|
Trucker
03-09-2002 21:33:49
|
|
Re: Learning how to weld and use torches in reply to Jim, 02-28-2002 08:51:09
|
|
| |
HTP America has a website and they have a video they sell for mig welding that might help.First I think you should get some scrap metal and practice every chance you get.Its hard to write what you need to do,but if you can find somebody that is a welder to teach you a little bit,in a couple of days you can be welding stuff that will even surprise you.Once you get started you never stop learning. Start with the torch.Set the oxygen at about 20 and the acetylene at about 8.Put the cutting attachment on it,light it by turning the valve for the acetylene on just a little,but enough to when it lights it stays lit good,just a little past where it leaves black soot in the air,then ease the oxy on.Get the flame to where it is blue,and the white ends just out of the holes on the tip are visible,try and heat a piece of metal,when it starts to look red ease the bar down and start cutting.Once you can cut a piece of metal take the 2 pieces,put them in a vice,grind the cut off smooth,the fire up the welder.Set the co2 gauge to about 20,pull the trigger untill you hear gas,clip the wire,or you can use the purge switch if your welder has one and save the wire,set the metal you ground off to where it has a small gap between the pieces.Put the clipped end of the wire right above the gap real close,drop your hood and squeeze the trigger,dont let the sparks scare you or make you jump,just see if you can get the metal to melt.If you get it going and its melting wire watch the puddle,you will see a bright area of melted metal,not the bright light of the arc,you watch the metal,as the wire melts into the metal think about how thick the metal is and when the weld looks about twice as wide as the metal is thick move the wire to the front of the puddle,right to the edge,practice untill you are allways at the front of the puddle of metal when the weld gets as wide as you want it.You most likely need to start with some thick metal like maybe something about 1/2 inch thick.Its easier for me to weld thick stuff as you go slower and you can see whats going on longer before you need to do anything.Back to the torch,once you get to where you can cut a piece of metal with it,try to watch the sparks as well as the gap where you are cutting,maybe angle the torch a little forward as you cut and watch the sparks,kind of in your minds eye,just be aware of them,and if you dont see them you sre going too fast,or too slow,when you are moving at just the right speed,and see sparks flying all the time,when you get through the piece should fall off with very little slag to grind off.You want to keep the tip of the torch to where the white ends of the flame which come out of the holes in the tip are just touching or a little above the piece you are cutting.If you get hit by a spark and jerk,and the tip hits the piece,you most likely will need to clean the tip with a tip cleaner.The ones that are like drill bits are the best,just use the right size,dont drill the holes out any bigger.Back to the welder,as you watch the puddle you can see a line to where its liquid metal and where its starting to get solid looks like a dofferent color,if the line you see is straight across the puddle you are going jus the right speed,if its curved on the edges you are going too fast,if its rounded you are going too slow.Its easier to see this line with a stick welder,once you do,its a way to get your speed close,but with a mig you have to watch the color too,as you usually will be welding thin stuff probobly,and if you see sparks flying off the weld its going to drop causing a big hole to fill.You have to get off the trigger before you see the sparks or it will fall,Its kind of a fine line on something thin as to making a good weld and burning a hole,but the color of the melting metal can tell you.Sometimes you cant go very far before its too hot.You might not get much more than a tack before you need to stop,watch the glow when it gets dark red through your hood go again.
|
|
|
