Best starter welder for bar work

[mudski]

what causes a hole to appear in the metal when welding with an arc welder? I find, particularly when I haven't welded for a while I can melt, what I'm welding and create a hole.
Going too slow? Not feeding enough of the rod? Or too much?

[threedogs]

@ Mudski Amps too high for the size of material, wrong rod choice, lingering, where maybe stop, start may be better. Heaps of what ifs.
Mig is ideal for sheet metal, stitch weld, plus tack all work before welding to avoid movement. Always wear eye protection "flash" does hurt

[Bloodyaussie]

I got taught that on a test piece of the material you intend to weld you get it to the point you blow a hole through it then bring back the amps till you no longer do so , that was more so for mig but cant see why the same does not apply for arc?

I am going to make my rear bar very soon and will only fit it if I am 100% happy with my welds... should be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

[mudski]

My welder only has two size choices. 2.5mm or 3.2mm. Its a 20 year old little Cig Welder. One of those "blue boxes" they used to have. Maybe still do...I use 16TC rods, by memory.
I've always pondered on the thought of making my ARB steps into rock sliders, or atleast a kind of slider, just for a bit more sil protection...

[threedogs]

Have yet to see a true slider, why don't ppl just call them pipe steps, as that's all they are

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

@ Mudski Amps too high for the size of material, wrong rod choice, lingering, where maybe stop, start may be better. Heaps of what ifs.
Mig is ideal for sheet metal, stitch weld, plus tack all work before welding to avoid movement. Always wear eye protection "flash" does hurt

Yes mate welding flash does hurt and it happens, it's always that flash you catch in the wrong spot. The worst part is you'll wake up in the middle of the night feeling like you have sand in the back of your eyes and trying to drive to work in the morning is painful. Your eye or eyes will be trying to close continually with any direct light.

On a side note, welding will sunburn you. Arc is not so bad but mig welding will fry everything from your hand piece to under your arms. I have a bad habit of wearing just a shirt and gloves with a mig and i'll get blisters above the gloves and red raw sunburn under my shirt just before your armpits.

You don't really feel how its burning you until the damage is done, I really should have taken the time to point this out in my first post.


Reading and posting in this thread has made me realize how much is behind welding with a mig and a arc, its going to take years to understand.

[BigRAWesty]

Yes some good tips there.
To get a little deeper. Welding flash is caused by the ultra violet rays, just like sun burn.
Ultra violet can't pass threw plastic or glass, ie a welding helmet or car window. So if you do get a flash don't be to worried. You'll get the dot in your eyes for a little like you've been looking at the sun, but as long as you have glasses on or the helmet you won't get welding flash.

And don't weld in shorts or shirt sleeve tops.. you will regret it.. and possibly be walking like a well hung young cow boy for a few days..

Also grab a box of ear plugs. When welding a ultra high frequency noise is emitted, and although you can hear some crackle, with out hearing protection your ears will be ringing for hours, maybe days..

Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories

[taslucas]

Yes some good tips there.
To get a little deeper. Welding flash is caused by the ultra violet rays, just like sun burn.
Ultra violet can't pass threw plastic or glass, ie a welding helmet or car window. So if you do get a flash don't be to worried. You'll get the dot in your eyes for a little like you've been looking at the sun, but as long as you have glasses on or the helmet you won't get welding flash.


Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories

Are you saying I can't get Sun burnt if I wind the windows up in my car?


so far so good on motorculture

[Blacklotusdog]

Yes normal glass although transparent to visible light will block the majority of the uv spectrum.

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

I made the mistake few years ago mig welding with a singlet on.



haha its not nice.