I want to weld - Where should I start?

[AR13]

Hey fabricators! Years ago my dad bought a welder, it is a Campbell Hausfeld Flux Core 80. He never learned to use it and it sat in his garage so I gladly took it off his hands and now I want to learn.

I found pictures via Google of the exact welder that I now own, the only thing I have that is not pictured are two different little green oxygen? tanks that are empty




Given my previous knowledge of welding, which is zero, where should I start? Are there any sites or videos on YouTube that you would recommend in particular? Any tips you can share for a beginner?

I want to make cool Jeep parts!

[huufhearted]

Youtube has a lot of good references and how-to videos, but the basics are all the same. I did a quick search on your welder, and though it says flux core, it appears it may be a MIG, which IMO, is much better to use as it has a shielding gas, instead of the shield in the flux-core wire. MIG is less likely to burn through on small material, less to clean (flux you have to knock slag away and clean with a brush before multiple passes). Though, Fluxcore wire will do you well with a majority of mild steel that you will more than likely build with.

The bottles, if it is a MIG may be for the shielding gas. Typically, this is 75% Argon/25% Carbon Dioxide. Really cheap to swap at PRAXAIR, or have filled by a welding supply company. The expense is the bottle itself, so you've saved some money there. You would need a regulator for the bottles for sure. Check the back of the welder, if there is a nipple that looks like a 1/4" hose would fit, you have a MIG welder. This forum goes over your welder it looks in more detail, apparently if this is the WF2000, you can upgrade to gas. http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...ux-80-question

I would recommend getting a self-dimming welding mask. It will make starting a bead much easier as you will be able to see what you are welding before the arc kicks in. This is especially helpful when using the other hand to hold something steady.

Your welder isn't that powerful, especially since it's 110v, review the specs on material thickness as you don't want to burn through, or weld cold (not getting enough penetration to both pieces of material).

Surface prep is key, beveling, cleaning, and fitment all play a part before the weld even begins. You will spend more time on prep than applying the weld.

Best way to figure it all out is to practice. I would get some scrap metal, good wire (lincoln/miller), and go to town. Videos will show you a lot of techniques, but ultimately, it comes down to feel. Use the videos to critique your welds, this will help with setting the equipment and getting your speed of the gun/movement down.

Good luck, it's addicting. And don't forget to weld outside, or have some sort of fresh air moving while you are welding. Welding fumes can make you sick if you don't cycle air, or take breaks.

[AR13]

Wow, thank you for the wealth of information! I will definitely take your advice and this gives me a good starting plan. We have a few Praxairs around here as well so that shouldn't be an issue. Looks like I'll need to grab me an auto-dimming mask as well, since at the moment I have the mask-on-a-stick that came with the unit.

I do remember my dad saying his welds looked like bird poo and he needed to upgrade the unit to gas but I never knew exactly what he meant. Thanks again!

[larry0071]

Stop by a couple area machine/fab shops and ask if you can pick up scraps and take them. I did this and a guy said that he had no problem, so I loaded my trunk with random chunks (many as big as 1'x3'!!!) of steel that I used to not only learn to weld on, but make many brackets and such. I still have stacks of plate from that guy.

If I remember correctly, that welder is the same as the older Craftsman welders. If it can accept gas (MIG - Metal Inert Gas) welding, I would do the conversion. Take that welder to a local weld supply store and toss it on the counter and ask if they can get you into a cheap set of gauges and gas tank and explain the basic set up. Then go start burning wire onto that steel plate.

Start out by using the smallest scrap you picked up, weld 2 chunks together as a butt weld, put one half in your vice and bend it over by hitting it with a hammer. Does it bend all the way over, or does it snap off? Now you'll start seeing if your weld is actually getting into the base material or if it is a fake weld laying on the part. You can make some pretty nice looking fake welds that really suck. You can also make some pretty ugly looking welds that stick better than you imagine. But play with it. Weld it and break it apart. Keep changing settings and see what happens. Point your heat ahead 15°, point your heat behind 15°, see what effects are. Weld vertically. When you think you can weld, try welding straight up and you'll cry a river. But play with it. It can be done, even with a MIG if your a mig welding ninja. Play with spot welding, stitch welding a half inch on, half inch off. Set up a T, filet weld both sides of the T. Now do multiple pass filet welds, in other words build it up.... add throat.

You'll be shocked at how quickly you learn to weld good with your welder. No one else will be able pick it up and match you. You will become tuned to it and in all the ways it blows goats. But it's okay.... you'll instinctively learn to work with it.

[AR13]

Another post that has blown me away, I'm glad I asked you guys! Thank you Larry!

[larry0071]

Correction. I know why it looks so familiar to me. I had a Clarke (Italy) welder 20 years ago, it was the exact same housing/controls. I would bet you 3 beers that your CH welder is an Italian CLARKE that is re-branded.

I had the larger CLARKE 180EN 220V model, but I welded a metric shit-ton of stuff with it before I gave it away.

I run a large production class welding and plasma machines at home today, if you want to come over and play weld some time, I'm just 20 min into PA from the Ohio border. Or, if you have a buddy closer that welds, buy him a few beers and go play/talk/learn.

[AR13]

You sir, are a saint. I'll keep in touch as the weather gets warmer and I start messing around in the garage.

On a side note, I didn't see many threads like this on the forum which prompted me to ask myself with the fear that someone would yell SEARCH...just wanted to point out that the knowledge that has already been shared should be beneficial to others in the same boat as me in the future...if they find this thread of course.

[TheDirtman]

Never ever use brake cleaner to clean your metal before welding. Some chemicals in the mix can be toxic, not make me sick toxic, but dead or brain damaged after the first time toxic.
Welding galvanized metal will also put off nasty fumes so make sure you have lots of ventilation if doing that.

It is really all practice (like anything else) and knowing what your settings need to be. Borrow a helmet from someone and see if you want to continue to weld. If yes then invest in a good auto darkening helmet, don't just buy any auto darkening helmet and make sure you can get parts for it. Go to a welding shop and try out different models as technology on these thing is really good now and you can defiantly tell a difference between a cheap one and a good one. I recently upgraded mine because as I have got older I could not see when I struck the arc. My new one is like daylight and it also allows you to add magnified lenses so I can see what I am doing easier. It was night and day difference in my welds.

If you like welding you will likely want to move to a bigger machine as that one is made for light duty welding of thin materials. I would say keep the material you are welding at 1/8" or less to work on your technique as the smaller welders just won't penetrate thicker steel.

I would use a gas shield as well if you can.

[Ringer]

The above information is great. With that said, I would likely not spend the money on a gas kit for this welder. The cost of this small welder simply doesn't justify the added cost in my opinion. Also, a small welder like this will really only do sheet metal. 16ga and thinner will be your friend with this. That said, get some scrap, and practice. If you like it, I suggest taking a welding class at a local community college. After that, you can eventually step up to a bigger welder that will be more versatile for projects. Good luck. Post up some pictures of your welds and we can help critique your settings and technique.

[AR13]

Awesome, will do! I'm looking forward to it. Thanks guys.