I had the outside corner of a SS socket fitting crack on me at a nuclear plant. came like that from the supplier. I dint notice it at first but the more heat it got the bigger it got. Told the foreman who got the white hats. We were shut down for 3hrs. They pulled every fitting with the same number out of the supply room. Went and inspected every one that was already in the field. They were drain lines. Nukes don't play around. You make sure every weld you do is the best it possibly can be. I had to test for 5 days before I got put in plant, on that job
Best way to learn hobby welding
- Thread starter M6erfan
- Start date
I had the outside corner of a SS socket fitting crack on me at a nuclear plant. came like that from the supplier. I dint notice it at first but the more heat it got the bigger it got. Told the foreman who got the white hats. We were shut down for 3hrs. They pulled every fitting with the same number out of the supply room. Went and inspected every one that was already in the field. They were drain lines. Nukes don't play around. You make sure every weld you do is the best it possibly can be. I had to test for 5 days before I got put in plant, on that job
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
When I first wanted to learn how to weld, I found a welding shop that let me come in one afternoon and one of the older guys showed me stick, mig and tig. I decided for what I wanted to do, mig was the best option and I got a Hobart 140 and started practicing. As mentioned a few times already, I would try to find someone near you that will let you try out the different methods if you have not already.
Harbor Freight makes an inexpensive fold up welding table that many like and would be easy and portable to set up when you wanted to practice. One of my local metal suppliers has beginner welders kits with pre cut 2x4" 1/8th thick steel for practice. You can also order from places like one linked below (Jody from Welding Tips and Tricks channel mentioned them once) and spend more time practicing than cutting and prepping (not that you can't just run or pad beads on larger pieces).
https://www.jflf.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=METAL
I often see for sale ads for folks that wanted to try welding and then decided to sell off their equipment so you may be able to find a good deal on a whole set up (welder, cart, helmet, jacket, etc).
Harbor Freight makes an inexpensive fold up welding table that many like and would be easy and portable to set up when you wanted to practice. One of my local metal suppliers has beginner welders kits with pre cut 2x4" 1/8th thick steel for practice. You can also order from places like one linked below (Jody from Welding Tips and Tricks channel mentioned them once) and spend more time practicing than cutting and prepping (not that you can't just run or pad beads on larger pieces).
https://www.jflf.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=METAL
I often see for sale ads for folks that wanted to try welding and then decided to sell off their equipment so you may be able to find a good deal on a whole set up (welder, cart, helmet, jacket, etc).
DGersic
Well-known member
My local community college.
https://www.kish.edu/program/welding-technology
9 months. $8200 estimated, so probably $8500, maybe more.
https://www.kish.edu/sites/default/files/ge/Basic Welding Technology Certificate Info 2019-2020.pdf
Now, it’s probably a good program, but it seems like a lot to me for something I’m doing as a hobby. If I was looking for a career, maybe that’d be worth it.
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Take a class. I took classes 40 years ago makes a big difference with an instructor.
Material safety and understanding is one thing the utuber's miss and often you will see demonstration of poor procedures right here. Welding with just eye protection and having exposed skin leads to issues.
So there are many more things about welding than just being able to make an arc and move the puddle.
Ask the instructor for the bic lighter in the pocket pictures.
Material safety and understanding is one thing the utuber's miss and often you will see demonstration of poor procedures right here. Welding with just eye protection and having exposed skin leads to issues.
So there are many more things about welding than just being able to make an arc and move the puddle.
Ask the instructor for the bic lighter in the pocket pictures.
So true. Learning how to make adjustments while welding is a big deal. Fits are very rarely perfect in the field. Carhart denim shirts, I must have spent a small fortune on them, have to keep the skin covered.
One thing that has not been talked about is fitting. I have been fortunate enough work from one coast to another and have worked with some incredible fitters. Some of the smartest people I have ever met. Some say welding is a art, well so is pipe fitting. I good fitter can make a welder's job easy, bad fitter can make it a lot harder. I always tried to take car of my fitters, buy them a beer, bring them a coffee in the morning.
One thing that has not been talked about is fitting. I have been fortunate enough work from one coast to another and have worked with some incredible fitters. Some of the smartest people I have ever met. Some say welding is a art, well so is pipe fitting. I good fitter can make a welder's job easy, bad fitter can make it a lot harder. I always tried to take car of my fitters, buy them a beer, bring them a coffee in the morning.
sberry
Banned
If we are talking to the guy that just retired from the motors and wants to build yard stuff with the grandkids it's different than a kids daddy owns an excavation company and headed for construction work, ironwork, fitters, equipment etc. Good stick skills are unmistakable and unfakeable.
I know guys wire weld good, cant do anything else.
I should keep up, the thought of a fussy test booth scares me anymore, I would come up to speed in a hurry but my brain thinks it can do but I struggle a little. Can't tell or notice in common work but if it was fussy can tell I don't do it every day.
I know guys wire weld good, cant do anything else.
I should keep up, the thought of a fussy test booth scares me anymore, I would come up to speed in a hurry but my brain thinks it can do but I struggle a little. Can't tell or notice in common work but if it was fussy can tell I don't do it every day.
sberry
Banned
I know guys that worked a career never ran anything other than a 1/8 7018.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
There are other rods?
mrjaw14
Well-known member
I struggle to get scrap to practice on. Metal is expensive!
same here especially aluminum...
