I am in the process of welding brackets to my Scrambler for nerf bars. Problem is I have never welded before and "it ain't sticking"!!! I bought an arc-welder and all it seems to do is make drops of metal stick to one piece or the other... but not both!

Please help and give me some pointers...

Thanks, Brian

 

Some things to look for...
Both metals must be the same kind, high carbon.
Both metals must be free of paint, grease and dirt, completely bare.
Both metals must be touching, no gaps.
If all that is so, sounds like your not hot enough.
Hope that helped some...

 

What if there is still some "welding" material leaft on one of the pieces. I cut the foorboard supports off and there was some leaft there. I grinded it to a shine to get rid of the paint... still no effect.

I just tried boosting the amps...is the "stick" supposed to melt evenly or kind of clumpy-like?

Thanks again BLH

 

Come on man!!

Practice on scrap metal until you get the hang of it.

 

Chris...been there done that! It just won't seem to stick right.

Maybe when I am 30 sticks in... I will get the hang of it!

 

Have you considered a MIG welder? If your frame and brackets are mild steel, it's a good way to go. If you were here, I'd let you use mine.

 

Didn't want to spend 500$...an Arc welder was only 139$...wish I was there!

 

I did the same thing....Bought a Arc welder and went for it. After a little practice I could make some good welds and some bad ones too.

You might be moving too fast,go slow and let everything melt together.

 

Any reputable auto body shop should have one, and could probably do it for you in just minutes. Too bad you don't have a buddy who works at a garage...

 

My riding buddy (Zorro) does have a mig. I just thought it would be fun to learn for myself for future projects too.