Need some help with Welding

I live in Belton Tx, retired Army. Looking for anyone who could help me for one afternoon with Ideas and some light instruction. I have a Hobart 240/120 MIG welder new in the box and also a complete Oxy Acetylene set up. I have built a small well ventilated all Metal work shop approx 18x20x 13 feet tall with 2 huge sliding doors. I have scrap metal to weld and to cut. Want to make sure I don't electrocute or blow myself up. I have watched tons of You Tube Videos but nothing beats talking with some one who knows the craft. I am partial to old soldiers or country folks as that is where I come from. I am not expecting anything other than you to show up when it gets a little cooler. Hopefully that will happen soon. Thanks Chris

212 views not one response, I understand that every one is busy in their lives. Hoping for someone retired around Ft Hood just for some advice. Weather is getting cooler now Anyone ? Buhler? Buhler?? Thanks for looking.

Many years ago, A buddy and I signed up for and completed a Continuing Education class called Introduction to Welding at a local community college.

Before that, we were terrible welders. Now we're less terrible.

Digger I appreciate your response, strangely i was also called digger when I worked in gas line trenches in the 90's. They would get near something they didn't want to break: Water mains, power lines, sewer and I would be lowered into the trench by holding onto the tines of the back hoe. I would dig until we found "the thing" what ever it was then they would take over with the back hoe. 10-12 feet down no wall supports. I came home every Day covered in dirt. I would shower clothes and all and it would look like 1/2 inch of mud in the bottom of the shower, then my wife would wash them. I just want to get between Terrible and Less Terrible!! Thanks Everyone Chris

i have built cellular at 500'
no way i would get in that hole

good luck on welding

I could probably come up for a few hours next week if you haven’t found anyone. I joined the Army in 84 to be a welder. Been doing it since.

Send me a PM with your number and I’ll text tomorrow.

PM sent Thanks Tommar!!!

Don’t see any PM yet. Still needing help?

Tommar,

Yes, Absolutely Still looking for some help. Phone # 210-381-4309 Text is best, I get a lot of spam calls. Thanks Chris in Belton.

Sending you one now.

Pad beads and pad beads!

Tom (Tomar) came by last night and spent 4 hours on step-by-step instructions. These steps might seem simple to some of you, but for me he really made me understand the processes and how to do each thing safely. 1rst securing Oxy acetylene tanks better, then hook up all hoses and tips, checking each connection with soapy water. Order to turn on gasses and pressure settings for different actions. Wear of safety gear, Types of flame: carburizing, neutral and oxidizing and what each is used for. Brazing, Soldering and Cutting. Then we proceeded to cut 1/2 leaf springs. Over and over till I got the speed angle and distance almost correct. I still have much to learn but feel safer now in using this system. He reinforced most of what I have seen on videos. I am the type of learner who needs to see something done in front of me to understand. Then we went on to my MIG, he explained all of the connections, wire types, how to install, tension and drive. How to change wires for solid wire or flux core. He proceeded to lay several perfect beads and then had me do it over and over, he explained the speed distance and settings, and also when I made bad beads why they were bad and what I did wrong. By the end I felt much more comfortable with the unit. I now feel safe and comfortable to practice, practice, practice, also to try different metals and techniques. Not only did I meet a quality instructor. I met a quality person with lots of similarities in our lives. I look forward to taking him out fishing and maybe making a few things in the shop. I have never had a bad experience from anyone I have met on the TFF and THF. The world needs more people like Tom!! Thanks Again!!!

That's good to hear. Glad you had the experience from a well versed person. Good luck with the welding.

What a great thread!

Glad to help, Jamoke. I’ll design a table for you and get you a materials list soon. When you get your electrical stuff done and gas bottle in let me know and I’ll come up again.

Good job Tommar, that was a very nice thing you did.

+1 everyone ive met off the TFF have been great people

I went out Sunday to practice. both cutting and welding. The cutting out in the wind was terrible. When I moved into the shed not So bad. I also practiced welding until the wires got caught up in the spool. Taking that apart and fixing it was another lessen. Tomar, you left your hat, So I guess you'll have to come back.... LOL. I would have been afraid to take the roll off and to change the tension, watching you really helped with that too. With Deer season in just over a week. I will be out at the lease as much as I can. My CO2/Argon bottle is ordered. So that will help. Let me know anything you need me to get besides electricity to my shed before you come back up. Thanks Again!! Chris (AKA Jamoke)

Cool!

So for a new guy trying to understand welding, what is the easiest thing to start with? First thing to build is shooting target holders, which will be probably 3/16" steel. Stick welder? Wire? Looking for affordable options

All depends on what you will be shooting with it and the distances your reaching out too. Most target steel is A400 plate. I would go with 1/2" unless your just plinking with a 22.

Stick welder is probably the easiest but getting penetration on thicker metals welds can be an issue. Flux core is an cheaper option, but I dont like how it splatters. Prefer to run gas on wire.

You can get a stick welder that can do just about everything for the same cost as a wire welder. But wire welder sure is easy to run and be done.