I would like to buy some steel that I can practice welding with does anyone have any ideas where to procure?

2/21/2013 5:51:23 PM

Machine shops usually have a ton of scrap parts and drops they keep around just incase, most would charge a small amount to help recoup their cost for the material. For practice welding and free scrap I'd say the easiest would be an indy auto shop, usually tons of old scrap metal laying around of various grades and structures to test your skillz.

2/21/2013 6:12:33 PM

i usually have some scrap around. in fact, i think we have a whole exhaust you can cut up and reweld if you want.

2/21/2013 9:31:04 PM

...learn to prep & butt-weld exhaust tubing, and you'll have a good start.



fwiw, here's how I approach my welding technique (order of importance):

1.) workpiece prep
2.) welder settings, including electrode/filler selection
3.) method (j-pattern, weave, figure-8's)


P.S. - i'm just a hobbyist

2/22/2013 7:45:02 AM

That backhalved his own truck and races it.

2/22/2013 8:12:49 AM

I think the welder itself plays a pretty crucial role in it as well. A $100 flux core machine from harbor freight wont do anything but frustrate you. The wirespeed wont be constant, flux core sucks ass, and it likely wont have enough power to actually stick anything together anyway.

At the very least get a name brand machine.

[Edited on February 22, 2013 at 8:32 AM. Reason : fggfdgfd]

2/22/2013 8:32:41 AM

ha, man, most of those are bubblegum welds.

FWIW, the going rate for carbon steel is $0.40-$0.50/# depending on material type. Scrap yards are only paying $0.09-$0.12/# - so find a happy medium between the two if they ask you to pay for it.

2/22/2013 8:38:36 AM

We've debated this several times, but I'm VERY happy with the Northern Tool 125amp fluxcore machine I have. I paid $75 NEW for it from Craigslist and couldnt be happier for that price.

Is flux-core messy? Yes.

Does it do the job for most things around the house? Yes.

Obviously I wouldnt trust it for welding together a chassis for a tube-framed rock crawler, but for light duty, it's worth every penny.

I've ran about 6lbs of wire through mine and it's worked like a champ.



[Edited on February 22, 2013 at 10:05 AM. Reason : http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200403263_200403263]

2/22/2013 9:58:23 AM

so does anyone have a good place to get plate and tube? I have the same question.

2/27/2013 12:54:52 PM

scrap or new stock?

New:
- Ryerson, Benco, Namasco, Phoenix are the big distributors (not sure if they sell to the public)
- the local 4x4 places should have some stock to sell piece-wise (search vendors on nc4x4.com)

2/27/2013 1:16:17 PM