From:Dave Hennessey e-mail:dave-A-toyhouse.org
Subject:RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: welders Date:Tue Oct 2 10:26:21 2012
Response to:17857
Doug,

Welding is like sexx - anyone can do it, but it takes a lot of practice to do it really well. ;-) My problem is that I never practice (welding, that is) until something breaks. Then I'm so out of practice that I do a horrible job. Fortunately, the only things I weld are farm-type things. I wouldn't weld a motorcycle frame - even if I managed to do a good weld, it'd be horribly ugly. There are some things which require professional help.

Old bed frames are a great thing to practice on. Cut 'em up into little pieces (an oxy-acetylene rig helps here), then weld them back together in various configurations. Beat the finished products with a hammer until they break. Even a good looking weld will break easily if you haven't achieved deep enough penetration (I told you welding is like sexx).

A few years ago I took a semester class at the local community college. The instructor's demonstrations and advice helped a lot, but it was basically just practice - cutting apart pieces of scrap metal and welding them back together - one night a week for three months. My cutting and stick-welding performance improved a lot. I still suck, but I suck a lot less than I did before the class.

Since then, only a few things have broken, and for some reason, I seldom spend a day in the garage welding scrap metal together, so my skills have deteriorated.

Welding is a great skill to know, but motorcycle frames, and anything else your life might depend on, are not the things to practice on.

Dave


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Has anybody had any experience with any of the welders sold by harbor freight? I was thinking about getting the 170 amp mig/flux wire welder and wondered if anybody had any thoughts good or bad. I need it for some frame welding and re-welding on new motor mounts.