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Pledge: Welding Equipment: Difference between revisions

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==News==
==News==
[[File:Red_welder.jpg|thumb|right|Red welder]]
[[File:Red_welder.jpg|thumb|right|Red welder]]
There are two electric welding sets in the space. There is a basic red arc welder (on loan from spooq) and a larger blue MIG (I think) welder.
There are three electric welding sets in the space. There is a basic red arc welder (on loan from spooq), a larger blue MIG (I think) welder and a plasma cutter which has stick and TIG welding modes.


There is enough PPE for one person, two if you can find another pair of overalls. Steel toecapped boots are highly recommended.
The important part is safety, please do not use the equipment unless you are capable of using it safely and wear suitable protective clothing.  
Steel toecapped boots are highly recommended.


Individuals could practice arc welding with the stuff we have at the moment. One on one teaching could be done with the stuff we have at the moment if you are careful.
The suitability of the current arrangements to avoiid exposing others to very bright light need to be considered.
The important part is safety, someone who can operate the equipment safely can teach themselves basic welding by practising.


The small red welder is usable. There are some 1.6mm and 2.5mm welding rods for mild steel in a plastic tube. Please close the tube, welding rods absorb moisture.
At present to carry out welding, as well as using a welding screen, a suitable area should be cleared of anything that might get damaged or catch fire, about 8 feet in all directions from the welding position should do.
[[File:Welding_screen_billy.jpg|thumb|right|Welding screen]]
A freestanding folding welding screen has been constructed from fire doors. It can stand by the wood store without taking up a lot of space. It could fall over in some configurations and is very heavy. Please have at least two strong people move it. It needs a bit more work on the feet.
The materials were free. It could be replaced with something better.
 
At present to carry out welding, as well as using the welding screen, a suitable area should be cleared of anything that might get damaged or catch fire, about 8 feet in all directions from the welding position should do.
 
Russ thinks the current welding screen is ok for some welding but possibly not adequate for teaching. Others think it will do fine. Trying it out a bit more may help reach a decision.
 
There are some smallish mild steel bars and some thin steel plate on top of the red welder.
It can be used for practice, the first attempt to weld a bar to a plate resulted in a very poor weld due to inexperience and because the plate melts before the bar gets hot enough.


MIG welding is not the best method for joining thin material to thick material (brazing or oxy-acetylene welding is better) but you can do it by first building up the thickness of the thin material using stitch welding to avoid "blowing through", then do another run of weld to actually join the two pieces together.
MIG welding is not the best method for joining thin material to thick material (brazing or oxy-acetylene welding is better) but you can do it by first building up the thickness of the thin material using stitch welding to avoid "blowing through", then do another run of weld to actually join the two pieces together.
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The welding equipment pledge hit it's target a few weeks ago but nobody has got around to collecting money. Mailing list discussion last stopped at a suggestion to talk to [[User:t0m|t0m]].
The welding equipment pledge hit it's target a few weeks ago but nobody has got around to collecting money. Mailing list discussion last stopped at a suggestion to talk to [[User:t0m|t0m]].


In the hackspace spirit of "don't complain, fix it" Billy produced the welding screen and [[User:Ajp|AJP]] sorted out the small welder and purchased the minimum PPE and consumables to start
There are a few hackspace people with welding experience and a few people who would like basic welding training. In June 2012 there was a discussion on the mailing list and mention of someone being willing to do some teaching.
practicing arc welding.
 
There are a few hackspace people with welding experience and a few people who would like basic welding training.


More scrap steel to weld would help. It would be handy to have enough PPE for a second person; mask, overalls, apron, and a second set of ear defenders to wear while using the angle grinder.
More scrap steel to weld would help. It would be handy to have enough PPE for a second person; mask, overalls, apron, and a second set of ear defenders to wear while using the angle grinder.
We have one automatic welding mask and one welding mask that is always dark. The automatic mask is a lot nicer to use.


[[File:Welding_smallpic.jpg|thumb|right|Welding practice]]
[[File:Welding_smallpic.jpg|thumb|right|Welding practice]]
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=== Things we have already ===
=== Things we have already ===


* enough PPE for one person, almost enough for two people; blue overalls, two pairs of gauntlets, two welding aprons, two welding masks (one automatic).
* some 1.6mm and 2.5mm welding rods and a bit of mild steel that can be used for practice with the red welder.
* some 1.6mm and 2.5mm welding rods and a bit of mild steel that can be used for practice with the red welder.
* a welding screen made from firedoors (please be careful when moving it, it's really heavy)
* regulator for disposable gas bottles for use with blue welder
* regulator for disposable gas bottles for use with blue welder
* spare tips etc.
* spare tips etc.
* gauntlets [http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=604]
* gauntlets
* angle grinder
* angle grinder
* simple (non-automatic) face shield
* simple (non-automatic) face shield
* a couple of bottles of gas (in the drawers under the mill) (for use with blue welder)
* a couple of bottles of gas (in the drawers under the mill) (for use with blue welder) -been used up I think?


=== Things we are planning to buy ===
=== Things we are planning to buy ===


* [http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ws1-standard-welding-screen Welding screen] - £105
* [http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ws1-standard-welding-screen Welding screen] - £105
Discuss further, this is smaller than the firedoor screen which Russ thinks isn't big enough and dosn't seem like great value for money.[[User:Ajp|AJP]])
 
* [http://www.welduk.com/Results1.asp?Category=49 Automatic head shield, variable] - £50 x 2
* [http://www.welduk.com/Results1.asp?Category=49 Automatic head shield, variable] - £50 x 2
** One has been bought in the same auction where we got the PCB unit. Takes two AAA batteries, putting a couple of batteries in it made the viewport allow light through. It has been used with the control at 3o'clock. Present batteries may last a month or two.
** An automatic welding helmet was purchased from an auction. It got kicked around, didn't seem to work for a while and was last seen in a dustbin with the LCD smashed, it's gone.
***My helmet will change to darkened if I look full at a nearby striplight. Try this if you want to gain confidence that you're not going to be blinded. It may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity / delay controls.
***My helmet will change to darkened if I look full at a nearby striplight. Try this if you want to gain confidence that you're not going to be blinded. It may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity / delay controls.
* [http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=374 Welding Leather Apron] - £9 x 2 - There is a leather apron and gloves already, which spooq bought for metal-casting, so we can use those.
* [http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=374 Welding Leather Apron] - £9 x 2 - There is a leather apron and gloves already, which spooq bought for metal-casting, so we can use those.
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* metal to weld. Please keep a lookout for some random bits of mild steel for people to practice with. Preferably not zinc plated due to toxic fumes when welded.
* metal to weld. Please keep a lookout for some random bits of mild steel for people to practice with. Preferably not zinc plated due to toxic fumes when welded.
* More grinding disc's for the angle grinder (Phil or AJP may get around to bringing some in, you can remind us).
* More grinding disc's for the angle grinder
* Could we find some fire resistant fabric material to make a welding screen that hangs from the ceiling?
* Could we find some fire resistant fabric material to make a welding screen that hangs from the ceiling?
* gas  [http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tAo9x2FO_qy-e-_i0uhGspA&output=html price comparison]
* gas  [http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tAo9x2FO_qy-e-_i0uhGspA&output=html price comparison]
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