stuff to get while waiting for welder delivery

ok, I ordered an AC arc welder and expect it to arrive in a couple of weeks, i already got some good welding gloves and a useable non-auto helmet. also got a good wire brush, angle grinder, and welding hammer. I'll be waiting before i get the wire and plug and breaker, to make sure i get the right size.

so, what else to get? I got a batch of 1/8 angle clamped up and waiting to be welded. any suggestions as to what i should get?

Reply to
Tater
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welding rod

Reply to
Ignoramus21248

and fixture magnets

i
Reply to
Ignoramus21248

You are on the right track. Add on's:

You didn't say what welder you got, assuming it is a 225 amp something:

1) start looking at cost and installation details for something like a 50 amp breaker and #6/3 WG cable. Price of copper is sky high, you might get a NASTY surprise. 2) Get some starter weld rod. I'm partial to 1/8" 6013 for newbie training. 10 pounds of NEW rod is a good plan. 3) Look at your fire safety issues: where to weld, how far do the sparks travel, fire extinguisher (or hose), etc.

Have fun!

Tater wrote:

Reply to
RoyJ

If you don't have clamps then you'll want some. (You probably do have clamps but, WHO ever has enough?) A wide variety of clamp types in various sizes is good. Various vice-grips are, to me, essential: various regular and the ones made for welding/metal fabrication (deep throats and other types). From experience, I will only get real Vice-Grip brand as the knockoffs I've used went belly up right quick.

How about a flap sanding wheel for your angle grinder. They are quite dear--costly--but last a rather long time and once you figure out what they do well, you may very well never be without one.

You have safety glasses and a clear full face shield for grinding, wire wheel, and other eye-killer stuff, I presume.

Boots with steel toes==good. Synthetic runners==bad (red hot slag can go right through to your foot). Don't wear anything synthetic--nylon, etc.-- as sparks (grinding's worse than welding in my experience) will melt through the stuff like grass through a goose. You want wool (really hard to burn) or cotton (it'll burn and maybe even flame--like you've been grinding an notice smoke from, say, somewhere? Where'sit? You look down and your duck cotton apron is having a little flame-up right near your boys!. But cotton will not melt onto your skin like nylon will.)

And you want to cover all exposed skin to protect from UV. E.g., long sleeve shirts. The motorcycle tv shows have guys welding all the time without this protection and that's flat dumb, IMHO. If you get addicted to welding, later on you may want to spend a little money on a leather welding jacket. They work like a hot darn for UV, sparks, and heat insulation. I love mine.

Local metal scrap yards can be great places for practice and project metal. Get the cleanest scrap possible. (Don't weld galvanised until you know the low-down on how to do it proper.)

Best, David Todtman

Reply to
David Todtman

I have about 20 Irwin 11R Vise Grip clamps. I have a couple of dozen other ones made by Irwin for various things. They are sure handy, and depending on what you are working on, help a lot.

TIP: search ebay under "vice grips" for some that are mislisted, and welding clamps. I have gotten some killer deals there.

You can't have too many clamps.

Steve

Reply to
Steve B

LOADS of steel of various thicknesses for practice etc etc and one rhing I havn't seen anyone else list a weldors bandana or cap to keep your hair out of your eyes when the wind's blowing and to stop sparks burning your hair off in patches ! Even if you don't have hair, they stop a lot of sweat getting in your eyes.

HTH Jim

Reply to
Jim

C-clamps, magnetic clamps, 5-gallon water bucket, soapstone marker, steel framing square, carbide scribe, vise-grip pliers, bench vise

Someth>Tater wrote:

Reply to
Tom Kendrick

hobart stickmate xl ac.

went to the local hardware store to look at breakers as saw some 50A for $40!!! then i went home to see what kind of electrical box i have, and found the local ones for THAT brand box cost only $17 (cheaper i am sure if i went to the bigger stores in the bigger town)

I was originally planning on storing the welder in the garage, less than 6 feet away from the breaker box. the fire issue in item 3 may change that.

will be grabbing some as soon as the welder arives, maybe sooner, trying to restrain myself from over spending :)

how far DO sparks travel? the welder has 10' work clamp and 12' stick, was thinking of puting welder in attached garage between shared wall and garage door. both have vinyl siding. should i worry? how about grinding dust and all the other icky bits that happen when one starts metalworking?

garage is 2 car sized and also houses gas cans, lawnmowers and etc. I really dont want to invest in 20-30' of #6/3 AWG but might have to. (up, over garage doors, down to socket)

Reply to
Tater

Welding sparks tend to fly a couple of feet, fall, then bounce and roll. If you share the space with dust, dirt, woodworking, cars, gas cans, etc, you will want to have some way of positively stopping the spatter. These are round globs of metal or slag are about 1/8' diameter, are red to white hot, like to hide out under things. If the shared wall is the typical concrete block down to the floor, 5/8" fire code sheetrock on the upper, that is reasonable. If not, figure something else.

Grinders and abrasive cutoff saws are another issue. These sparks will travel 10' to 15', are less of a fire hazzard than the welding sparks but will just imbed themselves in anyting soft: concrete, siding, clothes, etc.

If at all possible weld outdoors. Just makes more sense. I have my welder and O/A cyl> RoyJ wrote:

Reply to
RoyJ

Oooo That reminds me,

One of those squirty water thingies people spray plants with, for small flame ups, rather than use the fire extinguisher you can spray small fires with one of those BEFORE it gets more serious, EXTREMELY effective and a lot cheaper than a new extinguisher.

Jim

Reply to
Jim

While we're talking about spark streams from saws and grinders, here are the things that should NEVER be hit with the spark stream (DAMHIKT). The same is true for the spark stream from a cutting torch, though the metal chunks are larger.

ANY window glass

ANY automobile paint job

ANY flammable (such as dry leaves or grass)

IT MAY APPEAR that the spark stream is bouncing off. Well, most of it IS bouncing off. The rest is partially embedding itself into the subject material where it will...RUST. The only solution is to replace the glass or repaint the car. If it hits the dry leaves or grass, you will have a nice grass fire burning out of control as well.

It CAN happen to you. Try to avoid visits from the local fire department.

Reply to
IBM5081

A related item to avoid is an automobile rear view mirror. I have one that got in the way of some body man's grinding debris.

Don Young

Reply to
Don Young

"Tater" wrote in news:1155509206.865614.35190 @p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com:

At the risk of appearing simple-minded, I'd suggest that you make sure that you have, at least, 1 set of 100% Cotton clothing [long-sleeved shirt, jeans/work pants] and a pair of Leather boots (preferably Steel-Toed).

Believe me, you DON'T want to be wearing Synthetic materials while grinding/welding. [BTDT] You don't want to be wearing "low-top" footwear, either.

Reply to
RAM³

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