Welding and fabrication sticky?

[G-force]

Would anyone be interested if I did a photo essay of proper metal fabrication and welding techniques? I've noticed alot of post about first time welders, first time metal fabrication, etc on this site. Some things in building,you can just figure out, other things, like trailer frames, need to be correct the first time, everytime Or at least recognize, and be able to fix a mistake. Anywho, let me know and I'll take pics the next time I am doing the various processes. For the record, My qualifications are I have been a professional welder and fabricator for over 15 years. Certified in structural steel welding in light and heavy gauge, manual and semi automatic processes. Also over a decade of MIG and TIG welding for the aerospace, ultra high vaccume, and motorsports industrys. I've welded bridges, buildings, race cars, aircraft and spacecraft parts, vaccume chambers, trailers and loads of misc. "stuff" over the years.

Mike

A couple of my welds, one in stainless, one in aluminum:

[madjack]

..goferit Mike...try and make it understandable as possible to the average layman and we sill see where would beset to "stick" it...would suggest covering the basics of both stick and mig.......
madjack

p.s...remember you will doing for this for folks that range from the newbie to the somewhat confused amateur.............MJ

[Jim55]

Go ahead!

I am impressed with the welds --- especially the alu!

Jim

[Dean_A]

Sounds good to me! I just picked up a brand new Lincoln wire feed for a song on Craigslist. My only job so far was fabricating a new handle for my daughter's wagon. I got the job done, but my welds weren't nearly as pretty as yours.
I'd love a few pointers before tackling more mission-critical projects.

[looped]

also an explanation on the types of welders and the uses for each, i have seen wire and stick and seen something done with a torch and stick that looked like brazing. then theres inverted mig tig etc. honestly im clueless about all of these words so something like a primer for those of us that know nothing about welding would be greatly appreciated.


my welding experience is 5 seconds with a stick welder and a couple minutes with the wire feed type.. the results were the stick being welded to the clamp with one and a very large ugly knot with the other that didnt hold at all.

[satch]

I know I could use some advise on it, go for it

[jss06]

Those welds are incredible. I can only hope to come close to that some day.

[Hinermad]

Mike,

Please do! Suggestions on decent welders that are available to the weekend warrior woupld be welcome, too.

Dave

[Bristol Delica]

Mike

That would be REALLY useful. I did a bit of gas welding many years ago but have never got round to using any form of electric welding. By the standard of your work it looks like you could teach us all a thing or two!

IanJ

[shoeman]

Being the poster that may have sparked your idea, go for it! I've been reading up on welding like crazy and got a few short lessons from a friend, but having a resource right here would be a real help. As much as I'd love to take a course at the local tech school, my schedule just never allows it, so self-taught is my only course, as it is for many of us here I'd bet.
How's that go about a fool and himself for his lawyer?

[G-force]

Alright, let me work on it, I'll see what I can put together.

Mike

[jeep_bluetj]

I'd post those 2 pics, and say:

"If your welds look like these, you don't need to read this."


Sheesh, I can't get mild steel let alone AL to look that good. Very nice job there.

[G-force]

Any comments on how the sticky is looking? Right now its just a ton if information, I plan on adding picutres and diagrams later. Comments or feedback or questions appriciated.

Mike

[Hinermad]

Any comments on how the sticky is looking? Right now its just a ton if information, I plan on adding picutres and diagrams later. Comments or feedback or questions appriciated.

Mike,

I think it looks great. I've learned a lot, and even managed to put it to use when I saw a welder at a barn sale last weekend. (I knew enough to know I couldn't afford a good deal. <sniff>)

Dave

[Alphacarina]

My opinion?

We have at least 10X too many stickies now - They just clutter up the front page of every sub-forum

We should make a new 'rule' - 30 days maximum for any sticky. The info is all here and very easy to search for . . . . what's the purpose of a year old sticky? . . . . other than just making things look cluttered?

I've been a moderator at www.miataforum.com for 7 or 8 years (25,000 posts) and after more than 10 years, 3+ million posts in over a quarter million threads posted by over 40,000 members, we've found we need very few stickies - None at all in the most well-read forums

Don