Any welders (school, job, hobby)

[irishpwr46]

thats some real nice work

 

[BeachMonkey100]

Thanks!

 

[white05gt]

I learned how to weld about 15 years ago through the plumber and pipefitter union. I started out gas welding and then moved to stick after that. Once I quit the plumbing job I worked as a heavy equipment mechanic/greaser. I used welding a little bit in the field and a fair amount of mig welding in the winter months when I went to the shop. Now I work for a truck manufacture and I weld quite a bit depending on what kind of truck I build. I don't care for some of their weld procedures such as welding downhill, I was taught to weld uphill only for structural stuff and now forced to weld downhill. The company says it's stronger but I know it's a production thing.

 

[Blxcklist]

Im a journeyman welder, been in the trade since the day I turned 18. Got my AWS certs in pretty much every process, position, and thickness. Ive got a pretty gravy shop job now mostly just Tigging stainless pipe or welding vessels with pulse. But Ive welded pipe in the field for a couple years and done heavy structural for a while as well. Heres a few pics ive got on my phone right now.

 

[Blxcklist]

 

[1QIKPNY]

I'm an Ironworker apprentice so I do a lot of welding, only been welding for a little over a year but I love it. Works slow at the mill right now so we have just been making random stuff. Just a few of the things I've made, railroad spike knives and some crosses for my wife.

 

[irishpwr46]

those spike knives are pretty awesome. i have a spike bottle opener, but i never thought of making a knife. i think im gonna have to get that going. im just gonna have to get my oxy ace rig filled and get a decent anvil

 

[DiMora]

I have a 220V Clarke MIG...I run it on gas. I would love a TIG, but I don't weld enough or weld enough exotic stuff to justify investing at this point...perhaps someday.

I have been welding for 28 years.

Those TIG beads posted above by Blxcklist are art to the eyes. Amazing work.

 

[Dad]

Leave it to me to revive a 3.5 year old thread.

I have never welded in my life. I am wanting to do some light fab work. Build my kids a go-kart and other such projects. Probably won't ever weld anything thicker than 3/16". And probably won't use it very often. So I can't justify a high dollar setup. I was looking at the cheapo Harbor Freight flux core welder. Is that a good enough machine for what I am wanting to do? Like I said, probably be welding mostly stuff in the 1/8" range. Dunno if it would work for sheetmetal repairs. I am sure a MIG would be better for sheetmetal, but again, I don't want to spend a bunch on something I will use a couple times a year. How it looks really isn't that important since I would likely grind it down and paint whatever I weld anyway. No way would I ever expect to lay down welds like the ones above. That's art right there.

 

[eighty6gt]

I would 1000x find a used 220v miller vs. buying a new 120v ching chong welder. I see good used MIGS all the time. I would use shielding gas. Even thinner stuff like brackets, at 110v I would trip my system out if I was making too long of beads. 220 will do more work.

 

[thailand]

Welding supplies does get expensive, when you throw in the argon/co2, cylinder, consumables, cart, etc. Have you thought about stick welding? Lincoln tombstones are all over the place for sale. Usually pretty cheap too. If you're only going to use it a few times a year, it may be a cost effective solution.

 

[LarryJM]

I like brazing better. I learned how at Art School. I have a propane/oxygen setup.

 

[Juice]

Wow, my welds look 'ok' after I grind them. lol Got a Lincoln 135 and use it mostly to make custom exhaust. None of my exhausts ever broke, so I consider it a 'success'. Welding is definitely an art IMO.

Definitely one of my favorite tools in the garage.

 

[Totheboards]

I have a friend who has been running one of them ching chong Harbor Freight TIG machines for a few years. Still works...
Personally I run a Millermatic 211. Its a MIG machine that has a plug adapter to run off 120vac or 240vac. I also run a 2nd bottle of pure argon for the spool gun to MIG weld aluminum. Not the best aluminum welds but it worked for a headlight bracket I made for my dirt bike. Switching between steel and aluminum only takes about 2 minutes.

I recommend weldingtipsandtricks.com for practical info for just about anything relating to heat and molten metal.