...mig is bang on...get some scrap steel and in half a day youll be a pro....errr dont stand on street corners...

gasless saves a fortune as gas aint cheap....use 0..9mm wire ...it makesa nice weld

Ian1991 · Jan 4, 2016

Hi, I work in a power tool shop and debated for months on what welder to buy. A fellow landy friend lent me his esab caddy for a few weeks, fantastic welder but around the £800 mark. I couldn't justify that and took the plunge with a sealey supermig130, so far after three months of welding on and off its been great and under £150. Got sorted out with proper gas bottle for around £60 bottle rental and £40 refill. It will last ages compared to the disposable bottles and full refund on bottle if returned. Gasless is OK but flux core wire is expensive compared to standard and small reels don't last long.

Dippypud · Jan 4, 2016

Get Adams Gas ... no rental contract

http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/product-category/mig-tig-welding-gas/

jamesmartin · Jan 4, 2016

freelanderoig said:
hi ..ive got a gasless sealey mig...uses fluxed wire easy to get used to ..i used to stick weld but that puts to much heat for cars...mig is bang on...get some scrap steel and in half a day youll be a pro....errr dont stand on street corners...
gasless saves a fortune as gas aint cheap....use 0..9mm wire ...it makesa nice weld

mig gas costs me a tenner a month rental and 44 pounds a refill for a full size bottle if you fetch it yourself

Mcclegend · Jan 4, 2016

Tried to find a course round here to learn to weld but nothing, father in law has an inesenty mini and an mgt bt that. Need a bit of work, I'd love to get them back in the road.

freelanderoig · Jan 4, 2016

Mcclegend said:
Tried to find a course round here to learn to weld but nothing, father in law has an inesenty mini and an mgt bt that. Need a bit of work, I'd love to get them back in the road.

go for a gassless mig

Dippypud · Jan 4, 2016

freelanderoig said:
go for a gassless mig

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Gasless is shite ...spits and farts ... and if you're outside any wind doesn't help ...

Thor1950 · Jan 4, 2016

Mcclegend said:
Tried to find a course round here to learn to weld but nothing, father in law has an inesenty mini and an mgt bt that. Need a bit of work, I'd love to get them back in the road.

Gas mig is the easiest to learn. Want to be good start with a ac/dc stick welder. That is what we used before gas mig was invented. first mig welder was a flux core wire or submerged arc welding , designed for flat production welding

freelanderoig · Jan 4, 2016

Dippypud said:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Gasless is shite ...spits and farts ... and if you're outside any wind doesn't help ...

anti splatter spray...ive never had much of a prob and yea gas is best but there is an extra cost that for hobbyist may not be worth it

Thor1950 · Jan 4, 2016

freelanderoig said:
anti splatter spray...ive never had much of a prob and yea gas is best but there is an extra cost that for hobbyist may not be worth it

the extra price for gas is well worth the benefit. Would you use, used oil for a oil change, run through a coffee filter first

jamesmartin · Jan 4, 2016

Dippypud said:
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Gasless is shite ...spits and farts ... and if you're outside any wind doesn't help ...

a breeze doesnt help gas either

freelanderoig · Jan 4, 2016

Thor1950 said:
the extra price for gas is well worth the benefit. Would you use, used oil for a oil change, run through a coffee filter first

oil..coffee....filters...blimey on wrong thread....presuming you do lot welding where im a diy so i bow to your experience

Thor1950 · Jan 4, 2016

jamesmartin said:
a breeze doesnt help gas either

portable wind screens prevent that. Have spent 100's of hours welding aluminum with a mig gun on ships. Just got to out smart the wind

jamesmartin · Jan 4, 2016

Thor1950 said:
portable wind screens prevent that. Have spent 100's of hours welding aluminum with a mig gun on ships. Just got to out smart the wind

very true

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