Noob welder, looking for info. Good questions

[turbotalon1g]

Anyone have any tips for someone looking to get back into welding?
I have a Lincoln Precision TIG 185.

I've made a few things before but I haven't touched a welder for about 2 years I think, I finally went and bought supplies today and with winter approaching I'm looking to stay busy at home.

Anywho, I have a new car, so its mostly stock and I wish to make all pipes for it, aka exhaust, IC piping, intake.
Being honest and up front I would like to attempt some advance projects down the road too like chromoly pieces.

Its been 2 yrs since I've touched a welder and I'm looking for things to make, techniques to practice, anything to make me better at welding.

Any forums, tech. articles, books I should read?
I'm also looking for info on the different clamps used for exhaust and just anything in general that might my new welding life easier,safer, better.

I picked up a few books, I'll list the titles when I get home.

TIA

Aaron

[DoughtCom]

Good thing to get into, I'm thinking about it as well. Good luck learning, I'll keep checking this thread for updates.

[ESchwanz]

Youtube has some good videos of technique. Remember to use the correct filler rod for the thickness of material you are welding.

[GG_9_SE]

Never been able to TIG weld for shit, but I tear it up with the wire feed haha. On the safe side I would definately get an auto darkening helmet. I'm sure you know all about them if you have welded before. If your welds turn out nice I might have to send some cash your way for a LICP/ UICP

[Kracka]

Talk to your brother, all his welds look great.

[Halon]

Is it portable at all? we can practice when i build an exhaust this winter.

[Goat Blower]

I really want a nice TIG, there's a lot of stuff that my MIG just won't do right. How about taking a class at the local community college? Or in your case, just shadow little brown for a few days and buy him lunch.

[Pushit2.0]

That is a nice welder. I would get a nice welding helmet, I actual hate auto tint for TIG, but thats just me. I use a Jackson welding helmet with a gold 10 shade, so nice. I would get some ER70s 1/16" rod for mild steel and chrome moly, some 308 1/16" rod for most stainless steel welds, and 309 1/16" rod for welding stainless steel to mild steel. Make sure you are using 100% argon, if you have the cash a 300cf cylinder makes the most sense but its a good amount of money up front with the lease and exchange fee. I go threw Toll but Airgas is good also.

Make sure what you are welding is CLEAN, wire wheel/wire brush and break clean or similar in the weld area. Keep your self in a good/easy position at all times. Start with scrap metal and practice, practice, practice.

And the best luck I have had was talking with/watching a pro welder for a while.

~John

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

You can read all the books in the world, and spend hours watching people weld, but the biggest thing to help your skills is to practice. Find out what works best for you and go with it.

[Super Bleeder!!]

Lol why does this thread exist when your lil bro is like a professional welder?

[turbotalon1g]

Thanks guys. Sadly my broseph is working hard as a professional, I think minimally at 40hrs/week, those ballin' ass manifolds don't make themselves.

I'd love to sit at his work, but I don't know if his boss would like that although I'm good at keeping people on task and working hard.

While at Toll (5 mins) from my place, i spotted some nice ass winter welding gloves for $5. I have a manual darkening helmet right now, I haven't tried any good auto darkening helmets, i tried a cheap one and the delay was terrible and would mess me up.

Right now I have some scrap metal and I might take this freakishly warm week to go and collect some scrap from a welding place I used to deliver from and get metal from.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress, I don't get out too much usually during winter and in my current state winter will be different.

[GG_9_SE]

If you have the money Speedglass auto darkening helmet all the way! But they are $300+. Runnings has some decent ones for about $100 though.

[Pushit2.0]

I would buy a nice Miller auto tint, they are a little less then the speed glass and are just as good for the home welder. I bought the miller auto tint one with flames, it looks cool, but I use it for MIG welding or Plasma cutting only.

I could stop by some time after work and show you a few things if you want. When I worked at the MIG welding shop I used the top of the line speed glass auto tint, man that was a nice helmet.

Miller unit:
http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...duct=MIL229364

Speed Glass:
http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...=H0304-0012-21

~John

[turbotalon1g]

That would be awesome, thanks guys.
I have some small scrap tubing laying around that I can practice on, with the cold weather coming in, I think I will be starting here soon.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

I am blind in the dark and can barely tack weld with a MIG, but I see a lot of broken stuff and I will say that "pretty" welds doesn't mean anything. I get plenty of cars in with awesome looking welds that have cracked within a week of actual use on a car. It seems like everyone on the interwebz drools over pretty looking welding and bags on ugly welds(which often are perfectly fine, will hold, and will pass tech). I see a lot of exhaust manifold with nice looking welds that didn't have even close to enough penetration and crack after a few real heat cycles. People try to MIG weld intercooler piping also, which often leaves hundreds of pinhole boost leaks around each weld. Just have your brother teach you. I tried to learn for a long time, but then later found out that I have an eye disease and can't actually see worth a shit compared to normal people, so I leave that to other people.