Graingers have the cheapest 6061 angles and flat stock in my area... there are some free one from machine shops but I don't know anyone or have connections to it... Ebay is super expensive.
bczygan
Well-known member
It's the standard query. You want something that will be of value to you, but funds are limited.
Welders cost money. consumables cost money. Electricity cost money. Gases cost money. Metals cost money. PPE (Clothing, helmet, gloves, boots etc) cost money and metal costs money.
And the most important thing, knowledge costs money.
Skills take time, effort and money to acquire.
It all depends on what you want and what you are willing to spend of those things. And whether you want it to be a paying proposition or not.
Bill
Last edited:
DerekV
Well-known member
No matter how you slice it, there is a high cost of entry. Gas, PPE (don’t forget a respirator), table, clamps, saws, grinders, consumables...oh, and maybe even a welder
...it’s immediately not cheap and there’s a seemingly endless upgrade path of gear/equipment. I will say that out of all of my hobbies, it is unquestionably my favorite one. Worth every single penny, all 15 bajillion of them
Process types, machine brands, how to learn...oof, how much time do you got? Everyone is going to have their own options, but before we even go there, what are you thinking you’re gonna be welding? That will shape the conversation.
Vocational High Schools around here offer a decent welding class. The fee is not terrible and from what I have heard the class cost is really about the value of the stuff you burn up in the class, rod, gas, wire, etc.
I agree on the community college classes, they are expensive and often tough to get into because a lot of the degrees require that one class.
Youtube is a great asset for sure.
Bill
I agree on the community college classes, they are expensive and often tough to get into because a lot of the degrees require that one class.
Youtube is a great asset for sure.
Bill
DRW
Member
I went to the community college to learn welding. I am in Missouri and the courses are only 117.00 for each semester.
Stooge
Well-known member
I think investing in a decent 140 class machine that wont impede or handicap your futzing your way through is a great place to start. Spend the time getting out there and playing around with it and getting comfortable with how different settings, speeds, material thicknesses react, what seems to work, what doesn't, etc. After I got a little more familiar with the machine, going back and doing a lot of reading and watching, what was being said made a hell of a lot more sense and was more constructive than all of the research I did prior since I had something to associate it with. I've been pretty consistently welding for the last decade and it is definitely the most useful and important aspect of my car hobby and couldn't imagine not having a machine in the shop.
The Hobart, (Miller-ITW) 140 is $100 less than the Vulcan 140, ($500 vs $600) and where I would spend my money, and did. My first machine was a Hobart 140 that I sold when I bought my Miller 211 but then ended up with another Hobart 140 a yr or 2 ago.
Thanks all. Think something like a Vulcan 140 would be a good budget homeowner rig? Equipment recommendations are appreciated. No 240v in my garage shop
The Hobart, (Miller-ITW) 140 is $100 less than the Vulcan 140, ($500 vs $600) and where I would spend my money, and did. My first machine was a Hobart 140 that I sold when I bought my Miller 211 but then ended up with another Hobart 140 a yr or 2 ago.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
Where is the best pace to get gas from? Buy the bottle from TSC ($400) or rent one?
DGersic
Well-known member
Locally, Farm & Fleet has the best price for a bottle + gas. I think buying is a better deal, as a part time hobbiest it’ll take me a long time to use up a bottle.
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
cablebandit
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 103
I think people that live in areas with community colleges and vo-tech high schools fail to realize they are probably in the fortunate minority.
I grew up in an area with several community colleges and high schools that had/have adult continuing education classes for just this type of thing. Pay a couple hundred bucks and get a nice basic knowledge.
Now I live and work next to one of the biggest universities out there and there are no community colleges anywhere around here. The few vocational type schools are all geared toward career type training and are tens of thousands of dollars for a class/course.
I'm in the same boat as far as the OP and will probably have to go the Youtube route as far as learning goes and there's really nothing wrong with that. I just want to glue some metal together and have it not fail.
I grew up in an area with several community colleges and high schools that had/have adult continuing education classes for just this type of thing. Pay a couple hundred bucks and get a nice basic knowledge.
Now I live and work next to one of the biggest universities out there and there are no community colleges anywhere around here. The few vocational type schools are all geared toward career type training and are tens of thousands of dollars for a class/course.
I'm in the same boat as far as the OP and will probably have to go the Youtube route as far as learning goes and there's really nothing wrong with that. I just want to glue some metal together and have it not fail.
driftpin
Well-known member
Always convenient for readers/members not to have-to ask the type of question, "where?" if you post a general description under your avatar of your city or location.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
My welder was top end, a Miller 250x MIG, when I bought it. I can honestly say it has paid for itself three or four times over.
Yep, I saw that Hobart after I posted. Looks like a good home shop unit
DGersic
Well-known member
Hobart are nice. I have one. If you’re shopping for new, check out their web site for “factory refurbished“ models. They’re like new, but come with a nice discount.
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
bczygan
Well-known member
In Dayton OH:
Hobart Handler 190 for $525
https://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-hobart-190-handler-welder/7032343390.html
Hobart MVP 210 $550
https://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-hobart-welder-mvp-210/7027251805.html
Bill
Hobart Handler 190 for $525
https://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-hobart-190-handler-welder/7032343390.html
Hobart MVP 210 $550
https://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/d/dayton-hobart-welder-mvp-210/7027251805.html
Bill
Thanks Bill, but that's a pretty long drive from Dallas
DerekV
Well-known member
What are you trying to weld?