Learning to weld

[Vimes]

Thanks for the tips. I'll see about picking up some solid wire, and will go find a tank of shielding gas. I'll also pick up thinner wire and the appropriate tips. I wasn't going to bother with an auto-darkening helmet but I'll rethink that. The copper heat sink and extra lights are great ideas as well. I'll report back on the results next week depending on weather.

[Vimes]

And the results are in - BZZZZZZZZT! Can't find a bottle to buy near, and the only ones for rent are huge industrial-type bottles, so I'm going to have to ship one in. In the meantime, decided to give flux core another try and all the store I was at had was a small roll of .035. Everything I've read on welding says if you can do a halfway decent job with flux that you can do a great job with shielded solid, so since I'm having to wait another week or two anyway I may as well get a little more practice in.

When the bottle arrives I'll get it filled with argon/CO2 and pick up the thinner solid wire for another shot.