Welding

[Campervan_man]

I've never welded before. I have an oldish 1995 Box Van converted into a camper.
It has been red leaded underneath from new BUT the mild steel framed / ply lined Belly Lockers hadn't been red leaded so were rusty.
One Belly Locker housed 2 heavy batteries so I wanted to renew the angle Iron 'just incase' the angle iron failed.
I saw a local welder and We agreed a price and a date to renew the frame.
I removed the old frame and plywood.
long story short. The welder let Me down on the day { said He didn't have any metal - Yeah that's what I thought }
I decided to buy a little welding Machine:-
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=264250507121
I scoured Youtube for welding knowledge.
I have now reconstucted 3 belly lockers with NEW angle Iron and Plywood.
I quite enjoyed the welding experience.
It's called Arc Welding OR Stick welding.
The Welding machine was really good.
I wouldn't say that I am the best welder in the world but the angle iron is now solidly joined.
You need to wear a welding VISOR mask to prevent 'arc eye', bright light damage to your eyes and thick welding gloves.
On one occasion a little spark did make it's way down My ear like when Luke skywalker shot at the Deathstar planet while I lay under the van but I survived to weld again.
Thanks Youtube.

 

[tofo]

I've never welded before. I have an oldish 1995 Box Van converted into a camper.
It has been red leaded underneath from new BUT the mild steel framed / ply lined Belly Lockers hadn't been red leaded so were rusty.
One Belly Locker housed 2 heavy batteries so I wanted to renew the angle Iron 'just incase' the angle iron failed.
I saw a local welder and We agreed a price and a date to renew the frame.
I removed the old frame and plywood.
long story short. The welder let Me down on the day { said He didn't have any metal - Yeah that's what I thought }
I decided to buy a little welding Machine:-
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=264250507121
I scoured Youtube for welding knowledge.
I have now reconstucted 3 belly lockers with NEW angle Iron and Plywood.
I quite enjoyed the welding experience.
It's called Arc Welding OR Stick welding.
The Welding machine was really good.
I wouldn't say that I am the best welder in the world but the angle iron is now solidly joined.
You need to wear a welding VISOR mask to prevent 'arc eye', bright light damage to your eyes and thick welding gloves.
On one occasion a little spark did make it's way down My ear like when Luke skywalker shot at the Deathstar planet while I lay under the van but I survived to weld again.
Thanks Youtube.

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Many years ago as a 14/15 year old schoolboy
myself and a friend wanted a tandem bicycle

we asked the metalwork teacher
if we could weld two cycles together
yes he said the kits over there

we welded the frames together over
a week or so including preparation time

trouble is we didn’t listen to the instruction
use the welding masks we heard the one
welding uses the mask
the one watching didn’t need to WRONG

we both ended up with arc eye
and walked about school with sunglasses for a fortnight
and being the Roy Orbison twins

trust me it’s uncomfortable it’s like your eyes are full of sand and vinigar

and in later years I was welding gas mains together in central london

 

[pappajohn]

I can second the pain of arc-eye.
The little bloke that lives in your head is cleaning the back of your eyeball.... With a wire brush and salt water to wash the bits away....
Takes a week or two to recover.

 

[Enword]

Some bloke said boastfully to me "I've had arc eye several time's mate" my reply didn't go down well "you either never had arc eye or your a bloody idiot" Been welding for 50 years in march & only had it the once, never again.

 

[MANGOFORTH]

Yeah my old boss boasted to me he'd had it several times ?. Ive never had it. If i even look at a watery eye it makes me feel weird ?

Also *Machzoneman* i built my truck using a ROHR welder. Think they are Chinese but have a UK shop down on the South Coast. Can't fault them ?? glad you enjoyed the job

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[tonyidle]

I've never welded before. I have an oldish 1995 Box Van converted into a camper.
It has been red leaded underneath from new BUT the mild steel framed / ply lined Belly Lockers hadn't been red leaded so were rusty.
One Belly Locker housed 2 heavy batteries so I wanted to renew the angle Iron 'just incase' the angle iron failed.
I saw a local welder and We agreed a price and a date to renew the frame.
I removed the old frame and plywood.
long story short. The welder let Me down on the day { said He didn't have any metal - Yeah that's what I thought }
I decided to buy a little welding Machine:-
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=264250507121
I scoured Youtube for welding knowledge.
I have now reconstucted 3 belly lockers with NEW angle Iron and Plywood.
I quite enjoyed the welding experience.
It's called Arc Welding OR Stick welding.
The Welding machine was really good.
I wouldn't say that I am the best welder in the world but the angle iron is now solidly joined.
You need to wear a welding VISOR mask to prevent 'arc eye', bright light damage to your eyes and thick welding gloves.
On one occasion a little spark did make it's way down My ear like when Luke skywalker shot at the Deathstar planet while I lay under the van but I survived to weld again.
Thanks Youtube.

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Just don't be fooled by the rather neat coating of flux. The chipping hammer is your friend .

 

[olley]

Golden eye ointment used to be the go to stuff is it still about?

 

[The Wino]

Golden eye ointment used to be the go to stuff is it still about?

There is something called golden eye ointment but it's totally different to the old stuff which used to contain a mercury based medicine no longer allowed!!!!. The new stuff just trades on the well known name its basically the same as brolene eye ointment. It probably doesn't matter too much as the main effect is probably due to the ointment base lubricating the surface. Arc eye is a radiation keratitis the cornea surface gets rough and every time you blink the lid scrapes the surface so it's pretty unpleasant even more so if the abraded surface sticks to the underside of the lid when you're asleep then pulls off when you wake up!!!!! Lubricating is good.

 

[olley]

Some people are more susceptible than others, I have had quite a few flashes but never been effected, welder I worked with years ago one flash and everytime that was it for him.

 

[The Wino]

Some people are more susceptible than others, I have had quite a few flashes but never been effected, welder I worked with years ago one flash and everytime that was it for him.

Not sure about that you could say that it's like sunburn happens to some people more easily than others but as the cornea isn't pigmented it ought to be less variable.

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[Euro330]

Well! now I can talk with experience Lol. I started as a Blacksmith welder at 15yrs old (now 55), when ARC (stick) welding was the method.
TIG and MIG, now TAGS and MAGS and also superceded.
Your ARC eye, put a wet (COLD) used tea bag on your your eyes for a few hours. At this tender age I told my mum about my condition who then whapped a boiling 1 on my peepers. (Bless her)
Useing your arc welder, screw the amperage down on practice metal until you get arcing right , then slowly turn it up till your getting right heat and your weld slag peels up behind your weld like a monkey peeling a bannana.
MAKE SURE you disconnect all batteries because of the voltage or you can do untold damage prior to welding.
BURNS! take the pain.
Next thing when I was 15yrs old, go out with the lads in some of the hardest pubs in Dundee get bladdered and fight with everyone!
Next 13yrs later join the Police and regret the good old days.
Looked your welder up it looks ok. Good amperage for the material your welding.