Aldi Arc Welder

Just a heads up, Aldi this week are selling little arc welder for $99

55-130A, can take 2 to 3.2mm electrodes. I just bought it, gonna try it out on the weekend. Practicing on a few bits of scrap metal laying around the house.

I've never arc welded before before, although I've read up on the technique of how to arc weld ( http://www.aussieweld.com.au/arcwelding/ ) I done oxy welding though.

Eventually I'd like to be able to do my own intakes without a piece of silicone joiner after every pipe bend and straight.

Anyone have any tips they'd like to share

Cheers
Chris

[Kryton]

let us know how the welder goes.
i seen them in the cataloge but wasnt really sure about how good they would be.

Originally Posted by davway

let us know how the welder goes.
i seen them in the cataloge but wasnt really sure about how good they would be.

Will do.

I know its not going to be the ducks guts and everyone says buy the best tools money can buy, but if you were only to use them a few times a year a cheapie would be the better buy.

[3Toed]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

I know its not going to be the ducks guts and everyone says buy the best tools money can buy, but if you were only to use them a few times a year a cheapie would be the better buy.

I agree. I'm thinking of getting one also. It's cheap and if it does the job a few times a year then great. It'll make up for the cost of hiring one if you need it.

[MO]

OK yes you get what you pay for....but might I suggest you do a welding course at TAFE...the hobby one will give all the basic prac...etc.

[Qwikcorty]

intakes welded out of mild exhaust tubing?
the best way ive found to arc weld them up for piping is with many small runs, or tacks. So it wont heat up the steel and blow through. it wont need much more than a sanding disc afterwards once you have had some practice.

[rushing on acid]

just wear a bloody weldng mask and it will save you alot of pain when you dont get flash burn! i stress this because i did some arc welding a couple of years ago and it bloody hurts and it is very uncomfortable! so please wear a mask and dont try the look away trick because thats how i got flash burn.

Originally Posted by rushing on acid

just wear a bloody weldng mask and it will save you alot of pain when you dont get flash burn! i stress this because i did some arc welding a couple of years ago and it bloody hurts and it is very uncomfortable! so please wear a mask and dont try the look away trick because thats how i got flash burn.

The welder comes with a mask, with protective glass and actual welding filter glass. Also plan for gloves, and a mechanics 1 piece suit.

Also has a ghey wire brush and slag hammer in one.

Thanks of the tip.

[fmc351]

Get an auto darkening helmet. Its hard to strike the arc without sticking if you cant see it. You can do it, Ive done it many times, but if youve never arc welded before, you will be sticking the stick welder endlessly, or welding places you dont want to weld.

Biggest drama with the cheapo welders is not simply durability and poor duty times, but the amps fluctuate alot during welding. They are OK for the purpose, but watch for the amps.

[normxb]

1/ "Long Pants" I used to wear shorts occasionally in summer , it's worse than sunburn on the shins.

2/ Pants "outside boots/shoes" , Dads cousin was welding one winter in "Wellies" , a piece of slag went down the boot and the harder he tried to pull off his boot the more he got burnt , sounds silly , but it happens .

3/ Ahhh , no bare feet , because you always stand on what you've just welded or on the "splatter" . (learnt that early when I was 12-13 welding my billycart ? ? ?)

4/ NEVER in a small shed , outside if you can , a few sheds have been burnt down around here because of welding & Angle Grinding

[knighto42]

Originally Posted by fmc351

Get an auto darkening helmet. Its hard to strike the arc without sticking if you cant see it. You can do it, Ive done it many times, but if youve never arc welded before, you will be sticking the stick welder endlessly, or welding places you dont want to weld.

Biggest drama with the cheapo welders is not simply durability and poor duty times, but the amps fluctuate alot during welding. They are OK for the purpose, but watch for the amps.

I agree with both the comments above - an auto darkening helmet for the inexperienced welder is gold. Coming down in price too. (http://www.discountwelding.com.au/pr...oducts_id=3792) I bought one of these a couple of weeks back and it seems pretty good.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by normxb

4/ NEVER in a small shed , outside if you can , a few sheds have been burnt down around here because of welding & Angle Grinding

Id be more worried about the fumes you're breathing in when welding in a small shed.

[normxb]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Id be more worried about the fumes you're breathing in when welding in a small shed.

It's mainly single car garages , guys pull the car out & start welding in the shed , they don't think about the mower fuel and any other combustable material lying about . A spark can start smouldering , then 1/2 hour later the sheds on fire. :

If I ever weld in the shed (3 car size), the back & front doors are always open , BUT if I'm welding anything that's "galvanised" it's always out side . The fumes that come off that are a killer.. :

[rag top]

Don't forget to make sure the kids aren't watching you weld either...

[Jason[98.EL]]

im a boilermaker welder by trade and all those tips that were given are 99% right

just get yourself some welding gauntlets that go half way up your arms this will help with the spatter that gets you on the arm

as for the welder i had a look at them the other day and they are actually a neat little welder you cant go wrong with it for small to medium welding jobs

blackls if you have anymore questions pm me

jason