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Thread: Welding Newbie

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default Welding Newbie

    Hi all, I've been using this forum for welding info for a while and have found it to be very useful.

    I've got 3 or 4 weeks left in the TAFE welding course I'm doing, it's just a basic course, but looking at doing the next one up after it as well.

    I just bought a Tokentools MTS 200 on ebay through Arc Industry after reading a heap online about different brands etc. They seem to have a good rep and I got it for a good price, plus their store isn't too far from me if I need it.

    I have a couple of project cars I plan on using it on, plus making a few other things for the shed/house etc.

    Just need to get a couple of 15 amp sockets in the shed first.

    I'll no doubt have plenty of questions, but this seems like a good place to ask them.

    Cheers, Ian

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Welcome to the forum Ian,

    I am sure we can help with any questions you may have .

    What is the Tafe course you are enrolled in. Not AS 2980 by any chance?


    Grahame

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Thanks for the welcome, Grahame.

    The course is Introduction to Welding, that's what it says on the folder they gave us anyway. It covers the basics of Oxy cutting, MIG, Stick, and TIG. Just got TIG to go now.

    I'm at work right now, so don't have the course info handy. I'll have a look when I get home.

    Highly recommend the course (or similar) for anyone looking to get into welding. I hadn't welded before starting it and have learnt a lot from it.

    Cheers

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default

    My welder arrived today. Haven't fired it up yet but the Amp control knob feels/sounds like it's dragging when turned. Like it's hard up against something.

    Going to give Tokentools a call about it tomorrow but from what I've seen they're pretty good with customer service so I'm not too worried yet.


    Other than that, it was well packed, nothing was missing, and it got here pretty quick.

    Also should have 15 amp power hooked up soon. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can blow holes through

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
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    Default

    Had a go at Tig tonight. Not to bad for my first efforts I thought.

    Had a couple of goes with no filler, ran a couple of beads with filler, then had a go at some butt welds:



    Grahame, I can't seem to find a specific number for the course in any of the stuff I have here.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi,
    That Tig welding looks great for a new to the process welder.
    Tafe certainly have done a good job in teaching you.

    All I could offer as advice on the photo,is that,next you may wish to remove the mill scale from the metal before welding.

    Otherwise ,it looks good.
    The scale can contaminate the parent metal/filler metal interface.

    Well done!
    Grahame

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Thanks mate. I also did a few corner welds and a fillet weld with the scale cleaned off and they were a lot cleaner.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Hi all,

    My mrs and I are looking at a knock down/new house next year, which also includes a shed extension. This means my 15amp power has been put off for the moment.

    However I still want to keep on with my welding (particularly TIG as I have access to MIG at work, and own an old 10amp arc welder) and have been looking at buying a cheapish 10amp TIG welder so I can keep my hand in, so to speak.

    Does anyone have any recommendations, either for or against any particular welders?

    Or any suggestions in general?

    Cheers

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Metal Fatique,

    I use one of these, Portable RCD with 15A to 10A Mains Plug Conversion - Jaycar Electronics works well and has an inbuilt 10amp fuse. I seen another one advertised somewhere but can not remember where, about $10 cheaper.

    Cheers

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
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    Default

    That's something to consider. Does having it's own breaker mean it will trip before the house one does?

    I won't be cranking the amps right up as I'll be mostly doing thin stuff, hence the focus on TIG.


    Might have to do a bit more googling (got to love the internet) as that is a cheaper way out of it.

    Cheers

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    3

    Default

    A lot of people file down the plug I did not want to do that. Has not missed a beat using that product
    Cheers

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
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    Default

    Yeah I know about that, but I don't want to do that either.

    I'm just looking know about whether using a portable RCD would be any different (apart from the extra breaker) to just putting a 10amp plug on a 15amp extension cord (something else I don't want to do BTW).

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
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    Default

    It should trip the RCD before it trips the house circuit, as it will be first in line. I like it as if I want to take welder over to a mates place and use it, I can.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
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    Default

    It sounds like an easy way around it for the few months I'll need it.

    Thanks for the tip, mate.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    13

    Default

    Hi all, I'm still using this forum for info but haven't posted in a while. Haven't sorted out what's happening with the house yet so still no welding at home. Despite a lot of arguing with the mrs, we haven't made any progress yet.

    However I've started the next course up from the first one I did and chose to focus on TIG.


    This was my first go at overhead TIG. It's not perfect, but I hadn't touched a welder since November, when I finished the last course so I'm reasonably happy with my current progress.



    Comments, advice etc always welcome.

    Cheers

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