Welding 5-8mm steel box-section tubes

[techcobweb]

I have no welding experience yet, but intend to learn.
Ultimately, when I've done some small projects for experience, I want to put together a gantry-type cnc router... Probably with 5mm thick box section tubes.
I have no welder, and there seems to be a load of choice/advice on whether to use mig/tig/arc.
I have no welder rig yet, need to get one. What do you folks recommend ?

[IanParkin]

I have all types of welding gear gas oxy/acy arc welder mig and tig

but for a starter set get a mig 160-180 amp and a rent free large bottle
you should be able to get that for £100-200 and £100 for the bottle or rent one from boc if you think you may only want it for the one project.. or you dont mind paying £40 a year for ever
This will do all you want with mild steel and be nice and easy for you to learn with
Dont think about gas free sets or using the small disposable bottles.
and if you can get a set with a euro torch though that may be difficult at £200 budget

My 2p worth

Ian

[dazza]

or buy a 50 quid stick/arc welder and a box of 2.5mm rods. and your welding, plenty of stick welding vids on youtube to get you started

[Boyan Silyavski]

I welded half of my first frame using DC stick welder, i agree, pretty easy to learn watching you tube videos. Plus you can grind and cover the sh*t when painting so at the end you will finish with pretty frame.

Bought a proper MIG then- 250A and changed the Chinese gun with bran new Wurth 250A gun, which is re-branded Binzel gun. Obtained from a boot sale for say 50 euro but similar could be obtained for 150euro new on ebay.

Wow, thats a monster combination for a serious manufacturing. Welds 10mm stuff like butter and it has never stopped due to duty cycle limitation, i believe it was something like 100% on 200A

Its good for aluminum also, due to the high amperage plus you will have the second gun for aluminum, when you upgrade one day the one that comes with the unit, which is short by the way, you really will need something like 4m gun hose. The unit on the link is exactly like mine though rebranded.

[cropwell]

Hobbyweld do a rent-free tri-gas bottle for £60 plus about £30 for the gas.

[grain_r]

I went to the Tig route so that I could weld Steel but also be able to weld Aluminium, Although I still haven't done that as yet. Tig welds look nice and are strong But mig can make beautiful looking welds too , but Tig is harder to learn because you have a foot control (Normally) the torch in one hand and the welding rod in your other hand so each is doing something.

Mig is more forgiving when welding where as with Tig everything has to be as clean as possible to get a good weld, Firstly cleaning the weld material with Acetate before welding.

I am still learning and most of the time things look okay and stay stuck together, well I have blown through material that is thin so thicker material is easier to learn welding on.

Don't forget to budget for a welding helmet and Good Welding gloves and always wear clothes that cover you up. welding can cause Sunburn type burns on your skin.

Most definitely look on the forums because I didn't realise that welding zinc coated items e.g. Nuts and bolts is dangerous to your health so grind Zinc off because you do it and wear a mask if not sure.

Tig is a Higher cost than Mig because you have to use a different gas which the Price is higher using Argon and the Startup costs are higher. I brought a cheaper Chinese tig from ebay and Its fantastic and I still love how much you can make with these things. but still cost a few Hundred pounds but I want it to last for years to come.

Our local college at Coalville does a Welding course sometimes and that is worth looking at your local college first to see if there is a course and they will teach you but also let you get your hands on the kit before you buy.

I brought a rent free bottle from Barnett welding supplies a small family run business and you pay for the bottle for the first time but then it is the Delivery and the cost of the gas.

http://barnet-welding.co.uk/



The gas goes pretty quickly to a bigger bottle is better it lasts in the bottle so can still be stored.

Thanks


Rob

[cropwell]

I brought a rent free bottle from Barnett welding supplies a small family run business and you pay for the bottle for the first time but then it is the Delivery and the cost of the gas.

http://barnet-welding.co.uk/

I did similar, but used Hobbyweld as they have a supplier very near to me. My last bottle of argon mix lasted over 3 years, which is better than the disposables (£ for £) which can also empty themselves spontaneously.

[magicniner]

With my Smashweld 180 MIGs, using appropriate gas and wire, I weld Steel, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Brass, Bronze, Copper and Aluminium, sometimes I also MIG Braze Steel.
I don't know why people think MIG is more limited than it is.