Deciding to start out in the welding and metal working industry is a great choice of career path and a challenging, fun and addictive skill to learn as a hobby, too.

But what do you need to get started?

With so many products available on the market, we've cherry picked a handful of key items you might want to consider adding to your welding and metal working shopping list. All items are available from the Rapid Welding website, just follow the links for more detailed information and full specification. Alternatively, feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements in person: Tel. 02392 214214 or Email: webenquiries@rapidwelding.com

Multi-Process Welder

Choosing your preferred welding method isn't easy when starting out, and unless you're looking for a process specific unit such as an AC/DC Tig welder or MIG welding machine, then a great all-round multi-process welder covers all bases. The beauty of multi-process is that it can operate several different welding styles from one unit, such as MIG, TIG, STICK or flux-core, meaning you can learn different types of welding without needing to invest in multiple welding machines.

Probably the best multi-process welder on the market and a sound investment is the Fronius TranSteel 2200c. Robust, reliable and lightweight, the TransSteel 2200c is a compact, multiprocess-capable solution bringing together MMA, MIG/MAG and TIG in a single device. 

Rapid Welding stocks a wide range of welding machines from quality brands such as Lincoln Electric, Esab and Kemppi, for which we are approved suppliers. Top tip: When you view any welding machine on the Rapid Welding website, you can also click on 'buy parts' to see associated items such as wire, torches and contact tips relating to the specific machine.

PPE  

Obviously protective gear is a must.

High on your list of priorities should be the best quality welding helmet your budget will allow. A great example would be the ever popular Optrel Crystal auto-darkening welding helmet, offering a practically unclouded and clear view of your working environment. The correct helmet should provide complete protection, from flying materials to blinding lights as well as being right for your chosen welding application. We understand that selecting a welding helmet comes down to many factors including personal preference, so to help you make your choice we have put together a useful Welding Helmet Guide, so you can make sure your safety is never compromised.  

As well as welding helmets, Rapid also offers a full complement of safety-wear and equipment. Consider purchasing a pair of quality welding gloves, such as our best selling Ultima Gold Tig Gauntlet or the Red/Gold Premium Gauntlet.

Safety glasses like the Esab Warrior clear UV safety specs are also a worthwhile and inexpensive addition to your kit. 

While we're on the subject of safety, it might be worth looking into appropriate fume extraction. The Plymovent PHV - Portable High Vacuum - Welding Fume Extractor is fully mobile and compact enough for small workshops, garages or confined spaces.

Consumables  

Most people have a grinder these days, it's just one of those things you pick up while shopping, isn't it? But what about consumables? We stock a large range of abrasive products such as the great value 3M Cubitron Fibre discs; perfect for stainless and available in any size to suit your grinder. In fact, we have a whole section dedicated to all things consumable related, including MIG and TIG wire, flux and rods.  

Welding Table

The Nomad economy welding table is engineered to provide a safe, transportable, affordable and versatile welding surface. Ideal for small workshops or garages, the Nomad can be set up wherever you're working so you can bring your table to your work, not your work to your table. This excellent value welding table is also height adjustable for comfort.

Learning Your Trade

Finally, you could consider purchasing some welding reading material. Whether you're a complete beginner or a more experienced welder wishing to hone your skills, we have a great selection of books offering practical and comprehensive guides to welding projects, design ideas and day-to-day applications such as farm and workshop welding. 

Happy Shopping 

The MobilePro - Perfect for removing welding fumes when working in confined spaces and areas difficult to reach.

As successor to the MobileOne, the Plymovent MobilePro offers flexible, self cleaning solutions for mobile welding fume extraction - designed with the professional welder in mind.

Thoughtfully built with rigid metal housing and swivel castors for ease of movement, the MobilePro features a powerful 1,1 kW (1.5 Hp) extraction fan, a SilentFlow duct free silencer - a sound absorbing box keeping the integrated fan noise levels to a minimum, and self-cleaning Ram-Air pulse amplifier delivering improved cleaning, longer cartridge life, reduced pressure loss and overall lower operational costs.

Suitable for heavy duty welding applications, MIG, MAG, TIG, GMAW, FCAW and stick electrode welding, the MobilePro is designed so that Plymovent’s extraction arms - the 3 and 4 metre KUA and Economy Arm, can be attached in order reach the necessary length. 

