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[Webby the Bear]

Alreet guys,

I get my welder in 2 weeks

Well excited. I have an old nackered pug door to practise on.

However, after that i am going to make my own welding cart

I am going to be using 2x2 inch metal tubing and i'm going to copycat one from this dude on youtube (looks awesome).

Where's the best place to buy this shizzle? eBay looks surprisingly expensive. prob going to need quite a few feet of it.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Find a local metal stockist and either order some (delivery will cost) or pop in and see if you can buy off cuts.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks Mark,

Any idea what i should be paying for say 5ft of 2x2 steel just so i have a rough idea?

ps, are you excited that im learning welding?? i am. if you can tell.

[Marks DTM Calib]

What wall thickness?

[Webby the Bear]

An excellent question. i didnt note that.

at a guess it looked about 3mm

[Broomies Mate]

Stop using Imperial measurements, you naughty boy! 

[Webby the Bear]

Stop using Imperial measurements, you naughty boy! 

  Sorry Broomie..... 50mm x 50mm.... approx 

[Marks DTM Calib]

3mm is bloody heavy duty for a welding cart!

last stuff I bought was actually 3mm wall 50mm  x  50mm and 6M cost 35 quid.

[aaronjb]

3mm is bloody heavy duty for a welding cart!

It definitely won't blow over in a gale..

[Broomies Mate]

3mm is a good thickness for an amateur welder though! 

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks boys

It could've been 2m... t'was just a guess.

But if its easier to weld then ill take that for a first project

[Broomies Mate]

Get yourself a cheap Angle Magnet Mr Bear.

Will come in handy when making your welding cart.  Saves having the clamp everything all the time 

[Marks DTM Calib]

3mm is a good thickness for an amateur welder though! 

I would disagree, 2mm will be better as 3mm would require more care to get good penetration (possibly requiring extra prep with V-ing) with a welder on a 13A supply. 

[Broomies Mate]

3mm is a good thickness for an amateur welder though! 

I would disagree, 2mm will be better as 3mm would require more care to get good penetration (possibly requiring extra prep with V-ing) with a welder on a 13A supply. 

That's primarily the reason I would suggest it, as more surface area = more chance of being able to get a decent flow going.  More time and effort, but *hopefully* a better end result.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks guys,

Yep, that magnet was used in the video. looked very handy indeed!

Re the thickness.... the clarke welder comes with a list of settings to use for various thicknesses. should i not simply follow these>?

[Broomies Mate]

Thanks guys,

Yep, that magnet was used in the video. looked very handy indeed!

Re the thickness.... the clarke welder comes with a list of settings to use for various thicknesses. should i not simply follow these>?

There aren't any rules as such.  All Steel will be a different density, so 3mm Mild from one supplier will be harder/softer than the equivalent from another.

I always start a little lower than I think I will need and crank up the power to a point where I'm happy.

The settings on your welder may be a good starting point though.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks mate,

Ok, so if i have setting too low what will happen? and what will happen if theyre too highj? presumably too high ill be blowing holes through?

[Broomies Mate]

Thanks mate,

Ok, so if i have setting too low what will happen? and what will happen if theyre too highj? presumably too high ill be blowing holes through?

Too low and you wont sufficiently heat the metal to get decent penetration, it'll just leave blobs of pigeon shit on the surface 

Don't worry about that though, nothing your new angle grinder won't sort out.

Too high, and yes, holes..... you have to be ramping it up and sticking far too long in one spot to blow holes in 3mm though.

Seam welds will obviously distort the metal.  When I'm welding box sections together, say at 90deg to eachother, I'll tack on edge, flip it over and tack the opposite edge, then when I'm happy that it IS 90deg, I'll fire a seam on the two untouched sides, if that makes sense?

[Broomies Mate]

Thanks mate,

Ok, so if i have setting too low what will happen? and what will happen if theyre too highj? presumably too high ill be blowing holes through?

Too low and you wont sufficiently heat the metal to get decent penetration, it'll just leave blobs of pigeon shit on the surface 

Don't worry about that though, nothing your new angle grinder won't sort out.

Too high, and yes, holes..... you have to be ramping it up and sticking far too long in one spot to blow holes in 3mm though.

Seam welds will obviously distort the metal.  When I'm welding box sections together, say at 90deg to eachother, I'll tack one edge, flip it over and tack the opposite edge, then when I'm happy that it IS 90deg, I'll fire a seam on the two untouched sides, if that makes sense?

Ballsed that up, didn't I! 

[Webby the Bear]

That makes sense made.

seem weld being one continuous bead? you therefore tack it to stop it moving?

so if im seeing too much pigeon shite i crank it up a tad?

[Broomies Mate]

Yup, that's the jist of it.

I'm sure there is a lot of Science involved that could be explained by someone far more intelligent than me, but I consider welding to be more of an art.  You just get the knack, and there is no better pleasure than knocking off the slag and seeing a beautiful weld.

I'm no expert mind you.  I'm pretty tidy at welding large plate and large box sections, RSJ's and the like..... I'm piss poor at lightweight stuff, and that's where the real skill comes in!

[Marks DTM Calib]

They will be 'optimistic'   

[tidla]

3mm angle iron will make a lighter and more suitable metal for something to put wheels on.

[Nick W]

3mm angle iron will make a lighter and more suitable metal for something to put wheels on.

Beat me to it!
3mm thick 50x50 will make a decent chassis, and is way over the top for a welding cart. It's expensive, heavy and hard work to cut.
The last one I made was from 1.5 thick 25mm wide angle, which is much more suitable. Panel the cart with ply, decking or skirtingboard offcuts and you're done.
it is worth buying decent casters.

[Figureman52]

Last time I ordered some metal I used these people.

http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks boys.

So welding iron?  I thought steel was the only option?

[aaronjb]

"Angle iron" would refer to steel

[Marks DTM Calib]

Steel angle is the 'modern' (post 19th century) term 

[aaronjb]

It is still 1875 in parts of the Midlands, you know

[Webby the Bear]

 

Still a lot to learn 

So, I know what MIG is, I have a rough idea on what TIG is...what on Earth is arc welding and stick welding? Or are these also just different names for the same thing? 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Arc and stick is the same thing, simply put you have a rod which is the filler surrounded by a flux.

You strike the arc with the end of the rod, the metal melts into the weld pool and the flux burns to create a shield around the weld pool. Very good for welding outside as the shield gas is less likely to blow away but you do have to chip the crud off the top of the weld after.

[henryd]

Still a lot to learn 

So, I know what MIG is, I have a rough idea on what TIG is...what on Earth is arc welding and stick welding? Or are these also just different names for the same thing? 

Yep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaDsmeB5ywM

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks Mark 'n' Henry 

[TheBoy]

It is still 1875 in parts of the Midlands, you know

Aye, we don't like strangers and their new fangled witchcraft around these parts, young'un