# Help a welding noob **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [September 20, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750 "2006-09-20T10:46:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/1 "2006-09-20T10:46:03Z")
Ok so im a welding virgin and i need some pointers and some clarity on some things. Ive gotten access to a harbor freight welder. I know they are shitty. its a 90 amp welder that uses strictly flux core wire its got speed settings 0-10 its also got min and max switch for voltage(?) so i was testing my luck with some metal that i cut out of an old door. I was just trying to basicly get a feel for using the welder and just trying to inscribe some letters into the sheets. Im ultimately confused about what settings i should be using. I dont know what gauge metal i am using and so i have no idea where to start for tuning the speed and setting the correct voltage. can anyone give me some basics as to what settings to use for this type of metal? should i start on some other type/thickness to learn? would anyone be willing to come help me out over the weekend and test out my setup and get me on my feet? EDIT: sorry mods but i have no idea which forum this belongs in. i figure this is kind of a do-it-yourself project so i went with this forum. ---
**Author:** ![MaximaSE98](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maximase98/32/7600_2.png) [@MaximaSE98](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MaximaSE98)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/2 "2006-09-20T10:47:26Z")
does the welder have the settings on the inside of the panel ---
**Author:** ![Estorvito](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/estorvito/32/7234_2.png) [@Estorvito](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Estorvito)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/3 "2006-09-20T10:50:09Z")
[http://www.fab-forum.com/default.asp](http://www.fab-forum.com/default.asp) You can find a lot of usefull info in that forum. Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![speedped79](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/speedped79/32/7491_2.png) [@speedped79](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/speedped79)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/4 "2006-09-20T10:52:06Z")
get a lil bit of a thicker piece of metal to start with its easier. put the heat or voltage setting abot 3/4 up and the speed on 2 as it will be the easiest to start with to get the feel. id also suggest eventually getting a lincoln thats what i have and i love it ---
**Author:** ![Estorvito](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/estorvito/32/7234_2.png) [@Estorvito](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Estorvito)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/5 "2006-09-20T10:54:04Z")
> [@speedped79](#): > > get a lil bit of a thicker piece of metal to start with its easier. put the heat or voltage setting abot 3/4 up and the speed on 2 as it will be the easiest to start with to get the feel. id also suggest eventually getting a lincoln thats what i have and i love it Those lincolns are kick ass, but my **Snap On** is better. :mamoru: ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/6 "2006-09-20T12:08:11Z")
> [@MaximaSE98](#): > > does the welder have the settings on the inside of the panel i dont know of any adjustments on the inside of the panel which panel would it be under im gonna get some pics up tonight of some welds that ive done and maybe u guys can tell me what you think. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/7 "2006-09-20T12:09:56Z")
> [@speedped79](#): > > get a lil bit of a thicker piece of metal to start with its easier. put the heat or voltage setting abot 3/4 up and the speed on 2 as it will be the easiest to start with to get the feel. id also suggest eventually getting a lincoln thats what i have and i love it there is no knob for voltage, just min and max switch ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/8 "2006-09-20T12:28:16Z")
ok, sorry for so many posts in a row. looks the the lowest voltage setting on this bad boy is around 63volts from what i have gathered, for body panels i will need to go down around 30, so that is why i am struggling with burn through ☹ , i guess this shitty welder isnt going to do it for body work, or its just gonna be a pain in the ass. what voltage would i wanna use for exhaust pipes? ---
**Author:** ![Pauly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pauly/32/7493_2.png) [@Pauly](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pauly)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/9 "2006-09-20T15:04:52Z")
Sometime you can overcome high voltage by holding the nozzle farther away from what you are welding esp. with flux core. sheet metal is usually welded with .025 wire if its flux you can prolly use .030 just keep practicing oh and when it come to welding Cleanliness is next to godlyness. wipe down what your welding with lacquer thinner or prepsol etc…of course wait for it to flash before you start the arc ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/10 "2006-09-20T16:27:43Z")
wait for what to flash?? ---