As a highly respected sales and service company, keen to bring the latest products to our customers, Rapid are proud to be suppliers of Plymovent products, and we are delighted to have the MobilePro available NOW!

To view this product on our website in more detail, please click HERE.

As always, our product specialist Andy is readily available to answer your questions via telephone or online. Click on the Rapid link above to find the online chat facility, or call the office on 02392 214214 and just ask for Andy.

 Please follow this link to visit the Plymovent website.

In the Business of Keeping Welders Welding

Welcome To The Rapid Experience

More than anything we love meeting our customers needs & supplying them with the products and equipment they really need to make their work area ... 'work great'.

Most recently, Danielle, who owns Danielle Joy Designs and is one of our customers based in Spanaway, Washington USA, very kindly sent in some pictures of the new Plymovent Arm supplied by Rapid, as a thank you for working with them.

Founded in 2011 as a hobby, Danielle designs and creates wonderful collections of hand made jewellery and ornaments, working with husband Andrew who cuts and produces most of the metal discs.

Check out these great pictures below, courtesy of Danielle and Andrew. Thanks guys, we're loving your work!

www.daniellejoydesigns.com

For more information on Plymovent or other products supplied by Rapid, click here 

Plymovent Diluter - For a Cleaner, Healthier Work Environment

Suitable ventilation and air cleaning solutions are a must to protect employees and sensitive equipment from welding fumes. 

The Diluter from Plymovent is a stand alone air cleaning solution designed for light to medium welding processes and developed to reduce and control the background concentration of welding fumes in a workshop. First introduced in 2006, the function works by cleaning air and recirculating it back into the work environment without causing drafts at work level, and is an excellent choice if source extraction and hoods are not an option. Targeting welding fumes, the Diluter's nozzles can be rotated to optimise airflow and minimise the concentration of fumes in the workplace, immediately noticeable as the visual 'blue layer' disappears. As well as  having a low energy consumption, thus saving costs, adjustments can be made to the Diluters height, speed and direction of blow. It doesn’t require ducting, meaning it can be moved around the work place to suit multiple layouts and applications, making it a flexible option for you welders on the move. 

Benefits at a glance: 

• Reduction of the background concentration of welding fumes
• Continuous purification of (polluted) air
• Energy saving; recirculation of expensively heated or cooled air
• Stand alone unit; no ductwork required
• Suits almost any work environment
• Easy to install 

Rapid is an official distributer for Plymovent solutions. For more information and specifics, call or connect online with our lovely Andy on: (0)23 92 214 214 or for more information and to view the product click HERE.

For more information on Plymovent solutions, visit their website: http://www.plymovent.com/int-en/solutions/welding_fumes/fume_extraction_solutions/diluter_system.aspx  

Plymovent Fume Extraction Solutions Now Available From Rapid

Visible and invisible air pollutants such as welding fumes are a hazard to people's health, and total fume extraction is often only achievable using a collaboration of methods, including adequate ventilation, personal protection, and a full risk assessment of the application and welding process being used. 

Rapid Welding is now an authorised distributor for Plymovent Ltd, a 'major global player that supplies products, systems and services for air extraction and filtration'. With health and safety at the forefront in every workplace, Plymovent products provide engineered solutions for achieving emission free conditions and safe working environments.  

Here's a look at just some of the Plymovent products available from Rapid - just click on the link beneath the picture for more information.

Plymovent Mobile Fume Extractors  

Plymovent Extraction Arm

Spark Arrester: provides near to 100% protection against sparks and cigarette butts   

Rapid supplies a variety of effective fume extraction solutions by Plymovent, including flexible extraction arms to capture fumes at source, mobile fume filters for extra flexibility around various workplaces and extraction workbenches ideal for welding booths, so please take a look online or call for more information.

Useful Links & More Info 

As always, our product specialist, Andy, is available to discuss your specific requirements, so feel free get in touch online (Live chat link is at the top of the page) or give him a bell on +44 (0)23 92 214 214. He's always happy to take your call.

Here's the full range of Plymovent products available from Rapid  

And for more information on Plymovent, here's the link to their official website. 

Happy - and safe - welding!