Learning to weld?

[XP@]

Hi,

I've got a few projects on the go and would like to learn how to weld. Mostly it is bike related so light stuff. If I can then I would like to keep the option of sticking Aluminium together.

Any suggestions on a shopping list?
Are there any courses / people that can teach (levin to wellington)

Cheers

[quallman1234]

Go do the Mig/Tig course at polytech in petone. Once a week from 5:30 - 8:30. Well worth it and its only like 300$. Your learn all you need for stuff you just said.

[slowpoke]

Go do the Mig/Tig course at polytech in petone. Once a week from 5:30 - 8:30. Well worth it and its only like 300$. Your learn all you need for stuff you just said.

Aaaaargh! NOW ya tell me! I've just carrried out a rebuild/upgrade of my trailer and it looks like a flock of seagulls has perched on the framework before it was painted over......

[quickbuck]

Go do the Mig/Tig course at polytech in petone. Once a week from 5:30 - 8:30. Well worth it and its only like 300$. Your learn all you need for stuff you just said.

What he said.....
Best to do a course. Some people can show you, but it is a bit like teaching your mate to ride a bike...
May have been doing it for years, but forgot about the crucial thing that comes naturally....
Welding can have disastrous consequences... in the future!

[F5 Dave]

The problem is the gear. Arc welders are cheap but only good for trailers. Migs are good for home handymen, but quality starts at dreadful (like my setup) to quite expensive. Ally welding really requires a Tig & that's where the coin starts to get serious. More than 'a few projects'. A crappy archaic Tig in talented hands can sometimes approach acceptable welds if you don't have to look at them. The rest of us don't have a chance.

[Ocean1]

Go do the Mig/Tig course at polytech in petone.

Aaaaargh! NOW ya tell me!

What he said....

+3 for Weltec. See:http://www.weltec.ac.nz/SubjectAreas...0/Default.aspx

PM me if you want contact details.

The problem is the gear. Arc welders are cheap but only good for trailers. Migs are good for home handymen, but quality starts at dreadful (like my setup) to quite expensive. Ally welding really requires a Tig & that's where the coin starts to get serious. More than 'a few projects'. A crappy archaic Tig in talented hands can sometimes approach acceptable welds if you don't have to look at them. The rest of us don't have a chance.

Yup, a craftsman can produce reasonable results with most gear, us mortals need to use the right tool.

Stick welders are OK for most work down to about 3mm, less if you’re good.

MIGs are a production tool, fast and effective but difficult to get pretty.

TIGs are the real do-it-all tool, not a quick process but very much more controllable, and easier to learn to the stage where you can get reasonable results. Argon ain’t cheap though.

So, depends on what you want to do and what you want to spend.

[I'll C U Jimmy]

If you are going to lash out the coin and want to retain the aluminium option, be careful to get a Tig welder than you can switch to AC as well as DC. You need the AC for aluminium. Ive got a mate who is a welding rep, I'll do a bit of research for ya on any alternatives.

[tigertim20]

Hey, welding is easy as long as you dont rush yourself. plenty of books out there, the most important thing is PRACTICE. just weld heaps of scrap bits together, then try to break it, or cut it in half and check your fusion. Polytech can be a way to go if you wanna spend money, but truth is, welding isn't an art form, its a technique, and a piece of piss to learn! And once you learn to weld, well the opportunities for projects are endless

[quallman1234]

Weldings not particularly hard once you get the hang off it. Its all about setup and prep at the end of the day.

[Ixion]

Oxy-acetylene FTW.

[erik]

Oxy-acetylene FTW.

What is the deal with getting the gas, do you have to hire the bottles? Is it something you can have sitting around for occasional use?
I've only got a cheap arc welder and a MAPP torch for durafix and brazing.

[Motu]

Getting set up with bottles is serious coin,even if you have bottles.BOC lock you in on an account....no big deal if you are a business,but as a handy man it's ridiculous.Other gas suppliers let you hire bottles for a deposit,and it's not cheap.With my welders it'll cost me about $1500 buts to get set up again.I have my own oxy and acet bottles - but they are dated 1992,so probably won't past a retest....so will have to pay the deposit.I am really annoyed,and restricted after so many years of free gas.

[geoffm]

Getting set up with bottles is serious coin,even if you have bottles.BOC lock you in on an account....no big deal if you are a business,but as a handy man it's ridiculous.Other gas suppliers let you hire bottles for a deposit,and it's not cheap.With my welders it'll cost me about $1500 buts to get set up again.I have my own oxy and acet bottles - but they are dated 1992,so probably won't past a retest....so will have to pay the deposit.I am really annoyed,and restricted after so many years of free gas.

Supagas in Manukau and Hamilton can test and refill oxy, argon and acetylene bottles. Owner bottle shave saved me $000 over the years.
Geoff

[Motu]

My acet is the old handyman type,no longer in use,no replacement.Both are dated 1992,I doubt they will pass.So then I will have to pay the deposit for Supergas bottles.I've check it all out,have the Supergas pricelist,there is no cheap way for me.I can do welding at work,but my own gear is far superior.

[Ixion]

Didn't cost me anything to set up the BOC account. Just hire on the bottles (about $25 a month for the two now ), and fill charges. No deposits or anything, just the inital three months hire in advance and the initial fill.

Years ago I had my own bottles but I lost them along them along the line. And the hassle was scarely worth it.

$25 a month isn't too bad for all the advantages of gas. Y' can do almost anything with gas - sheetmetal work, heavy sections, cast iron, brazing, aluminium, stainless steel. And heating , cutting all sorts of other uses.

I reckon the two indispensable tools in the workshop are the gas axe and the BLOODY HEAVY HAMMER. And the word judicious.