So I have wanted to try welding for a while. Bought a cheap fluxcore. Got a cut list and a local place put it together. Even tacked the 45 degree ends. Didn’t get to use my magnetic clamps! Anyhow…I know the welds are terrible but they will hold for what I’m doing. It’s a big grill for cooking over wood coals. I will use cinder blocks to keep it raised until I figure something out.
Good Work! I Like your helmet. There will be a lot you can do!! I just learned to weld myself recently and I really like the things you can do! I got a cheap angle grinder and a flap disk to clean the work before welding which gives a better weld. You may want a metal chop saw and a nice LED bench light to lite up your work without tripping the auto darkening in your helmet. Also you may want to upgrade to a gas welder which gives a cleaner weld and a lot less smoke so you can use it inside or in a shop. I like the multiprocessor welder because it is so much easier to put the Guage and type of metal in to get the right amperage. This is the one I got. HF new line of Vulcan Welders just went on sale - Good Buy? Here is an intake dust screen I made for a pellet stove convection blower to keep out the dog hair that works awsome! See pics Pellet Stove Convection Blower - Stopping Dust & Dog hair at point of entry? Here is a welding project on my old tractor. Sears LT-1000 Tractor- Replacing the old rotting rubber feet & rusting metal foot rests? Here is a trailer Jack I got from HF that you have to weld on!! HF heavy duty trailer jack - Comes with Assembly Hardware - weld it on??? Here is a FrankenBolt I made so I could still use my old Air Polisher! LOL HF Air Polisher with 1/4x20 fine thread hole and new polisher pad kit has 5/16-24 fine thread shank! Good Lick and happy welding and remember safety first!!
Remember two "P"'s Preparation and Practice. Try grinding off the mill scale where you are going to weld and Practice ; that needs no explanation. Get some scrap and have at it.
I was planning on that…but the only scrap I have lying around is galvanized. Plus I have a big group coming and need that grill for a cook-off! my next “project” will be the PRACTICE PRACTICE part!
For a table, I just got a chunk of 3/16 plate from the neighbor and put it on some sawhorses for now.
I like that idea. I got this cheap one…it’s fine but kinda small and doesn’t roll well for something with wheels.
My 1st welding project was an indestructible coffee mug holder for my workbench that I made from 4” diameter exhaust pipe connector from the auto parts store. Total cost approx $10 !! You cannot buy something tough like this that will last forever! The closest item I came across was the lowest quality plastic clamp on for $35.99 that will most likely fall off with a full cup of coffee!! Also no cutout for a coffee mug and my heat gun would melt it!!! What good is that?? I also use it for drinks and it makes a great cool down holder for my heat gun when I shrink wrap wires!!
Grilling "stuff" is a great way to practice welding. Pretty hard to cause any real trouble in this department. I built this one over 15 years ago and this is a rebuilding job after several cows and pigs went across it. It had 1/8" x1 flat bar oriented vertically that had gotten very thin. I've been collecting cooking grates from the transfer station everytime there was a propane grill there for years. That's what I used for it's 2nd life. This was a bunch of junk that got welded together, and let me tell you that once you start welding you'll never look at a pile of scrap steel the same way!
Hey grandgourmand is your polarity correct for flux core wire? Nice project for big cook outs! Your new welding hobby will open up lots of cool projects!
I hope so. I went by the guide printed on the welder for my settings. If anything, I think my wire feed was too fast...or I was too slow. Was hard to keep up sometimes. I''m not near my welder at the moment, so can't tell you the setting I used. Will report back. I have another grill like this one, a bit smaller. But I will get some scrap metal first and practice.
It takes years and years to get good at anything, Keep at it! It looks from what I can see that the machine may be a bit (under powered) or you need more amperage for your weld. Flux core machines are great for small/thinner stuff. That angle Iron looks like 3/16" or maybe 1/4". The machine may not have the A$$ for that thickness.
Like Dave mentioned , it takes time " and practice" Keep practicing and playing with your settings , don't be afraid to try different things. Get some scrap and keep playing. Keep prep work in mind also , kind of like painting a car. It takes more time to prep than paint ; this is often the case when welding as well. More prep time than actual weld time is not uncommon.
With my Hobart 125, I’ve been learning if I heat the metal with a torch first, it give me better welds too.
I know on aluminum if you preheat the thicker stuff it makes it easier to get a nice bead going and it tends to flow better until you get heat in it from the actual weld. I guess this would also be true with steel as well but have never tried it myself . What do you think Dave , I am not a welder ; but I can glue metal together.
