Begginer welding tips.

[Mr_EF_96]

Hey guys i just wanted to find out from people on here who know how to weld about tools and methods best used when welding steel and steam pipe.

What Welder and temp is best used for 2 and 2.5 inch steel pipes.

I am attempting to make my own turbo kit soon and want to give it 100% crack at it all on my own so i need your help on how to weld so i can arrange the right tools i need for the job.

I will be welding straight pipes and bent pipes is there a different method you use on bent pipes ?

Also how much is it for all the equipment.

thanks.

[bigdell]

so you dont have a welder.

[misk]

read and read some more, then when you think you've read enough, read some more lol
then practice with the same intent and you'll get a fair idea.
it comes natural to some people but they still need to do alot of reading.
the more you understand whats happening when you are welding, the easier it will come to you.

gasless mig will be the cheapest, easiest to weld, but wont look pretty.
proper MIG welding with gas gets some good welds and isn't too hard to learn, but is pricey to setup and keep buying gas.
ARC isn't the best for doing smaller metal and will be a bit of a pain to start with in this situation.

the thicker the metal, the higher the heat you can use, but it still comes down to wire speed and weld speed/style.

i've found this website helps alot:
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

do some reading then have a crack, its the only way to learn.
steam pipe is very forgiving though as its thick and is already setup in a good grooved butt join, so you should be able to get a decent weld eventually.

[Mr_EF_96]

so you dont have a welder.

No but my uncle does but i want to buy my own one.

[Mr_EF_96]

Thanks for that Misk.

How much do the Mig welder with gas cost.

[NUT347]

My welder is a mig/tig/stick I got from trade tools for $1100 with all attachments and 5kg of mild steel wire and stainless rods.

The gas bottles are $130 a year to hire and around $100 to refil.

[dudley]

You can't ask for a weld setting, all welders are different. Everyone has a different welding technique
eg welding speed.

I recommend a MIG welder, it's easier then TIG and cleaner then ARC!

If you buy a TIG they usualy do ARC and some plasmer cut aswell, but are expensive

Befor welding you should clean the steel and pre heat it to get the best weld!!

[Mr_EF_96]

so Mig is the way to go.

[Phillis]

im a welder by trade. mig welding is by far the easier of the 3 main types. its also the way you'll weld 99.9% of the things on your car.

best advice i can give is practise, practise practise. then when you have a tanty because your welds look literally like chicken sh!t, weld some more. then when you have a tanty because they havent penetrated and they look like a great big slug, weld some more. then when your welds start to blob up because you have too much wire, weld some more. then when the welder starts to chatter because you have a shitty earth or bad liner, weld some more.

its a very fine art but once you can weld properly, youll never forget.

[Mr_EF_96]

cheers well i will look into a Mig welder and give it a crack and see how i go.

might ask my uncle to show me aswell he's been a welder for 25+ years so hopefully he can give me a demo.

cheers.

[misk]

if you know someone that has welding experience, they will be able to help you ten fold compared to words on the internet, but its still a good idea to do alot of reading so you understand the process of whats happening when you are welding.

[ZEROPSI]

I'm also just starting to learn how to weld. I haven't touched a welder since year 9 in high school. All I can suggest is what everybody else has already said....READ READ READ PRACTICE READ PRACTICE