Mig welding

[Chris Hammond]

I bought myself a compact little mig welder at the weekend and I’m trying to find a source of learning. I have done a fair bit of welding in the dim and distant past but have no real recollection of procedure.

In particular I want to learn what metals are suitable to mig welding. I bought a little book through Amazon but it’s crap!

Any experienced welders on the forums that can offer any advice please?

[whitey79]

Wouldn’t bother mate it’s not worth it












That club of yours is beyond repair and even if you welded steel shutters across the goal you would still win nothing

[Chris Hammond]

Wouldn’t bother mate it’s not worth it












That club of yours is beyond repair and even if you welded on steel shutters across the goal you would still win nothing

You will finish behind us next season.

[Bob Watson]

I did a bit of gas and stick at college many years ago Chris and have done a bit of stick over the years since. I have a very old arc welder.

My advice would be youtube and get some scrap and practise. If you really wanted to get into it, night school!

Loads of stuff on here.

https://www.youtube.com/@Welddotcom/videos

[Dean0]

Mig welding is fairly easy compared to other types. What machine spec have you got.
Gasless migs will work and stick things together but it's hard to keep thing neat and consistant.
Gas migs are more expensive but easier to use and get better results.
Mild steel 1-4mm thick is a good starting point. Other metals like stainless and even aluminium can be mig welded but you will need different wires and gas.....
There are a few useful welding forums about. Try this one :
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/
An hour of practise should get you up and running for basic stuff.

[ROBBO90]

Have a look at mig welding the diy guide. Also has a good forum. There's also double boost on you tube that's worth a watch

[Chris Hammond]

I did a bit of gas and stick at college many years ago Chris and have done a bit of stick over the years since. I have a very old arc welder.

My advice would be youtube and get some scrap and practise. If you really wanted to get into it, night school!

Loads of stuff on here.

https://www.youtube.com/@Welddotcom/videos

Thanks Bob. I have done a reasonable amount of welding myself, albeit twenty five or so years ago.
I struggled with stick welding because the glare was too much for my bins, but was pretty comfortable with Mig welding, though it was gas assisted back then. My welder is gas free.
I don’t want to get into it at all to be honest, I just wanted the option for when I’m making stuff. I’ve bought a nice soldering station set-up for the same reason.

[Chris Hammond]

Mig welding is fairly easy compared to other types. What machine spec have you got.
Gasless migs will work and stick things together but it's hard to keep thing neat and consistant.
Gas migs are more expensive but easier to use and get better results.
Mild steel 1-4mm thick is a good starting point. Other metals like stainless and even aluminium can be mig welded but you will need different wires and gas.....
There are a few useful welding forums about. Try this one :
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/
An hour of practise should get you up and running for basic stuff.

Thanks for that Dean.

Only bought a cheap gas free one so nothing fancy.

[Chris Hammond]

Have a look at mig welding the diy guide. Also has a good forum. There's also double boost on you tube that's worth a watch

Thanks Rob I will look those up.

[paintman]

Only comment I'd make about the gasless wire is that it's very smoky & dirty so you need to clean the weld up afterwards, but not really an issue if you only intend to do the odd small bit of welding.
Good if you're working outside as there's no shielding gas to get blown away - although strategically placed thick cardboard or board helps solve that.
Mine - Clarke Turbo 151 - was gas/no-gas & after a brief play with the no-gas I use gas all the time (argoshield, full size bottle, I have a BOC account & claim the cost back through the business).
Converted it to Eurotorch a few years ago with one of the ebay kits & wished I'd done that a lot sooner, not difficult & difference in weld quality is night & day but it does mean I couldn't use the gasless if I wanted due to the wiring changes.

[Dave Horton]

I bought myself a compact little mig welder at the weekend and I’m trying to find a source of learning. I have done a fair bit of welding in the dim and distant past but have no real recollection of procedure.

In particular I want to learn what metals are suitable to mig welding. I bought a little book through Amazon but it’s crap!

Any experienced welders on the forums that can offer any advice please?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Plethora of videos on youtube Chris?

(It's got everything else face)

[Chris Hammond]

I bought myself a compact little mig welder at the weekend and I’m trying to find a source of learning. I have done a fair bit of welding in the dim and distant past but have no real recollection of procedure.

In particular I want to learn what metals are suitable to mig welding. I bought a little book through Amazon but it’s crap!

Any experienced welders on the forums that can offer any advice please?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Plethora of videos on youtube Chris?

(It's got everything else face)

There are Dave, but I can do a Q&A on here when it is all confusing.

[Andrew]

I bought myself a compact little mig welder at the weekend and I’m trying to find a source of learning. I have done a fair bit of welding in the dim and distant past but have no real recollection of procedure.

In particular I want to learn what metals are suitable to mig welding. I bought a little book through Amazon but it’s crap!

Any experienced welders on the forums that can offer any advice please?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Plethora of videos on youtube Chris?

(It's got everything else face)

can be hard to find tbh. I watched one bout woodworking I think, looked a bit hipster but fair enough, then he called a coffee "Bean water" and I lost my s**t

Chris, check out AvE on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@arduinoversusevil2025

very entertaining fella but theres a lot of vids there were he talks about metal types and all that sort of stuff. think he has a few welding ones too.

[Chris Hammond]

Only comment I'd make about the gasless wire is that it's very smoky & dirty so you need to clean the weld up afterwards, but not really an issue if you only intend to do the odd small bit of welding.
Good if you're working outside as there's no shielding gas to get blown away - although strategically placed thick cardboard or board helps solve that.
Mine - Clarke Turbo 151 - was gas/no-gas & after a brief play with the no-gas I use gas all the time (argoshield, full size bottle, I have a BOC account & claim the cost back through the business).
Converted it to Eurotorch a few years ago with one of the ebay kits & wished I'd done that a lot sooner, not difficult & difference in weld quality is night & day but it does mean I couldn't use the gasless if I wanted due to the wiring changes.

Thanks for that mate. I’ve only bought it really to play around with. I don’t have any commercial use in mind.
As you have said, the consensus seems to be that gas-free involves welds that need a lot more cleaning than those made with gas assistance.

[Chris Hammond]

I bought myself a compact little mig welder at the weekend and I’m trying to find a source of learning. I have done a fair bit of welding in the dim and distant past but have no real recollection of procedure.

In particular I want to learn what metals are suitable to mig welding. I bought a little book through Amazon but it’s crap!

Any experienced welders on the forums that can offer any advice please?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Plethora of videos on youtube Chris?

(It's got everything else face)

can be hard to find tbh. I watched one bout woodworking I think, looked a bit hipster but fair enough, then he called a coffee "Bean water" and I lost my s**t

Chris, check out AvE on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@arduinoversusevil2025

very entertaining fella but theres a lot of vids there were he talks about metal types and all that sort of stuff. think he has a few welding ones too.

Thanks Andrew I will give it a look.