Tools Every Welder Needs
It does not matter if you are a certified welder or a DIY fanatic, these are some tools you do not want to weld without. Each one of these tools will greatly increase your efficiency.
The small hands down tools each welder must have are the following:
- Pliers with dual function, capable of cutting as well
- A grinder to get a nice weld connection, also a cutting disk
- A metal sander for a nice finish or to prepare to paint
- A tape measure
- A right angle ruler
- Welding Gloves
- Welding mask
- An extension cord
Without getting into all the different types of welding machines, we will only be separating welder needs into a stationary setup vs a mobile one.
Keep in mind that the tools in a mobile setup are still nice to have in a stationary setup. The tools for the mobile setup are deemed the most important tools to carry around.
Mobile Welding Setup:
- Right off the bat, your biggest friend when talking about a mobile welding station is your cart in which you will be moving your welding machine and all your tools
- You will want to have a vice clamp on your station, not only to help you hold things, but because it may be able to help bend some rods in a pinch. These rods can work as temporary helping hands, they are perfect when you are out in a job, and have no one around to help you out. What you will do is bend these rods to fit whatever way you want to hold or apply pressure to something, and apply them by adding a tic tac of weld on each to hold it in place. These can be taken off quite easily with a hammer, and any marks left over can be taken off with a 2-3 second pass with the grinder or couple one to a couple of hits with a chisel
- A fire extinguisher is mandatory, and inexpensive compared to the alternative of letting a fire run free.
- You will want to carry a fire mat with you, it does not need to be big. You will only use it when working next to something that is flammable, this is anything within 6ft away. Anything further is less likely to burn, and in worst case scenario, that is why you carry a fire extinguisher
The main difference between a mobile and stationary setup, is that a stationary setup permits you to have something which takes up more space. Over time you will notice your stationary setup, will become closer to everything you need to fabricate metal parts from scratch. While it is beneficial to have these things, they are not actually part of the welding process so they will not be included in the setup.
Stationary Welding Setup:
- Clamps are nearly essential to ensure you have accurate welds and allows you to work in comfort by not having to worry about you moving around the piece you are working on
- Some type of helping hand, can be magnetized, home made, or a clamp hand system
- Whether it is on the move or at home, a vice clamp is a must. It is sturdier that an ordinary clamp and its application is more versatile
Unique Tools, optional but efficient:
- An alternative can be using the magnetized right angle, but they will not be as versatile
- Tomato, it may sound like a joke but i can assure you the day you get burned it will be a life saver, and yes you will get burned. The skin area that is burned gets something blister like, filled with pus. It will sting, but the real hindrance is the healing process will take about 2.5-3 weeks. If you apply the tomato to the burn, and keep it on it, it will not only ease the pain, but it absorbs the puss. Approximately on the 3rd you will not feel a thing anymore. or similar cream effect carry around just in case-A
- You should absolutely buy a head cap for welding. The welding mask covers you from most of the sparks, but occasionally you get a spark land on top of your head, and your hair will burn. Not entirely, but enough to the degree that you will be able to smell hair being burned
- Sure a standard welding mask is enough to weld, but using one with a dimmer with variable lighting is a world of difference. The standard mask will cause you to keep lifting up your mask to see the next spot you will weld, since it is too dark to see anything until the sparks are flying. With variable dimming glass, you can adjust it so you can also see when your machine is also off and have protection from the light while welding
- Some type of water spray bottle, during a welding project where time is of an issue, you do not have the luxury of waiting for the parts to cool down to move them around. Just spray some water on the previous weld, 2 sprays will be enough to cool it down by the time you put the bottle down