Phoney
Well-Known Member
I've got a little project I'm planning, and it involves slapping bits of steel flat bar together to form the under carriage of a recycled timber table for my deck out the back. Recycled timber tables made from railway sleepers retail for over $1200 in the shops, so I'm thinking about building it myself and the plan is to try to come in at about half that.
I was quoted $550 from a local steel supplier to supply, cut, pre-drill and fabricate it for me. Or they can supply, cut and pre-drill the steel for me for $200 and I do the rest. I've always wanted to re-learn how to weld, so this may well just be that oppurtunity to dive in there and give it a go.
The problem is that I don't own a welder, and I havent welded since I was a teenager (I used an Arc welder and from memory I was very sloppy at it).
My original design which was based on a table I saw & measured up elsewhere, was to use 8mm x 130mm flat bar as the legs, which formed a very sturdy base and gave it a bold industrial look, and thats what I was quoted for above. But after looking around at welders I see that most DIY welders are only made for welding up to 5mm thick steel, so if I have to scale that down, so be it. Can I weld 8mm steel? Bare in mind I dont have a 15A plug anywhere in my house.
I've done a lot of reading over Easter and from what I've gathered, MIG welding is the easiest to learn on. Followed by ARC then TIG. But then there's inverter welders (what's that?)... Back in my day, MIG welders were $2000 and up and just about everyone used Arc, but now all that has changed. I also see that there are now ones that can do both, or all three!
I dont really want to spend over $400, happy to look at second hand options, but want something that will last and is versatile for any other projects that may come up one day. But there are so many bloody options out there, and so much jargon I have NFI where to start. I have a few mates who know how to weld, so arranging one of them come over to teach me is not a problem. But I just need to be pointed in the right direction other than speaking to salesmen & being given contradictory advice...
TL;DR
I need some suggestions on an all-round welder for a beginner, welding 5mm thick steel, 8mm if possible. What do I need? Mig or Arc? How many amps?
Any other tips?
Cheers
I was quoted $550 from a local steel supplier to supply, cut, pre-drill and fabricate it for me. Or they can supply, cut and pre-drill the steel for me for $200 and I do the rest. I've always wanted to re-learn how to weld, so this may well just be that oppurtunity to dive in there and give it a go.
The problem is that I don't own a welder, and I havent welded since I was a teenager (I used an Arc welder and from memory I was very sloppy at it).
My original design which was based on a table I saw & measured up elsewhere, was to use 8mm x 130mm flat bar as the legs, which formed a very sturdy base and gave it a bold industrial look, and thats what I was quoted for above. But after looking around at welders I see that most DIY welders are only made for welding up to 5mm thick steel, so if I have to scale that down, so be it. Can I weld 8mm steel? Bare in mind I dont have a 15A plug anywhere in my house.
I've done a lot of reading over Easter and from what I've gathered, MIG welding is the easiest to learn on. Followed by ARC then TIG. But then there's inverter welders (what's that?)... Back in my day, MIG welders were $2000 and up and just about everyone used Arc, but now all that has changed. I also see that there are now ones that can do both, or all three!
I dont really want to spend over $400, happy to look at second hand options, but want something that will last and is versatile for any other projects that may come up one day. But there are so many bloody options out there, and so much jargon I have NFI where to start. I have a few mates who know how to weld, so arranging one of them come over to teach me is not a problem. But I just need to be pointed in the right direction other than speaking to salesmen & being given contradictory advice...
TL;DR
I need some suggestions on an all-round welder for a beginner, welding 5mm thick steel, 8mm if possible. What do I need? Mig or Arc? How many amps?
Any other tips?
Cheers