Picked up my first welder today

Arc weld · Apr 5, 2014

Probably not a good idea to run it inside your house. Do you want your house to smell like a welding shop? Wait till you can get it hooked up in your shop or garage. You'd never get rid of all the smoke or smell.

Happy Gilmore · Apr 7, 2014

I pulled the Lincoln out into the driveway today. Plugged it into the basement dryer plug to run a few rods. I ran it at 75amps DC and burned around two dozen 6011 1/8" rods on a piece of 1/4" scrap, taking breaks in between. Works great. I had an ear to ear grin! The new Weldcote auto darkening helmet worked really well too. Can't wait for my class tomorrow night.

Reverser · Apr 7, 2014

Great!! Glad it's all working out for you. :thumbsup:

Those auto darkening welding hoods are great. I've welded for almost 50 years with the old style hoods, and finally bought one of the auto darkening ones a couple years ago.

I must say that I was a little nervous striking the first few arcs with it. It took me a while to get comfortable with trusting it to go instantly dark and not flash me.

:laughing:

k0ua · Apr 7, 2014

Happy Gilmore said:
I pulled the Lincoln out into the driveway today. Plugged it into the basement dryer plug to run a few rods. I ran it at 75amps DC and burned around two dozen 6011 1/8" rods on a piece of 1/4" scrap, taking breaks in between. Works great. I had an ear to ear grin! The new Weldcote auto darkening helmet worked really well too. Can't wait for my class tomorrow night.

Cool!:thumbsup: A good start. Learn all you can in the class. Practice all you can.

joshuabardwell · Apr 8, 2014

Reverser said:
I must say that I was a little nervous striking the first few arcs with it. It took me a while to get comfortable with trusting it to go instantly dark and not flash me. :laughing:

If you have a fluorescent or halogen bulb nearby, you can easily test it out before welding. Those bulbs give out enough UV to trigger the darkening function. Alternatively, you can look away and scratch the rod on a piece of scrap just out of your peripheral vision. The sparks should trigger the darkening function.

k0ua · Apr 8, 2014

you can also use your angle grinder. Just grind some steel and look at the sparks.. It should darken.

Thats Hot · Apr 8, 2014

You have a great by at $180.00 for a AC/DC welder. I looked for a good two years for a clean AC/DC unit, but here in my area of Fl. they where used as a wheel chock or a Boat anchor....

Arc weld · Apr 8, 2014

A striker for lighting your torch will make an auto lens darken.

I'm a little confused. You bought a welder, which is good, but you're trying to teach yourself welding before you even started the class. I think it would make more sense to take the course and then practice what you learned. Isn't that the whole idea of taking a beginners welding course in the first place.:confused3:

Happy Gilmore · Apr 8, 2014

Not much to be confused about Arc Weld. I started the class last Tuesday night. Second class was tonight. I've been reading and watching videos quite a bit, which helps put what I'm learning in the class into a little better perspective. I bought the welder so I can practice what I'm learning in the class at my own pace in between classes. The class is only once a week for 3 hours. It's a basic class. Yesterday I was practicing striking an arc, trying to find a position comfortable for me, rod angle and trying to watch the puddle while running a bead. Is that acceptable to you? :confused3:

I'm just a bit enthusiastic as I've wanted to learn the basics for a long time.