Ok im ready to shave my knuckles and get to welding-right. I have access to a miller mig and its been a long time since I have welded; and it was poor at best then. Aside from try, try,& try some more what pointer do y'all have. Most of the fab work I see here looks great and realize I have a long way to go. My game plan was to start patching the pans and go from there. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Start practicing on some scrap thicker than sheetmetal, like 1/8" or so. Then go to 1/16 and then try the 18/20 gauge patch thickness. Just to get the hang of it. Bummer on sheetmetal with MIG is your just putting a bunch of dots on it. I like grinding down the first set of tacks after each random pass. It slows down the work so there's not as much heat warpage, although a grinder isn't cold. The main thing is not getting stuck with a foot of straight grinding. Also make or buy some of those little sheetmetal clamps. Have fun. TP
Make your parts fit together perfectly. Grind, file, sand, chant, pray, spread the special herbs, whatever it takes, but make them fit VERY well together. Make sure all areas adjacent to the weld are surgically clean. This includes the back-side, too. Most welders have a chart inside the cover, to get your settings in the ballpark. Use that as a jumping off point. Set your welder there. Make a short pass on some clean flat metal. Turn up the wire speed about 10%, make another pass. Turn down the wire speed about 10% below the first number. Observe the changes that makes in the weld, and the sound of the weld. Once you have a feel for how to make that steady sizzle sound. Try the same variance, but with the heat. Take some pictures and post them of your best results. Work towards constant identical hand movement.
Make sure you are welding in a closed shop any breeze will affect the gas flow around the tip always weld pushing towards the tip/gas flow, don't pull away like when stick welding, play with your wire feed and current to get it right for the thickness of the martial you are welding, practice makes perfect good luck
I was in a similar boat as yourself recently and went and did a short course at the local trades school. Even though I forked out for it actually having someone there showing you firstly the safety aspects and secondly the techniques in adjusting your machine for different feed speeds and different temps for different gauges in metal was invaluable. Youtube etc are all good resources but never replace being taught and practice. If you know people that are welders ask them to show you and spend a few hours with them then practice away.
I would just keep at it and try to get someone that does know how to weld to give some critique. Like "gimpyshotords" said, take some pics and post them here. I am currently taking a welding class at Modesto JC. It's the second one, and I am loving it.
Thx for the replies. After I finish rebuilding my suspension I will start my post of the evolution. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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