practice projects

[sparkys83yota]

Ok. So I just got my first welder. A lincoln 180. Also got a plasma and all the tools I need to start realy learning to weld. My first project was to make a cart. It came out ok. My welding still needs a lot of work before I try working on a rig. So my question is this. What kind of things have people built for practacle use around their house that are good things to learn on? My next project is going to be a welding table. I have a buddy who works at a local steel yard so I ge5ta next to nothing price on any and all scrap. Any ideas???

[junya92toy]

Coffee table, end table, hanging pot rack, garden art, wine racks, candle holders etc
Do some t joints, weld one side only and break, look at the weld, see how it breaks, it will tell you what kind of fusion you are getting

[sparkys83yota]

It didnt break. It folded in half on itself bending the metal underneath the. Can I cut it to see penetration?

[Wainiha]

Pictures would be appreciated from someone else who needs to learn.  Thanks.

[junya92toy]

It didnt break. It folded in half on itself bending the metal underneath the. Can I cut it to see penetration?

you either bend it the wrong way or welded both sides.
and yes you can cut it too

[yotaboy79]

you either bend it the wrong way or welded both sides.
and yes you can cut it too

A weld with good penetration that is allowed to cool naturally will not usually break if anything it will tear the base metal in the heat affected zone. If you want to break it quench it in a bucket of water right after welding one side and bend it towards the weld, it will break fairly easily. That is also a good lesson on why you let your work cool naturally...   

[junya92toy]

Yes it will break, it breaks quite easy, it can either break the weld or tear off the base metal. If its a t joint, welded one side, or any one sided weld for that matter, we do this when putting on temp braces when welding  out actually pieces, so they can be removed quickly and easily. I have done hundreds of tests of welds as well.

[sparkys83yota]

I got it to break. Ill try to post some pics. In the meantime I fabricated myself a nice workbench for the garage. I am having a lot of fun with this thing. I am trying all different things on my projects. Pushing the puddle, pulling it, verticle up and down, playing with the heat and wire speed. Thinking I am going to take a local city college course before I unknowingly pick up too many bsd habits. Its kind of addicting.

[TimberlineBryce]

Awesome! i took the city college class and it was definatly worth it i had already been welding for a few years and i still learned a lot!!

[907yota]

Make a coffe table out of a scrap 22re block if you have one I think it would be a cool conversation peice