NEWBIE - beanie - Welding Art

[beanie]

I just took a Welding Class @ Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Minnesota. I mostly used the Oxy / Gas set up for cutting bending and welding. I did not learn much about getting set up on my own. Here is what I am thinking of getting and I need advice and input from any and all....

Airforce250ci Plazma cutter - for cutting
Handler 140 MIG & Wirefeed welder - for welding

My type of "art" is using found steel, tools, shovels, gears, springs, whatever to weld into things that resemble things. Noting real big, but perhap "someday"... So far I have made a cowbell, roadrunner, penquin, and an egret. Mostly all out of bent sheet steel, springs, gears, shovel etc.....

Question, what can I use if I want to "bend" sheet steel?

Question, do you think that the equipment listed above will work to continue similar projects??? THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP. I NEED IT. beanie

[Knowledgeworker]

Welcome to the site. There is a lot of people on here than can and will try to answer any and all of your questions. They will also offer opinions, suggestions and humorous remarks. Gotta love this site. :D:D:D

We would like additional information before we can give you some advice you might use.

It is always good to have an O/A set available, it is good for cutting, welding, brazing, and heating. Other tools I use to cut with are a 14" chop saw, a 4 1/2" grinder with cutoff wheels, hack saws (just whatever it takes to get the job done). I also have a Miller Spectrum 625 Plasma cutter.

A mig welder is a good piece of equipment to have.

Will need additional info on sheet steel size and gage. I use heat and hammer (3lb to 8 lb. depending on the need), planishing hammer, big wrenches and breaker bars.

Maybe this will give you an idea. Just whatever it takes to get the job done.

Jim

[Knowledgeworker]

Please post pics of your art/work. The people on this site love pics. ;)

Jim

[hankj]

Beanie,

From your post, I'm guessing you are a youngster, and probably don't have big bucks to spend on accoutrements.

The equipment that you referenced will do fine for smaller gauges of metals. For thicker stuff (more than .125, or 1/8"), things will be more difficult.

Besides the welder and cutter, you will need myriad tools, safety equipment, proper clothing, and a good welding helmet.

I wiish you the best. If you want to see the epitome of metal art, search rhis forum for post by Hotfoot!

Hank

[Knowledgeworker]

I agree with Mr. Hankj, Hotfoot is one of the best. :)

Jim

[Rocky D]

Welcome to the forum Beanie, this is a wealth of information for all things welding...glad to have you aboard. There is no such thing as a dumb question, so ask anything, or add to the discussion with your own experience...we also have some fun, too. :D
I knew a "Beanie"when was young...he had a friend named "Cecil". (Ol timers know what I mean.) :D

[beanie]

I am looking a bending sheet steel, I believe it is 12 to 14 gauge. That is how I made my cowbell, one of my first project. Will a mappgas tourch work to heat something like that to bend or will the mig/wirefeed mentioned above work for that???

As far a cutting I have an angle grinder (or my husband does). I already purchased the cutting wheels for it. I do not have a chop saw.

Thanks for the compliment, on my age, but I am a woman in my 40s and find welding a very fulfilling experience. I do (or barely) remember beanie and cecil!!! HA!!! My husband is an artist (woodworking) and I would like to take over a small corner of our garage to do welding. So space is an issue. I am posting this from work so hopefully later today I can post some pics of my recent items.

So far what I have made does not exceed 30 inches size due to space restrictions in the class....

[Hotfoot]

Welcome!

For sheet stock no larger than you are talking about, I just use a rubber mallet, beat it it over various sized heavy pipe pieces and other suitable forms. I sometimes pull out a big ball peen and coax it a bit more. Steel that tin is pretty easy to 'teach'.

As for taking over a corner of a woodworking shop....I am very leery of mixing welding with sawdust and varnishes, etc., plus, the wood operation cannot tolerate any grinding dust, so you should think of enclosing tour 'spot' and giving it its own ventilation.:)

[beanie]

I have most of the safety equipment I need. To partition out the garage what would you recommend?
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/beanie_045/Chickentownflood6-8-08032.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/beanie_045/Chickentownflood6-8-08027.jpg
Here are some pics of my roadrunner. I used brazing for this one.

[Knowledgeworker]

I like the roadrunner. Shows creativity and imagination.;)

Jim

[Hotfoot]

Pretty neat Roadrunner!

I would just put up simple wood stud walls, with inexpensive metal roofing for the welding side...I'd leave the other side blank, but you could sheetrock it inexpensively enough. You might sheetrock the inside, its fire rated, so would not burst into flames from sparks...but the big danger is airborne sawdust...its EXPLOSIVE...just like Grain Dust...hence my suggestion for the space with its own ventilation.:)

[Rocky D]

Man! Wiley Coyote wouldn't even be able to pick that one up, let alone hurt it! :eek:

[ptsideshow]

Welcome, this site help you along.
Here are some tools and things that might be of interest most of which can be found at the local big box store.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02029.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02019.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02023.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02025.jpg
They work better and easier on thinner stock but there are options.

[ptsideshow]

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02030.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02033.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/ptsideshow/DSC02032.jpg

[beanie]

I got a HObart Handler 140 and a Air Force 250ci torch. So far I have repaired a few items and made a pretty cool turkey. Take a look, whatcha think?

