Hey everyone,

I'm finally starting to get some warm days up here. Therefore, I'd like to address the cancer around the rear of my EG. I've never welded before, but I'm up for a new challenge. Can anyone give me some advice on how to learn before I try on the car? I'm hoping that I can use a MIG welder, or would something else be better? (Keeping in mind a budget of about 3-450 for the welder)

If anyone can give me some advice about the project I'd really appreciate it.

 

Check out the welding/fabrication section. Search there, I think I may have seen a few how to's on welding for beginners.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/welding-fabrication-53/

 

i can say from experience that learning to weld on sheet metal sucks. i did nothing but burn holes and cause a mess haha. i had a friend take over and do it right. since then ive gotten decent at mig. i wish i could explain better for you but i dont really know the terms to explain it right. i just learn stuff by doing.

 

I always wanted to learn to weld but i found out the best way is too find a school or find someone who have many years of experience with it like a shop. I saying this because it will save you tons of problem with types of welding machines to go with and avoid the wrong technic of welding. Be very aware that welding is very dangerous because you can seriously be injure. Here something you should know about it that read. Or you can read this: http://www.wikihow.com/Weld

• Welding machines can be dangerous. Read all warnings and take every measure to ensure the safety of you and those around you. Do not weld near something that can catch fire (don't weld up a fuel tank).
  • Do not look at the arc without the proper dark lens designed for welding. Dark shade lens are available from #2 shade, somewhere near sunglasses,to at least a #14 which is very dark for higher amperage welding. The lower number dark lens are suitable for gas welding and cutting. The #10 dark lens is an average starting point for arc welding (any process which uses an arc to weld is ARC WELDING). Everyone's eyes are different. One dark lens may not be dark enough or light enough for someone else.
• The intense light will damage your eyes; "arc eye" is an extremely unpleasant malady. Having your eyes burned is like having sun burn on the skin. Arc light burn to the eyes may cause blistering. These small water blisters on the eyeball are ruptured when the eyelid moves (blinking). This exposes raw meat to the atmosphere. Hence, the comparison to feeling like hot salt has been rubbed into the eyes. Scar tissue forms as the eyes heal . Serious or repeated burns can create enough scar tissue to cause blindness.
• If, for some reason, the eyes are arc burned, do not use a product to "get the red out". The blood vessels of an injured eye will dilate to allow more blood to flow. More blood brings healing anti bodies and oxygen. There is a product that is man made tears. Tears help to sooth and cure burned eyes.
• Never use raw potatoes on burned eyes. The potatoes may contain infectious bacteria. A sterile cold compress will help remove the heat and some burning sensations without introducing harmful germs.
• Have someone around you to watch what you are doing, and to make sure you are being safe. However, they should not watch the light.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy, a bucket of water, sand, garden hose or something to put out a fire.
• On inexpensive arc welders, you need to watch the duty cycle. That means welding for more than a specified time at a certain amperage will damage the equipment. Most smaller cheaper welding machines have 20% duty cycle. This is defined as the machine can be used to weld for 2 minutes out of 10 minutes. The eight minutes allows the machine to cool. The higher the duty cycle the longer the welding time. Larger machines have 60% duty cycle. This is 6 minutes out of 10 minutes can be used for welding. 4 minutes for cooling.
• DO NOT wear tennis shoes, frayed clothes, pants with cuffs or a shirt with open pockets.
• Darwin Award nominees wear Tee shirts and roll up shirt sleeves to expose the skin while welding. Cancer warning! Welding light can cause cancer, just like good old sunshine. Welding generates ultraviolet, infra red and visible light.
• Light colored clothing allows the light to penetrate to the skin. Dark clothing must be worn to absorb the light.

 

"Never use raw potatoes on burned eyes. The potatoes may contain infectious bacteria. A sterile cold compress will help remove the heat and some burning sensations without introducing harmful germs."

Good point

 

Thin metal is going to be much harder to weld with a cheaper welder that doesn't have as many adjustments. PRACTICE and practice more on some scrap of the same gauge before you weld on your car. It will be very easy to just blow right through the metal...

 

thats the first time ive ever seen not to use raw potatoes. but i learned from old school welders. idk.

ive personally had welders flash. worst feeling in the world waking up in the middle of the night with your eyes slammed shut feeling like a bucket of sand is in them.

 

Always wear a mask. I was taught from old schoolers that just shut their eyes. Go to a bodyshop or a junkyard to get wrecked hoods, deck lids, etc. Sometimes they will give them to you for free, other times they will charge a small amount. Cut out sections. Take those items and practice, practice, practice. That's the only way to become a good welder. Practice bead and spot welds. On thinner metal IMO spot welds are better, but practice both. In time you will get it. And yes, masks do suck, but not as bad as being blind.