Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all, I bought a small arc welder a couple of years ago but have never had cause to use it, the bracket on Bertie's chain guard snapped yesterday, with perseverance I've managed to weld a new bracket on to what was left of the existing bracket. I've learnt a couple of things today, Indian steel is made of cheese and does not stick to weld easily, all surfaces must be spotlessly clean and lastly have respect for good welder's, 'cause it ain't easy!

You talk of sticking weld to the job. If that's what you have done it will have very little strength. You need to melt the rod and parent metal. RE metal is just mild steel and welds OK. Any weld must be completely clean and prepared properly to get results. Basic stick welding isn't difficult if you get the preparation, current, rod size and earth correct.

People do welding apprenticeships for a reason

Pete is right the weld must have penetration to attain strength. Arc welding is an art that takes a bit of practice. I learnt on a Sail Training Ship commissioning and was able to spend my lunch breaks laying down beads of weld and then courses of beads in order to produce decent filets. There is a balance between the power that you put through the welder via the choke and the thickness of the rods. Because of MIG it is close to an obsolete art but I still find it very useful on occasions. I suggest that you get a book or if you can lessons at a local night school (where I learnt to gas weld) because there is little uglier that a bird shit weld full of pockets of slag and prettier that a shiny bead where the slag peels off it one piece leaving a strong and useful weld.

Yes Simon I was just discussing with 'er in doors about maybe doing a night course at the local college, but I'm in the middle of moving house at the moment so it's on hold for now, PeteF, as for the weld sticking to the metal or becoming one with it, not sure but it didn't look pretty, fortinetly it's not on show to much and the paint is hiding many of the sins, as for holding out, if it doesn't then I will give in and buy a new guard.

As always, Norm is spot on, or at least get a few hours
in before your Bertie has to suffer. Meanwhile all, do
remember your heart Pacemaker will shut down should you
arc weld, and you won't be seeing your beloved bike
again in this world which is a downer!

I did a welding night course at the local college. It was well worth it for the small amount it cost. A twelve week block and I learned loads. MIG was really easy to pick up but I couldn't master welding thin steel (0.8mm or less) with it. But the machines didn't go down to a low current so they had to be stitched really carefully... More practice needed there! But thicker steel was good for me. MMA welding was tougher, and I had less time on that method, but I could produce sound, if ugly welds. Problem
Is that mig kit is so pricey

Bertie, if it doesn't look pretty then it's probably no good.
As others have posted, a course at a local college would be a good idea as well as being interesting. The one I did covered Stick, MIG and Gas welding. I know it only scratched the surface of the art but it did give me enough to do basic welds to a decent standard on steel.
Perhaps you could save your money on the electronic ignition and sign up? (grin)

The bit i found difficult was getting the combination of rod size versus amperage correct but think I found a happy medium, guess it comes with learning and experience, until i have the cash and time for a college course I'm going to get some scrap metal, watch some Youtube videos and practice, I have a whole box of rods to play with. Thanks for the concern but I never neglect Bertie so he will not suffer through my ignorance.

Excellent plan Bertie. Practice makes perfect. Another tip, which many people miss, is to dry the rods in an oven before use. They tend to be hygroscopic. Preheating the job also helps a lot.