Sorta off topic: welding steel or aluminum

Chiro75 · May 14, 2004

I know this is completely off topic, but there seems to be a dearth of info out there on this. A friend has been welding some nice furniture (modern, of course) out of steel and I have always been interested in doing the same. Making knives is one thing, but what can anyone tell me about MIG welding aluminum or, more likely, steel? I think I'd try to stick to things like simple bedside tables, credenzas, small chests of drawers and that sort of thing. Is it tough? What's the best way to learn how to do it properly? Any words of advice, encouragement or discouragement? I'd really like to make a few pieces for home use, but parlaying this hobby into consigment sales or that sort of thing would be pretty damn cool, too. Anyway, I know you guys do more than just make knives, so what can you tell me about this? Stupid idea?

mete · May 14, 2004

I've made my own furniture of square stainless steel tubing. I've welded some with stick - now that's a project especially when you're not an experienced welder ! Then I let someone else do the welding . MIG or TIG is much easier especially with the new welding machines. The best way is to take a course,it shortens the learning curve.

peter nap · May 14, 2004

Mete is right. It takes a lot of practice to get good welds with 100% penetration. It took me years to learn but then again, I didn't take a class.

The worst thing is that if you don't do it from time to time, you lose the feel and it takes a while to get it back.

Glass Smith · May 14, 2004

My 2 cents
I have made furniture, art ,bicycles, and equipment for sale.

MIG welding steel can be taught to any primate in 15 minutes, some will be passable in a day or two. A few will get good in time. And then some just do it right.

MIG welding aluminum, not so easy. even with a preheat and lots of cleaning the start of the weld will be could and the end hot. Chances are the feeder will not like to feed wire at the same speed all the time or with out adding something that was lurking in the gun liner. The last problem can be over come with a spool gun that is used just for Al. But the first problem I have never seen a way around. That combined with the lack of cleaning that the MIG has on Al. makes cleaning A BIG DEAL.
TIG welding AL is the real nice , great control, great cleaning. Steep learning curve.

I would say buy a MIG and go for it ,any chimp can make furniture. and most will hold together fine.

Riley White · May 14, 2004

I teach welding and know words cant describe what a person is supposed to do in every situation. You should take a class. But if you want to try it on your own keep in mind the following: With a Mig system there is a wire that being fed into the weld for the operator and it is deceptive. The wire can make what appears to be a puddle but is a pool of molten steel on top of the base metal. This most commonly happens when the operator moves too soon. It will also happen if the operator makes circular motions too wide or too fast. These movements should be kept at a minimum. It is not like stick.

Good luck.

truck · May 14, 2004

Glass Smith could have also added that some people never figure it out, but continue to weld anyways

I have seen whole new classes of totally unworkable materials created by well meaning, but ignorant people. In the worst cases, the only reason someone didn't get hurt, or killed, was because everything fell apart before they could operate the equiptment. In short, take a course. It will save you money, time, and aggravation.

Kit Carson · May 14, 2004

Chiro,
Take their advice, go thru some classes or have an experienced guy teach you. I went thru 4 years of welding school from 1968 to 1972 and have attended several classes since. I've taught my son, and like me, he can weld anything from the crack of dawn to a broken heart

What Glass Smith said about MIG and Al is dead on. It sucks. Works great with steel, especially thinner sheet or tubing.
TIG is the cat's meow. Does a beautiful job on Al. It did take me a little longer in learning to weld Titanium, but once I figured it out, is a piece of cake.
A good stick welder will do a fairly good job on thicker steel but sucks on thin tubing.
I feel that welding is a skill that every knifemaker needs to have. Comes in damn handy, even to us stock removal guys

peter nap · May 14, 2004

In short, take a course. It will save you money, time, and aggravation.

Like I said, It took years without the course.

I also want to re-emphasize what Truck said. I could have been killed or killed some one else a number of times with some of the cold welds I had. I am convinced that the only reason I wasn't is because God takes pity on fools and children.

BTW, I was well over 21 before I started welding so I sure wasn't a child.

Sweany · May 14, 2004

What Glass Smith Said.

I always thought anybody that could run a spray can could MIG weld.
I've tried to teach about a dozen now that just don't get it.

Anybody with an apitude for learning and good/fair hand eye coordination. PLUS
ears that work. Can be taught Mig welding.

Matt Shade · May 14, 2004

Glass Smith said:
TIG welding AL is the real nice , great control, great cleaning. Steep learning curve.

This is funny too me because its what every welder I've talked to says and I found the limited TIG welding I got to do to be the easiest of the 3 to pick up. A friend took me into the electric company's shop and let me try all the machines out, got me started welding. I stuck and cooked rods like a sumbitch on the stick welder, along with setting my left hand on fire. Found the MIG easier but had trouble moving slow enough and seeing past the gun to what I was doing.
The TIG though, it all just fell into place. They couldn't beleive the welds I did with it after the other machines(it looked pretty hopeless after my performance on them

). Welded both flat and vertical (1/4" aluminum).
And then the harsh reality, a TIG is the one welder of the 3 that I can't even begin to afford :grumpy: So I'm running a stick welder instead, I don't set myself on fire as much now and even get to weld with every other rod or so

sevenedges · May 15, 2004

Welding is a skill that takes time to get very good at.
I went to welding school last year and we did all types of welding.
Aluminum is weird because it heats up and cools off so fast. I personally would try other metals out first, and then try aluminum. The school was pretty in depth. five hours a day, five days a week, for seven months.
When we started aluminum, people were getting frustrated.

I'd either take a class, or better yet buy a machine and a bunch of scrap metal and practice correctly by getting a good instructional book. Good classes arn't cheap, mine was $11,000.
Although there are much shorter cheaper classes out there, you just won't get enough burn time in.
My 02

Sweany · May 15, 2004

Good classes arn't cheap, mine was $11,000.

Yikes!!

i started welding when I was ten and took a grinding/helper job at 18 learned to weld from some crusty cranky old weldors. They paid me while I was learning.

It wasn't TULSA WELDING SCHOOL was it?