**Author:** ![98FREAKGTP](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/98freakgtp/32/7213_2.png) [@98FREAKGTP](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/98FREAKGTP)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/11 "2006-09-20T16:40:29Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > . . . so i was testing my luck with some metal that i cut out of an old door. > > I was just trying to basicly get a feel for using the welder and just trying to inscribe some letters into the sheets. First off, get ride of that fucking door. Chances are it has some kind of paint on it and is totally screwing with your weld. Weld and paint don’t get along to well. If the door doesn’t have paint, hopefully its a door you can weld (steel or stainless). If you can’t get the machine turned down enough, try to get your hands on a piece of aluminum and put it under the spot your trying to weld. . .It will act as a backer (so you won’t burn threw & also as a heat sick). Where ever you happen to put the wire on your welder, chances are there is a chart that may say some kind of ball-park settings to start at. The door is probably something like 20ga - 16ga, depending on what kind of door this is. One other thing you may be able to try is welding down hand. Flux-core doesn’t like this either, but for what you want to use it for I think you’ll be fine. Just stand the metal up, start from the top and drag it down. Good luck! And if none of this helps, go to wal-mart and buy some stenciles & paint your letter onto your door. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/12 "2006-09-20T17:30:42Z")
ok, as for the door, i used a grinder to grind the paint off of the part i was welding as well as the part where the ground clamp was going. and there was a chart with some speed settings, but i was not sure what size metal i was using so i didnt know what settings to use. thanks for the help pics are soon to come of what ive done. ---
**Author:** ![98FREAKGTP](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/98freakgtp/32/7213_2.png) [@98FREAKGTP](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/98FREAKGTP)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/13 "2006-09-20T17:45:55Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > ok, as for the door, i used a grinder to grind the paint off of the part i was welding as well as the part where the ground clamp was going. :tup: sounds good so far ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/14 "2006-09-20T18:28:45Z")
yeah i would be :ham:'ing myself if i was doing something that stupid, lol aahhhhh ill post pics up in a few ---
**Author:** ![RobY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RobY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RobY)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/15 "2006-09-20T19:24:44Z")
My friend’s dad taught me how to stick weld, which is similar to flux core arc welding. He has been working for the long island railroad for over 30 years he knows more about heavy metal welding than probably most people in the nation and is a certified instructor. I helped him build a trailer that day. I wish I had pictures, my welds ended up looking pretty damn good by the end of the day for an arc weld. The most important thing I learned other than choosing the proper amperage is: Heat rises, start your weld on the thickest metal when welding 2 diffrent thickness metals. This way you get proper penetration on both metals. Holding the torch at a proper angle is essential. Think of your weld as the base of a right triangle. The slope of the triange is the angle of your torch. The back side of the triangle is the distance between the top of the stick if stick welding and the end of the weld. If your torch is angled appropriately all you need to do is keep the torch at the same angle and travel downwards. As the stick gets smaller the weld will travel backwards to your endpoint. Keep your arc consistent. You dont want the arc to vary distance too much or you will get an inconsistent weld. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/16 "2006-09-20T19:43:30Z")
best fucking site right here!!! [http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/](http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/) ide like to thank everyone here for all of the input you have given me tomorow i am going to get bacck it in the garage and i WILL make some good welds, im feeling confident pics are still to come 😉 ---
**Author:** ![98FREAKGTP](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/98freakgtp/32/7213_2.png) [@98FREAKGTP](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/98FREAKGTP)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/17 "2006-09-20T19:56:31Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > best fucking site right here!!! > > [http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/](http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/) Not a bad site. A lot of that stuff I just take for granted. I have been welding for about 12 years now including two years of school. I do mostly T.I.G, S.S pipe welding. Whenever I use MIG or FLUXCORE I have ran a TIG root then backgrind and burn the shit out of it with the fluxcore to ensure 100%. About 75% of the shit I do is x-rayed and about 100% is for some kind of pressure vessel. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/18 "2006-09-20T20:13:24Z")
yeah i could imagine how a site like that would look to an experienced welder, lol. thanks again for the tips and help, im gonna make this work with the setup i have! ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/19 "2006-09-21T16:07:32Z")
ummm ok dithced the harbor freight shit that only lasted a few days lol its all on hold for a few weeks until the 220v is wired up and i can start using the millermatic 175 i should be able to acheive some good welds with that right away ---
**Author:** ![Carnut](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carnut/32/7590_2.png) [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750/20 "2006-09-21T16:48:49Z")
shit welder and good welder aside, with out proper instruction it will take a lot of practice to get good. With some instruction it will still take alot of practice. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/help-a-welding-noob/17750.md?page=2)