Woodworker Wants To Weld

I am sure others will reply with good opinions. |However, my 2c: welding is different on enough levels from woodworking as to require taking at least an evening community college course. An example: you had a brief experience with a cutting torch. I doubt that you'd be able, from a library book and your brief experience, properly set the gas flow and get a neutral flame to cut steel. (Without blowing something up.) Woodworking is different--such a\ demo would ena\ble a\ lot of people to then go out a\nd buy a\ ta\ble s\a\w, go home and plug it in a\nd ma\ke a\ decent cut. Ca\n't do tha\t in welding (where do you go to buy a\ torch set? Wha\t is the proper set for you? Wha\t about \arc welding? MIG, TIG, stick? Then, which machine? etc...... How many choices are there in table saws? For woodworking, the a\nswers are everywhere--magazines, neighbours, hardware stores..... but for welding, the ease of getting the basics and availablity of information just is not there.) Most people need actual hands on instruction, hence, the evening college course. Lots of safety instruction in the evening courses\ too.

Sorry for the backslashes. My computer sometimes has a mind of its own!

Ciao, David Todtman

I probably should have a\lso sa\id that I think welding is a terrific 'hobby.' Go for it! David

availablity

willing to spend the "proper" amount though. I've upgraded a table saw and drill press, so I know the dangers of buying too low.

I would say, perhaps you should invest some money into upgrading part of your electrical systems now, since you mention you are already tripping breakers. You wouldn't want to limit yourself with a welder to what your current house is setup for if you are looking at purchasing a machine that will last you a long time. If upgrading your current electrical system is out of the question, the Lincoln 135 is a good unit for the price.

Cheers,

Dale

I also started with woodworking, so you are not alone. I second the course, especially if you want to use gas. You may also use google to search this newsgroup, it is quite informative.

This is a pity, because a stick welder is both cheap and quite efficient as a welding method.

Security note: stick welding emits UV rays, protect your skin or you'll get badly sunburnt.

Do yourself a favour and actually measure the wall thickness. Anything thinner than 2mm (probably 0.080", I don't understand US units) is challenging for a beginner.

So your another tool colector branching out into welding tools.

If your lucky might have 220V dryer outlet in garage that 175 amp MIG welder can plug into. Buy 175 amp MIG or 135 amp MIG welder.

Best to take welding class or have weldor teach you how to weld.

Download or order US Navy Steelworker Training Manuals.

U.S. Army's "Welding Theory and Application"

Go to miller's web site and order student package. Couple of weeks of welding practice and clamping weld joints in vice and beating with hammer to bend weld joint to test welds. Start welding 1/8" steel and work down to thinner metal. Have steel supplyer cut lots of 2X4 practice coupons ( chunks of steel) to practice welding. Buy Welding helmet, saftey glasses, ear plugs, Cotton or leather long sleave shirt & pants, 4.5" right angle grinder, 6" vice, 2 pd hammer, hacksaw, metal cutting blade for your jig saw, and lots more.

Weld area must be free of saw dust and other things that burn when sparks from welding/grinding hit. Must have fire extinguisher, bucket of water ... to put out fires.

Foam padding in seat burns hot and easy. Must remove burnables from seat frame before welding or protect with fireproof welding blanket.

You then need gas welding and cutting torch, plasma cutting torch, TIG welder, Bigger MIG welder. By that time you might have bigger shop.

Lathe and milling machines are in your future.

Have fun.

If you have that many electrical problems, perhaps you should learn to gas weld first. That way you will be able to more readily join like metals, unlike metals, and braze. Plus the bonus of a cutting torch. To do these you really should get some kind of instruction.

Scott

I would recommend something entirely different. Hardy and Harmon put out a nice booklet called " The Brazing Book ". Most of what is covered in the book is hard silver soldering. Good for thin material and can be done with a good propane torch. The joints need to be lap joints and the metal has to be clean. Even then you have to use flux. But silver soldering is one of the easier things to learn and the cheapest to buy what you need to repair that seat.

After you fix the seat, you can make some jewelry for your wife and maybe get her making jewelry too.

Dan

Note: Never include the wife in any hobby you plan to enjoy!!! Just kidding, but I usually go out to the garage to be alone, and do some work, instead of sitting in front of the boob tube.

Cheers,

Dale

this silver prpane brazing sounds neat. i dont have a OA torch, just a stick welder which limits me to thicker metal.

what are the most demanding welds you have managed with this method?

Is the solder really made of silver?

Sam

Brazing is not quite the same as welding. The metal you are joining do not melt. The brazing material melts at a somewhat lower temperature. So it is more like glueing with metal adhesive.

I am not sure what the most demanding jobs I have managed, but it is one of the approved methods for making thru pressure hull connections in nuclear submarines. Not the preferred method, because it is very hard to x-ray the joint and be sure that it done correctly.

The joints need to be lap joints, and the clearance between the two metals needs to be about 0.0015 inches to get maximum strength ( about

130,000 psi ).

There are a number of different alloys for doing this. One of he most common is BAg-1. It is 50% silver with copper, zinc and cadmium. The cadmium means you need good ventilation.

Check your library for books on jewelry making.

Dan

(possible repost)

Thanks everyone for the input! I decided I should know more before buying a welder and I found a community college course about 20 minutes away.

I found a couple local shops that can do the seat repair. Or, if Pontiac messed up and the parts are interchangeable from the rider's seat I may just take the rider-side seat out. I could haul more wood & junk with it out.

Thanks again.

-- Mark

wear your seatbelt). It would be better to take it to a qualified welder. Just for peace of mind.

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