Learn to Weld with Free Steel / Cheap Offcuts

Ltoristo on 17/11/2022 - 21:01

I've bought a MIG welder and teaching myself to use it (have done stick in the past, and I'm not entirely terrible)

Has anyone ever found good sources of mild steel offcuts that would be suitable for practice? Not fussy if its flat bar, RHS, SHS etc, but just good bits that aren't terribly rusty to improve my bead quality.

Inner West Sydney if that helps with ideas - I've tried Reverse Garbage and The Bower, and loathe the idea of buying new steel, chopping it up to practice on and then throwing away

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • dust on 17/11/2022 - 21:24
    +2

    Industrial dumpster diving?

    • toristo on 19/11/2022 - 08:50

      Big fan of this where you can find the opportunity, but most places are pretty tight now with stopping people from a liability perspective. Sad the amount of good stuff that goes to refuse for no good reason other than threat of liability.

  • CurlCurl on 17/11/2022 - 21:24
    +1

    First link is Marrickville, second is Greenacre.

    https://wolverton-scrap-metals.business.site/?utm_source=gmb…

    https://www.scrapmetalsydney.com/

    • toristo on 19/11/2022 - 08:52

      Just spoke to Wolverton - they said come on down!

      Thanks CurlCurl. Might be what I need.

  • iamherenow on 17/11/2022 - 21:33
    +1

    get yourself flap disc for angle grinder to clean up whatever you have around.

    • D3AB on 18/11/2022 - 09:04

      Yeah this. Then go get scraps out of the bins

    • toristo on 19/11/2022 - 08:47

      Yep, this has been my go to so far :)

  • pegaxs on 17/11/2022 - 21:49
    +2

    Ring a local engineering/fabrication shop and ask if you can raid their scrap metal bin for a few pieces.

  • racer1234 on 17/11/2022 - 22:52

    You could always pick a simple project you actually want to build. Buy new steel. Much nicer to weld. If you are not happy with a weld just grind it out and do it again. You will be pretty good by the end of the welder trolley etc. Just don't try anything critical for your first job.

  • Mechz on 17/11/2022 - 23:14
    +1

    Get a 44gal drum, cut it up and weld it into a BBQ smoker or fire pit.

    Old brake discs from cars could also be useful.

    But scrap is worth money so hard to get decent for free these days.

    • pegaxs on 18/11/2022 - 09:13

      44 gallon drum is dangerous, as most of them have contained flammable liquids, so you have to make sure you take a lot of precautions. Added to that, they are pretty thin and not real easy to learn to weld on

      Also, brake discs are shit. They are usually made of a cast, high carbon steel and are double shit to weld based on these two factors, but would be a lot safer to weld than 44 gallon drums.

  • RockyRaccoon on 18/11/2022 - 07:19

    A few inner west city parks have their junk sculptures, just rip of a few bits, the locals will think the council has invested in some new improved artwork for the locality, win win 😀

    • toristo on 19/11/2022 - 08:49

      Aye! Stop hating on my culture :)

      How do you know I'm not about to produce the next waste of taxpayer money artwork for your local park?

  • singlemalt72 on 18/11/2022 - 08:22
    +3

    I did a deal with an engineering firm in town and took stuff from their scrap bin, returning it after I had done my practice welds so there was no loss to them.

    • toristo on 19/11/2022 - 08:49

      This is a good point. I'd be happy to give it back so they can still sell it for scrap after. Hadn't thought to offer this up.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join