How do you weld using a Arc-120 Welder?
Could a begginer use it with ease? Its the only thing i could afford and could it weld steel pipes together to make a go cart frame?? How do you weld?...
Could a begginer use it with ease? Its the only thing i could afford and could it weld steel pipes together to make a go cart frame?? How do you weld?
You need a good book my friend. Welding is not difficult, if you have the information you need…but there is plenty to be learned. It also takes lots of practice to go with that knowledge.
Your local library might surprise you, and have a few books on the subject. I recommend Richard Finch’s book: Welder’s Handbook, which I think they even sell at Lowe’s. A Vo-Tech night class would be ideal…but might be a budget concern. Still, if you want your welds to hold…you need to learn to weld properly.
Have you purchased the machine already? If not, I say wait, and read more about welding processes. Stick welding (like the Arc-120) is just one of the three major choices, and if you plan to use your welder for more than just one go-cart frame, you may want to read up, (or save up) and think about your future needs.
The Arc-120 is a "stick" welder. It uses steel rods coated with flux, and melts them into the weld as you go. Electric current flows between the tip of your electrode (stick), and the workpiece. This arc digs into the work, and melts it, while at the same time melts your stick and deposits it into the molten pool. The stick is coated with flux, which also melts, and creates a gas blanket that keeps oxygen away from the molten pool, so it does not ruin it.
Stick welding is not too hard to learn. I find it to be a bit tougher than using a wire-feed MIG welder…but it is a very versatile process, and a good one to start with.
The Arc-120 machine seems to be very narrow in the type of electrodes it can use. It recommends that you only stay in the 6011-6017 series…which means you are limited to a degree. Also, it has a VERY low duty cycle, and low amperage output, which may really matter to you. It may take all of the machine’s 120 amps to weld your pipes…and you may only be able to weld once every 10 minutes without overheating the machine. The more you learn about welding, the more these details will matter to you.
I could type a book here, in an attempt to teach you how to weld. I really recommend Mr. Finch’s book. I also encourage you to check out the Miller and Lincoln websites. They both have "learning" sections that have lots of info. Do a Yahoo Search for "stick welding" and "mig welding" tutorials, and you’ll find plenty of info.
Learn as much as you can. Not only so you can make an informed purchase, but also that you will be able to make welds that will hold. You may find you need to become a welder first, and THEN tackle your project. It’s very easy to make lousy welds that will break under stress.
Welding is a skill that is lots of fun, tremendously useful…and certainly worth learning. But make sure you are willing to learn it the right way, and not just trying to "get by" so you can start driving your go cart. If the go cart is the priority, you may be better off using the money to pay a weldor to put it together for you.
Things to think about and look up: the amperage of your welder, and how thick a metal it can weld. Duty cycle. stick electrode choice. preparing a joint. types of weld joints. distortion. beveling. cleaning. steel and its alloys. the difference between Stick, Mig, and Tig processes.
Any body can weld with a little practice. I’m not sure what welder you have but if its an arc welder then you will need to use an electrode aka stick. There are many types of electrodes available. If you want to weld a go cart frame you will most likely need to use a 1/16" 7018 electrode witch you can get at a local tractor supply store. Make sure you clean the surfaces to be welded and start at the welders lowest setting. With arc welding I recommend getting some practice on some scrap piece’s first as this kind of welding takes a steady hand and can be a bit frustrating at first. Practice with your welder at different settings. To low of a setting and you will not get good penetration, to high and you’ll burn through the work. A MiG welder aka wire feed is the best for beginners, but with some practice the arc welder is good also. JUST REMEMBER PRACTICE MAKES ALMOST PERFECT………