How to learn stick welding?

[whateg01]

I understand that schools of higher learning are supposed to be a good thing but they generally don't fit the situation we are describing here.
I found that if I want a certificate, I could get a free ride but I don't need to know how to light an oxy fuel torch or what SMAW means. If I wanted training on what I need, vertical up, horizontal, overhead etc. it was 1,000.00 per class.

The schools available to you may offer different options than those others have taken advantage of.

 

[JimDon]

I don’t know exactly where on the truck you are welding, but excessive grease and or oil underneath the vehicle could lead to a fire starting as you weld. As a new welder you might have or might not have thought of that, soooo, heads up on that potential problem. ABC rated fire extinguisher nearby would be a necessity in my world if doing this. And nearby means really nearby, not the one located in the kitchen. And while a 5 gallon pail of water nearby is ok for most welding safety protocols, that grease oil situation makes me nervous. If you’ve thought of this great. Don’t want to be preachy but fires with a vehicle get real ugly real fast. Cheers, jimdon

 

[Fixr]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been looking around for local welding classes but haven't really found much. Triangle Tech closed down a year or so ago but would have been a great option. There has to be something available, but CCAC doesn't seem to offer welding classes. I'm still looking to find something.

A welding class isn't going to get your truck to pass inspection any time soon. Not to put down welding classes, but it sounds like time & money may be issues. Can you gather up a bunch of scrap steel to practice on for free or cheap? School or not, you need to get experience just burning rod and getting muscles trained to do what you want them to do without having to think about it. A welding shop may let you take scrap to practice on, especially if you promise to return it heavier with weld bead so it's worth a bit more as scrap. Running beads on a piece of scrap laying on a flat surface will teach you the basics better and faster than trying to learn starting with overhead welds on a rusty truck frame.

Also, do you have any friends, coworkers or nearby relatives that are decent welders? They may be willing to spend a few hours with you to get you started. When I mentioned that I wanted to learn and had a trailer project, I had three or four guys who jumped at the chance to help get me going. I only got maybe 6 hours of supervision from them combined, but over 30 years later, I still have the trailer. I'm by no means a good weldor, but I have been good enough.

That said, if you have something like a community college with an Intro to Welding course, that would be a really good idea. And maybe one of your friends would be willing to patch the frame well enough to pass inspection while you watch

 

[Roert42]

For smaw; if it was sticks, turn it up. If it burns through, turn it down. All there is to it.

A 110v machine takes a skilled welder to use because of how limited they are. Even then, they’re not good for anything over 1/16” rods. They’re so flexible that it’s just hard to use.

6011 is a great rod, but runs hotter then others, again takes a bigger welder.



Flux core is just a continuously fed smaw wire.


Do what you have to do and get yourself a 220v welder. Wire feed or stick.



I hear a lot of people say “it looks like ****, but it’ll hold.” The reason it looks like **** is because it is ****; the reason it looks good is because it is good.

If a bird **** weld full of porosity was a good weld people would say it looks good.

We’re not building nuclear submarines here, but let’s pretend we care.

 

[whateg01]

That said, if you have something like a community college with an Intro to Welding course, that would be a really good idea. And maybe one of your friends would be willing to patch the frame well enough to pass inspection while you watch

I mentioned juco earlier but I forgot to mention makerspaces. I teach welding classes at the makerspace I'm a member of.

 

[Fixr]

I mentioned juco earlier but I forgot to mention makerspaces. I teach welding classes at the makerspace I'm a member of.

I actually intended to mention that but forgot, so it's good that you did. Probably a good place to find someone who would be happy to spend a few hours on some one-on-one teaching just because.