Arc Welding Help?

[zaqwsx]

Hey dose anyone on here know anything about arc welding and could maybe give me some tips. Im building this electric go kart and im going to weld the frame and im a new welder my dad knows how but he hasn't welded for a while know. So I was wondering if any of you guys had any tips!

[El Fiendo]

Practice first, practice alot.

I assume you're going to be using a no feed system? Or basically stick welding.

If so, make sure you get the proper rods for the metal and thickness as well as the proper flux on it.

[zaqwsx]

I have 1/16in rods and the guy said it would be fine for like 1/16in galvanized steel

[Wile E]

My tip: Make a jig for the frame, to be sure everything is the proper length, and aligned properly.


Other than that, sacrifice some of your tubing for practice. Ask your dad on how to run the bead. I'm sure it will spark (haha, get it? :D ) his memory a little.

[El Fiendo]

Yea. Arc welding isn't point and shoot. Depending on gap, thickness and metal type you have very different ways to make the bead not to mention amperages to set. Hopefully he remembers enough that you can learn the rest through practice.

[Spd Frk]

Fisrt of all there are 3 types of arc welders.Stick or sheilded metal arc,M.I.G.that stands for Metal and inert gas and T.I.G. that stands for tungstan and inert gas.I am betting you have the most common type a stick welder.If you have a welder that is a.c. current only you are very limted on what rods you can use.6011,6013 for mild steel and Ni.rod or nickle rod for cast iron is all that comes to mind.If you have a d.c. negative one you can use any stick that is made.Most all stick rods run d.c. negative.Practice on some scrap that is the same as the material you want to make your go cart from.Run it too cold and your weld will ball up and your stick welder will live up to its name and your rod will stick.Run it too hot and you will burn a hole.Good welds are just short of burning a hole.Strike and establish an arc,then hold the rod at an angle that bisects your 2 peices then lean it back towards you at a 30 degree angle and let the weight of the stinger feed the rod to the weld.Dont long arc it that just causes problems.Slowly pull the rod along the line you want welded.I will tell you right now if you have never welded before you are a better M.I.G. welder than stick.Migs use sheilding gas instead of flux so no slag and what you see is what you get.Sticks have slag and a common mistake is to run a nice puddle of slag and have a bad weld underneath.If you can buy or borrow a mig with gas not that flux core crap it would make thing go a lot faster and easier.

[zaqwsx]

Ya its ac and its a stick welder and yes im going to practice on scrap metal but what im doing is bolting and also welding the frame becuase im using Angle Iron know!

[SK-1]

Fisrt of all there are 3 types of arc welders.

Can you tell this guy has melted a bit of metal in his life?:D
Great info Spd Frk. And thanks for helping out so fast. Spd Frk is a friend of mine and at my request,posted this reply. He has years of welding experience. I can safely say, if anyone at TPU has ANY questions about welding, he can knowledgeably answer them.:)

[DaMulta]

just remember circles and slowly work your self around.

[zaqwsx]

Thanks guys im buying the metal tomorrow or tues and then im going to get some scrap metal also and practice some more!

[blkhogan]

Fisrt of all there are 3 types of arc welders.Stick or sheilded metal arc,M.I.G.that stands for Metal and inert gas and T.I.G. that stands for tungstan and inert gas.I am betting you have the most common type a stick welder.If you have a welder that is a.c. current only you are very limted on what rods you can use.6011,6013 for mild steel and Ni.rod or nickle rod for cast iron is all that comes to mind.If you have a d.c. negative one you can use any stick that is made.Most all stick rods run d.c. negative.Practice on some scrap that is the same as the material you want to make your go cart from.Run it too cold and your weld will ball up and your stick welder will live up to its name and your rod will stick.Run it too hot and you will burn a hole.Good welds are just short of burning a hole.Strike and establish an arc,then hold the rod at an angle that bisects your 2 peices then lean it back towards you at a 30 degree angle and let the weight of the stinger feed the rod to the weld.Dont long arc it that just causes problems.Slowly pull the rod along the line you want welded.I will tell you right now if you have never welded before you are a better M.I.G. welder than stick.Migs use sheilding gas instead of flux so no slag and what you see is what you get.Sticks have slag and a common mistake is to run a nice puddle of slag and have a bad weld underneath.If you can buy or borrow a mig with gas not that flux core crap it would make thing go a lot faster and easier.

Nicely put Sir. I haven't even held an arc welder in so long it's almost scary. Nice re-fresher. :)

[Spd Frk]

Glad I could help.Dont hesitate to ask.I have been a professional welder for 35 years so thats just the tip of the iceburg of welding procedures I know.I can tell you how to weld with a mig,tig,stick,submerged arc and brazing torch.I can help with cutting torch skills too.I can also show you how to remove studs that are broken off flush,how to cut a 6 inch bearing race off a 40,000 dollar shaft with confidance while the plant manager looks over your shoulder without a mark on the shaft[been there done that].I can even clue you in how to burn a nice neat hole thru 12 inches of steel reinforced concrete[also been there done that].

[zaqwsx]

Thanks alot I have been really busy so i have yet to buy the metal :(