Welder World Blog

Archive for November, 2009

What is the best way to become trained as a certified welder? I want a certificate that actually means something. Something that will actually get me a job.

plastic planter {GROW BOX}

Cost to replace=$29.95 plus + $5.05 FOR S&H TOTAL $35.

Cost to repair using a mini-weld model 6 Airless plastic welder. 3 welding rods .12 CENTS EACH, stainless steel mesh .15 CENTS, 3 inches of fiber flex welding rod .13 CENTS. 

TOTAL COST OF REPAIR=.64 CENTS.

WITH A PLASTIC WELDER, I WAS ABLE TO SAVE $34.36.

  1) Work area

Make sure work area is clean and well ventilated. Identify plastic- You need to know what kind of plastic it is. So that you can use the right plastic welding rod. In most cases there will be a mark on the part that will tell you what kind of plastic it is, but in this cases there was no mark on part. We will work on this in step 3. Turn plastic welder to preheat before going to step 2. This will allow the plastic welder to heat up how you’re cleaning and setting up the plastic planter.

2) Parts to be welded

Clean parts with soap and water. Let dry or towel dry Set parts up for welding.  If there are broken pieces try to put back together using tape to hold them until ready to weld. Try to make sure that the cracks are flat and even before welding. 

3) Set the plastic welder to the correct heat setting for the plastic being welded.

Since we don’t know what kind of plastic we are working with. We will have to try different welding rods to see which one will hold the best. PP and Fiber-Flex plastic welding rods held the best. So these are the rods I used for this repair.

4) Weld the plastic together.

Using the edge of the welder go along the crack and make a groove. Use the PP welding rod fill in the groove.  Let the heat do all the work don’t force it.  Just melt the filler rod into the groove. If you think that you’ll need added strength at the weld you can use stainless steel mesh.  Just heat the mesh up and the plastic will form around the mesh where you can’t see it. Don’t try to weld the whole piece at once.  Just work on about a 1 inch to 2 inch at a time. If plastic gets to hot and starts to deform cool it off with water and start welding again.

5) When finished welding

Turn the welder off and let cool. Let the welded part cool. You can use a rag with water to help cool it off faster. When part is cool. You can start to finish the weld. I use 60 grit sand paper then go to 180 grit sand paper to make the plastic smooth. Now because the plastic does not match this is your option.

                      A) The part can be painted any color you want.  Just get paint for plastic.

                       B) You will not be able to see the part that is black because you will be adding dirt to the box and this will cover it.

6) Let the paint dry and start using your grow box!

My Fiance wants a new welder for Christmas and im clueless. Someone said a stick and arc are the same, is that true? Also I’m on a budget so if they pretty much work the same but one runs cheaper let me know, Thank you!

How do you train to be proficient in all the types of welding. Can you learn on the job or do you have do an apprenticeship?
What are the main employers? Is there much international work available?

I got the welder in a trade and it came with flux core wire in it but doesn’t weld worth a dang.Is the the problem with it?Does it have to have gas?

My husband would like to know how do you become a welder without joining the army?

I mean except for being underwater ,are the other kinds of welding different in the amounts of physical exertion . Also do you think someone who is not very strong- physical person can do some of this work ?

My friend ask me to do this for him. He is just wondering because he is thinking about it. He is still in college for regular classes for a welder. But what else would it take to become an AFB Welder? and How much does one make a year?

I have a Welder that requires a 230 V 25 Amp power source and wanted a Generator that could supply that without going over board in price or excess power.

I have a lincoln welder (flux core 100 weld pack hd) and i bought hobart wire for it, .035, just like my welder takes, is that going to be a problem at all?