How to ARC Weld Fence Panels

Welded fence

Rather than border your yard with bamboo, you can arc weld fence panels cheaply and effectively. Arc welders, which are readily available in many hardware and home stores, use an electric wire feed system that is easier to maneuver for the amateur than their gasoline-powered cousins.

Things You'll Need

• Arc welder
• Goggles
• Face mask
• Gloves
• Proper clothing
• Clamps

Instructions

1. Prepare your panels. Scrape away any paint, rust, grime and any other coating that makes it difficult to get directly at the metal panel. Use sandpaper, a stiff, metal welding brush and cleaner to get the panels shiny and ready for use.

2. Prepare yourself. Any type of welding should be done with goggles, a face protector so you don't breathe in the harmful vapors, heavy duty gloves to prevent burns and appropriate clothing. Don't sit around welding in your underwear. Wear long pants, long sleeves, shoes and socks for best protection.

3. Adjust the settings on the welder. Pick the proper heat and speed setting based on the thickness of your panels. Thicker panels will need a hotter setting and quicker feed speed. Thinner panels will melt all the way through if your settings are too hot. Experiment on a scrap piece of the same material or a corner of the panel until the settings suit your needs.

4. Attach panels together. Use a clamp to attach each panel to the item to which you are welding it. You need only worry about the single panel you are welding at the moment. The heat will cause the panels to move apart, so make sure they are flush and very secure.

5. Weld to meld. Clamp you arc welder's clamp as closely as possible to the spot you are welding. Make sure the panels are touching the ground so you create a current that will not use you as a conduit. Hold the tip at roughly a 45 degree angle or less and slowly drag along the area you want welded while pressing down on the button that feeds the wire.

Tips & Warnings

• Welding supplies are sold at most hardware and home stores. If your weld is coming out gloppy, with the beady stuff called slag, adjust the angle of the tip higher. If your weld is eating through the metal, quicken your own welding speed and lower the heat. Welding is not learned in one sitting with a single fence panel. Practice regularly on scrap metal until you have perfected your skills.

• Make sure your household current can handle the power needed for the welder or you'll end up blowing a fuse. Make sure you let the welder rest between applications. The welder's instructions will tell you the ratio of rest time to working time needed so you don't overheat the unit. Do not weld next to anything flammable, combustible or electrical. Do not weld next to your dog.