If anyone tells you that welding is an easy task, he is lying. It’s pretty Welding Tips For Beginners. The sparkling bright lights and heat can be daunting. However, it’s not rocket science and once you get a hang of it, it’s a pretty exciting and rewarding job out there. It has great demand as you can see in Kentucky the need for welding skyrocketed since past 2 years.
You need to have some courage and just start doing it. Without hands-on experience, it’s not possible to learn to weld. This is where this article can help you. You can learn exactly how you should start and what other things to keep in your mind. Besides this, you can also earn your welding certificate from home.
7 Welding Tips For Beginners
A bad start will make welding a daunting task. So, you need to start from the very basic so that nothing can go wrong. The dangers of welding are not limited to heat and bright light, you have to think about the UV rays and other radiation hazards too. Follow these tips and you will be good to go!
1. Right Gear With Right Welding Machine
You need to have a welding machine first. These are really costly if you want a high-end one. However, just for the learning purpose, you can get a cheap welding machine under 200. Visit prosafety101.com to learn more about these welding machines.
If you already have a welding machine, then inspect it first before you turn it on. Using sandpaper or brush, you should clean the metal surface that you are about to weld. Use primer to the metal surface you have just cleaned to avoid rusting or corrosion.
Now you need to have your safety gears like a welding helmet, leather gloves, cotton shirt with long sleeves, and protective glasses.2. Get The Right Wire
It’s really important that you get the right wire for your particular welding task. That depends on what metal you are welding. Let’s say you are trying to weld aluminum metal, then you have to use the aluminum wire.
You should be using thinner diameter wire when you plan to weld thin metals and vice versa.3. Experiment With The Puddle
Start with creating a puddle. Learn how to lead it precisely. This is the most tricky part for most of the beginners. You can’t wait too long or move faster either. Waiting too long will create a hole of the base metal or worse, your welder will get stuck.
You need to master the speed of the movement and precisely maintain a safe distance between the base metal and the rod. Only a lot of practice can help you to master this.
Do not just finish making straight lines. The welding gun can do a lot. With your welding gun, make a small connecting loop. Just push the puddle in circular motions. Make those tiny connecting loops again and again to master it.4. Taking Care Of Your Tools
Since you are just beginning, it’s a good start to practice these really good habits. You gotta take care of all of your welding tools to get the best result and best return of your money.
For quality and strong weld, you need a pure rod and clean metal surface. You have to be careful with the filler rods. Keep them in a humidity controlled environment. I have seen people store them in a PVC pipe which is really great!5. Learn Basic Troubleshooting
For really critical issues, you have to go to the professional repairers but not for all those minor problems. During the actual welding or even in the learning stages, you will face several problems that you should be able to troubleshoot yourself.
So, here are some effective troubleshooting tips for you.
If the weld is creating holes in the metal, which means either the voltage is set to too high or you are welding too slowly. For these same reasons, the weld may not puddle too.
If the scenarios are opposite meaning if the voltage is too low or you weld too fast, the gun may kick as you weld. So, master the speed and set the welding machine to the right voltage.
6. Notice The Welding Noise
Yes, listening to the welding noise can tell whether it is doing the job the right way. If it is making a firecracker or loud gas sound, something is wrong. On the other hand, a frying bacon sound indicates a good weld.
7. Being Comfortable
Welding takes a very little use of your brain but it is a highly physically intense task. You have to stay in the same position for too long sometimes. To avoid long-term physical injury, you have to use your body the right way.
Finding a comfortable working position is crucial to keep your body free of such long-term injuries. Store tools in such a way so that you can reach them without stretching. Take small breaks to relax as well during the long working hours.Summing Up
When you admit to any professional Welding Tips For Beginners course, take these tips on your mind. Focus on these issues to learn from your master. And don’t forget to have patience. Being an expert in welding takes time.
