How to Weld
Learning to weld two pieces of metal together is important if you are planning to build, or if you want to work with metal or car bodies. Two main types of welding are MIG welding and TIG welding. This article will discuss the basic steps needed to safely begin using a tungsten welder.
Materials:
Scrap metal of different shapes and sizes
Filler metal
Tools
TIG welder
Leather boots or shoes
Heavy protective gloves without holes
Heavy cotton or wool clothing that is free of holes
Protective welding helmet with approved filter lenses
Protective eyewear that has shields at the sides.
Basics for Beginners
Welding should be done in a protected area, such as a work shed or a garage, rather than a house.
Practice holding your TIG welder at a 70 degree angle.
Lift the welding torch enough to allow the tungsten to be about 1/2″ to 1/4″ off the work bench. Don’t contaminate the tungsten by permitting it to make contact with the work bench or it will have to be reground.
Place the foot pedal on the floor in front of you. Use your foot to control the pedal and regulate the size of the weld puddle by manipulating the amount of heat delivered to the welder.
Your goal is to create a weld puddle about 1/4″ wide. The key to successful welding is a weld puddle of a constant width.
A weld puddle is the line of the base metal that you are heating.
Take your filler metal in the hand not holding the torch. Allow it to point slightly upward; at about a 15 degree angle from the piece of metal you want to weld.
Heat your base metal and lightly, but quickly touch your filler metal to the base metal.
Establish an arc. Turn on the torch and regulate the heat.
When you have finished the weld, end the arc. Then, hold your torch above the weld puddle, protecting the puddle until it cools.
Preparing Joints for Welding
Carefully clean the joint you want to weld as well as your filler metal. Clear any residue of dirt, oil, paint, or grease from the metal. If these are present, your arc may become unstable or metal may not weld properly.
If you have large pieces of metal to be welded together, or if you are unable to support the joints while you are welding, use clamps to hold them together.
Another alternative is called tack welding. Using this method, you can make short welds at intervals along the joint to along the joint to temporarily hold it together while you are preparing to weld the joints more thoroughly.
Different Types of Joint Welds
Butt welding: This weld is used to joint two straight-edged pieces of metal together. The weld puddle, or area of metal heated, will be each edge of metal. At the end, reduce the amount of heat to help fill the crater caused by the weld.
Lap joint: This type of weld allows an overlapping piece of metal to be joined with the flat edge of another piece. Use plenty of filler metal because the overlapping edge will heat more quickly than the flat edge.
T-shaped joints: This type is used when the edge of one piece of metal is to be joined to a flat metal surface. Focus the heat on the flat surface, and lengthen the torch’s electrode so that the arc will be shorter. Use the filler metal to fill in at the point where the edge begins to melt.
Corner joint: Melt the edges of each joining piece of metal. Keep your weld puddle in the center of both joints. Use plenty of filler metal to fill in the crater created between the two edges.
Safety Tips
Avoid allowing the electrical cable to the torch from touching any type of grounded metal.
Always wear approved filter lenses when welding. Never look directly at the welding arc.
Use 100% pure argon gas for safety. Contaminated gas may cause an unstable arc and be very dangerous.
Practice with a seasoned welder showing you the proper steps. Inexperienced welders who try to learn by themselves are dangerous.
Never weld with children nearby.
Weld in a protected place, such as a work shed. Don’t attempt to weld inside your home.
Before welding aluminum or other soft metals, check to see what type of filler material is the best to use.
Get started on your new project, but stay safe. Follow safety recommendations, and learn from a professional!