First time welding

[duanew1]

I dunno. Personally, ChuckE2009 annoys me.

When I first watched him I thought to myself "Why is he smiling all of the time?" and "Wipe that smile off of your face". I guess he is having a good time. Now I like him and have watched many of his videos.

 

[Fawken]

To me it looks as if he has had porcelain crowns added which makes it seem a person is smiling all the time. I'll have that problem as well when mine are completed. I think his videos are entertaining because they move quickly.

 

[Shield Arc]

With self shielded flux core, (T-11 wires only), as with Mig try running about 3/8-inch stick out.
No need to go into T-8 flux core wires, that wire is for structural welding. And a whole different animal all together from T-11 wires.

 

[kevinwak]

Well, tried it out again last night, sorry I forgot to take pictures. I ran a bunch of beads on some sample coupons and then noticed that they look decent for the first two inches and then get really sloppy. I then started to piece together my first project, as it is out of 1-1/2" square tubing. Man, why have I never welded before? The bike rack I am building is coming together way quicker then I envisioned. The only big issue I have is that I am paranoid that the Sparks from the grinder and chop saw are going to sit smouldering in the gravel floor of the pole shed and catch a fire when I am asleep.

 

[flusher]

The secret of welding--learn to read the puddle and learn all you can about tie-in.
And for the beginner--weld two-handed until you're able to lay down near perfect beads. Then you will have a better chance to do excellent one-handed welds.

Good luck

 

[Shield Arc]

The only big issue I have is that I am paranoid that the Sparks from the grinder and chop saw are going to sit smouldering in the gravel floor of the pole shed and catch a fire when I am asleep.

The odds are against starting a fire, but you never know. I use to work in a lot of oil refineries. We always had a fire watch. The fire watch couldn't leave for at least a 1/2-hour after us. Before the fire watch could leave they had to wet the area down. Is there anyway you can sprinkle some water on your gravel floor before you call it a day?

 

[Sodo]

Gravel floor is very much fire-safe but if you're worried about it doesn't hurt to be more careful. There's some sense in wetting down the area (under the sparks) prior to making sparks then they drown out (lose their heat) immediately.

Lets see the bike rack!

 

[Mysfyt]

Not that you shouldn't be nervous about starting a fire, but I don't ever remember starting a fire by welding. Not saying it can't happen! I did start a fire in a trash can once from grinding, though. I think those sparks are more concentrated plus they're being fed air from the grinding wheel. Good subject to bring up and talk about!

 

[Fawken]

I have started fires welding, but a lot more (usually my shirt) using a cut-off wheel. I always keep a Home Depot squirt bottle of water handy and there's two fire extinguishers in the shop just in case.

 

[KubotainNH]

I've only started a couple fires. Once many years ago I was welding on a pallet with dried leaves under it....oops. What's that smell? Ha ha, live and learn. A couple times I had some rubber on cars get to hot and start burning while welding in body panels. Never anything on dirt or gravel but good to be vigilant.

I enjoy metal work, wood seems more of a choir to me. If I screw up or cut too much off I can grind off the issue and weld more on. Way more forgiving. Cut too much on your wood piece and you gotta start over.