5 Welding Tricks The Do it Yourself Welder Needs : Metalworking Tips & Tricks
1. SAFETY ESSENTIALS
The act of welding involves superheating metal pieces so that they melt and fuse together. Naturally, this process is going to create a lot of heat and even sparks. To protect yourself from injury, you'll need some safety gear whenever you're welding. The safety essentials every welder will need include a welding helmet, welding gloves and a welding jacket.
The welding helmet will protect your face from wayward sparks, while the dim lens protects your eyes from the bright light generated by the welding process. Some masks even have adjustable and auto-dimming lenses. We also recommend some manner of welding cap that can protect hair and the back of your neck. You'll also want to make sure you have gloves rated for the type of welding you're looking to do. Lastly, a welding jacket will help you avoid any holes getting burned into your clothes, and protect any bare skin. Remember, welding can be a potentially dangerous process, but with the right equipment, you can protect yourself properly and minimize your risk.
2. TABLE & CLAMPS
You wouldn't want to work on your welding on a wooden or plastic workbench, as these materials could catch fire or melt as you're welding. You may want to invest in a welding table. These metal tables, along with the help of a variety of welding clamps and magnets, will hold your materials safely in place as you're working. And, since welding tables are made of metal, you can clamp the welder ground to the work table instead of the work piece itself, giving you more room to safely work on your welds. If your welder isn't properly grounded, the quality of your welds will suffer. Get a welding table and clamps for your workshop for best welding results.
3. fire extingusher
There are four classes of fire extinguishers – A, B, C and D – and each class can put out a different type of fire.
- Class A extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper
- Class B extinguishers are for use on flammable liquids like grease, gasoline and oil
- Class C extinguishers are suitable for use only on electrically energized fires
- Class D extinguishers are designed for use on flammable metals
Multipurpose extinguishers can be used on different types of fires and will be labeled with more than one class, like A-B, B-C or A-B-C.
Choosing the rite fire extingusher is imperative to protecting your livelihood, home and family.
4. METAL BITS & CUTTING FLUID
Of course, welding is only one aspect of metalworking. During the course of your project you might want to cut metal down to size or drill holes in metal pieces. For this, you'll want a special set of strong metal drill bits. Ordinary drill bits are sufficient for wood, plaster and sheetrock, but metal plate is a little bit tougher. And since drilling through metal creates a ton of heat from friction, keep some cutting fluid handy. It'll help manage the temperature of the material and tool as you're drilling so the metal doesn't warp or melt as you're working.
5. ANGLE GRINDER
Once you've created a weld, it may need to be cleaned up for best results, especially if you're just starting out. To remove excess material from your welds, you'll want an angle grinder. Available in corded or cordless models, angle grinders also have a huge variety of discs available for various uses. Use a flap disk to smooth uneven surfaces and a cutting wheel to cut pieces of metal down to size, or even to cut rough shapes out of a metal sheet. The more comfortable you get working with your welder and angle grinder, the cleaner your welds will be when they're done!