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/beanie_045/WeldedTurkeyJuly2008005.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/beanie_045/WeldedTurkeyJuly2008001.jpg

[Hotfoot]

That Turkey is EXCELLENT!:)

[Rocky D]

Good on ya, beanie...that's one turkey that won't hafta worry, come thanksgiving! :D

[ptsideshow]

That turkey certainly, isn't a turkey,:D

[FormerTankSarge]

Welcome to the forum, I am already enjoying your artwork. Lot of talented individuals here.:)

[Roger]

Don't bother trying those little bottles of hardware store mapp gas. Expensive way to buy gasthat don't last long for what your doing. Oxy/Propane with O/A torch works good for heating with rose bud, cutting with special cutting tips, and soldering or braising. Gas supplied from 20 pound or larger propane tank and large as you can easily handle O2 tank. Large tanks of mapp gas can be used instead of propane if available but costs more than propane so isn't used a lot. O/A is better in lots of ways but cost more.

[folmonty]

Hello beanie and welcome from another newbie. Currently waiting for my welder to arrive so in the meantime trying to follow some safety advice from others like Hotfoot to prepare the shop. You have wood to contend with and I've got fuel in vintage motorcycles. Love your creativity. Are birds your thing? Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[fjk]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.
As someone, much more witty than I, said -- your turkey is no turkey.
It looks great.

Since you're planning to use found/scrap metal, you definitely
want to be safety minded -- there are all kinds of "interesting"
platings, paints, and so on that can be on the stuff.
When sanding/brushing/grinding/welding, the dust and fumes
might be toxic. For that reason I'd suggest not working
in the garage -- except that you're in Minnesota and winters tend
to be a tad chilly :) so investing in some good ventilation might be
in order.

as to other things for the shop -- an angle
grinder with an assortment of brushes, grinding wheels, flapdisks,
cutoff wheels and the like is really a must. you'll need it to get rid
of the rust, paint, gunk, goop, and glop that can be on found metal...

also, a good table to work on -- should be metal. it should be
strong enough to take all the banging that metal work entails.
this is something you can make yourself -- there are plenty of
welding table threads on the hobart and miller forums.

i do a bit of woodworking, a lot of home handyman-ing, and some
weekend welding. at first, i tried to use the same tools for all
three -- it turned out to be a not-so-good idea. basically,
the metal work can be very destructive to tools -- the heat
from the welder, the grit that's thrown off from grinding, the
general "gentle persuasion" that shaping metal entails, etc, etc.
all played havoc with the woodworking/homehandyman stuff.
so i've ended up buying metal-bashing-only tools and keep 'em
in the garage with the welder. the rest is in the basement.
everything seems much happier.

f

[beanie]

Thanks for all the nice comments all. Also, thanks for all the advice in safety and bending etc....

I have done some surfing on this site and am wondering about your opinions related to welding galvanized steel. I have not done it and I have been asking opinions of those who are welders. Is it really unsafe? I don't even want to try if it is.

Also, can anyone provide any advice on welding stainless steel. Is that safe? If not, what about welding it is different than regular steel?

THANKS AGAIN ALL OF YOU! beanie

[ptsideshow]

You can remove the zinc plating along the area you are planing on welding. By acid dip muriatic acid, or grinding or sanding it off, or if your not in a hurry Vinegar(acetic acid) works but slowly.
Its the zinc fumes that cause the problems. in the old days it was called die caster flu or sickness around the shops.
Some just make sure there aren't over the weld or inhaling the smoke harder to do than said:D
For small welds,tack size or an inch or so I would just grind the off the area you are going to weld.

For the muriatic acid do it out side and store the opened unused acid jug out side the shop or away from any bare ferrous metal is as it will promote oxidation in an eye blink.
If you haven't used the acid before. You will need more information before starting it.
:D

[ptsideshow]

As to your second part of your question
http://www.canoshweb.org/odp/html/rp5.htm#3.3

http://www.ask.com/web?q=Hazards+of+Welding+Galvanized+Metal&qsrc=6&o=0&l=dir

Ask.com and google are your friends
:D

[Rocky D]

Thanks for all the nice comments all. Also, thanks for all the advice in safety and bending etc....

I have done some surfing on this site and am wondering about your opinions related to welding galvanized steel. I have not done it and I have been asking opinions of those who are welders. Is it really unsafe? I don't even want to try if it is.

Also, can anyone provide any advice on welding stainless steel. Is that safe? If not, what about welding it is different than regular steel?

THANKS AGAIN ALL OF YOU! beanie
I have welded and still do lots of galvanized stuff over the years, and it's not dangerous as people make it out to be as long as you do it safely, and that is have a fan in front of you to pull the fumes away. You can also hold your breath...the main thing is don't breathe the fumes. Also it will pop when welded with stick, or TIG, or MIG, but fluxcore will weld it fine.
The danger is "metal fume poisoning"...while it sounds scary, it has no permanent affects, and will only make you sick for 48 hours at the most. There's no cure, but you just sleep it off. Check my website and you will see a section which is all galvanized stuff.

Welding stainless was my main job for 38years in an aerospace company..totally safe. I stay away from using any chemical to remove galvanized...while the chemicals remove the galvanize, there have been no studies done to see if the residue you weld through is safe. When you heat a residue, it changes to a gas, and you breathe it. That is more dangerous!

[moya034]

If you have to weld galvanized steel and are concerned about the zinc fumes, you can always get a welding respirator that fits under your hood and slap on some HEPA filters. Personally, I'm a fan of the 3M respirator products.

(Edit: look at the 3m 6000 series half mask, they are less then $20 and fit under a welding hood)

[folmonty]

The amount of feedback all the experienced folks in this forum provid is outstanding! I'm a sponge soaking up much as possible. These forums are a valuable resource. Types of metal (metallurgy) are a mystery to any new-comer.

[Rocky D]

That's what this forum is all about, sharing knowledge, from a myriad of experiences! :)

[beanie]

I have not been online for awhile, but all your advice is helpful. For now I plan to stick to plain steel but I may wander off to other items later. Thanks again all and HAPPY WELDING.:)

[Rocky D]

Don't forget to share some of your projects with us, Beanie. :cool: