How to weld. You have me thinking......

[T56 Impala]

Okay, so I have been looking around this site and noticed some very nicely done projects. Some I must say, I envy a lot. Carts, cabinets, repairs, auto/truck projects, all are really very nice and well done. My kudos to you all who are so talented.

I on the other hand, never learned some of these basic fabrication techniques. I would love to but have no idea where to start. I'm a woodworker (kinda) and a car guy. I would love to learn to weld. How, and more to the point, where would I learn to weld? I know there must be some tech school near me but I can't seem to find one. Maybe I'm not looking up the right term.

So point me in the right direction. From reading, I would say that wire welding would be the easiest to learn. I have seen wire welders in Lowes, HD, Sears and various other places. They don't appear to cost too much and would be well within my budget. (I think)

I live in GA. Just outside of Atlanta in Roswell. I would only be a hobbyist and not a professional. This is something I would like to learn for me, not for employment. What do ya think? Is this a skill an amature can learn and do a decent looking project with? OR am I looking at doing something that will cost me a ton of cash and never really be good at? (waste of time and money?)

 

[rickairmedic]

Ya might try here

http://www.technical-schools-guide.com/atlanta-georgia-weldingmachinetrades-schools.html

Also check with some of the local high schools they may have night classes for adults . I would imagine in a city as large as the ATL there is a welding school you might also try the local Yeller pages .


Rick

 

[rubadub]

I'm a slow learner, and I can weld half way decent, I can't call myself a real welder, but you can learn it at home.

If your just starting out, you might want to go to a regular welding store.

They can explain different welders, and you will be going to them after you buy a welder for supplies. It will cost you a hundred or two more at the welding supply, but after you start welding, and you have questions, they would probably be a little receptive to your questions, in other words they would work with you on it. maybe.

And like Rick says, welding school would be the first choice I would think.

Rob


http://www.1969supersport.com

 

[PAToyota]

I started out the "self taught" route with one of those 110V hardware store welders. After awhile I felt I needed to learn more and took a class through the local community college - and promptly learned how much I didn't know...

Just having access to "real" 220V welders and having someone who knew what they were doing critique what I was doing took me several levels beyond what I was doing on my own.

 

[mb190sl]

Check out the tech schools or high schools. Do you have any buddies that weld? If you can't find classes, don't be afraid to get a wire feed welder and learn yourself. That is what I did. Pick a project and start making sparks. It is not hard to stick metal together, but is takes practice to get really good. now that I have a welder, it is surprising what I find that needs to be welded.

 

[Lyaec350]

I just self-taught. Granted I wouldn't want to do anything structural, but I can definitely stick metal together fine w/ my IronMan 210...

 

[rubadub]

Theres some pretty good stuff on this one.

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/index.php

Rob

http://www.1969supersport.com

 

[jklingel]

Either hook up w/ a COMPETENT welder as much as you can, and/or take at least a semester's worth of classes. It is not just a matter of gobbing iron together, as some basic knowledge about metallurgy and associated welding rods, the proper use of the various structural shapes, etc, is invaluable. There are good bead runners and there are good welders. Running a great bead with the wrong electrode, or not stress-relieving the weld, etc, can be counter-productive. Any craft has its evil little secrets.... Like others said, once you get a welder you will wonder why it took you so long. Have a blast!

 

[sharpe427]

Community Colleges/Adult Education. A lot of guys can make pretty welds but have no clue what they are doing. Having an experienced professional personally help you is the only way to learn what is right or wrong and, more importantly, WHY. After all, is reading ******* the same as the real thing? Cheap training if you plan to someday risk your life or somebody else's on your welding.....

 

[6t7gto]

As sharpe427 mentioned, you don't want this to happen...

david

 

[T56 Impala]

That vid always cracks me up! He really hooked up, hard! Good thing it wasn't a drive in, drive out race.

I was at the Atlanta Dragway a few years back. It was a Friday night Test n Tune. Fella in front of me had a newish, nice looking F-body. Lightes came down and he took off. At about the 60' point, his right rear axle came out, hit the wall, bounced back and shot like an arrow into the passangers side door. It went all the way into the center console. Good thing the tire was there or it could have killed him! I wonder what he told is mother. (Kid was about 19 if not younger) At least he did it on the track and not the street.

Thanks for all the input. I have looked on the net for a local school. I haven't found one yet. There is a welding supply store near me. I think I may jest stop in and ask them if they know where I might learn.

As for the buddy system..... I'm kinda new to the area and don't know many folks. The people I knew when I lived here in the early 90's are all long gone. So I'll have to go it alone! Thanks again.

 

[malibu101]

I started out the "self taught" route with one of those 110V hardware store welders. After awhile I felt I needed to learn more and took a class through the local community college - and promptly learned how much I didn't know...

Just having access to "real" 220V welders and having someone who knew what they were doing critique what I was doing took me several levels beyond what I was doing on my own.

Yes! I "thought" I knew a bit about welding from my own learning and being "taught" by others. THEN, I took 2 semesters of non-credit night classes at my local community college.
I too learned how much I didn't know. My welding skill level improved tremendously after that year!

 

[george4]

Another vote for night classes at the local JC, I learned a lot. Having a competent instructor keeps you from picking up too many bad habits and we got to try several welders. Having someone with experience available to review your welds is critical.

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

As sharpe427 mentioned, you don't want this to happen...

david

Hahaha stupid hillbillies...

 

[sharpe427]

HOLY MOLY!
At least the guy got out laughing and not bleeding! I consider myself a decent welder (after taking a lot of classes) but a sh***y teacher. Not enough patience. I just go ape when I show somebody how to turn the machine on and the first thing he wants to do is fab some control arms!

 

[jay50]

Went to CC and took a few courses. Met a guy in autotech school who had 25 years as certified weldor on Nuke reactors. Man, he could weld up and down a plate of steel with his eyes closed. Learned a lot about heat setting on MIG from him; most have the heat too low when they weld.

 

[JB740i]

HOLY MOLY!
At least the guy got out laughing and not bleeding! I consider myself a decent welder (after taking a lot of classes) but a sh***y teacher. Not enough patience. I just go ape when I show somebody how to turn the machine on and the first thing he wants to do is fab some control arms!

I think it was probably everyone else laughing and him hiding in shame...

 

[Stouttrout]

I am self taught and had a buddy standing over my shoulder who was a welder and weld inspector. When I first started out I went to the a Ferrier shop and got a ton of scrap Horseshoes. You would'nt believe the stuff I built with those. It is all about practice. I started with a hd3200 lincoln set up and still use it to take on the road. I also have a 220v. That made a huge difference. There is just something about molding steal into something you can use that is really cool.

 

[PAToyota]

I am self taught and had a buddy standing over my shoulder who was a welder and weld inspector.

That isn't exactly "self taught" then...

Self taught is when you buy the welder and read a book and attempt to figure it out for yourself without the other knowledgeable person there...

 

[kvom]

Since you're in Atlanta, you might want to check out Lanier Tech, which has a welding class program. With MIG you can probably teach yourself some basics, but then you need to practice a lot. Having someone to critique your welds is good!

 

[MXtras]

If you are choosing to go it alone, I strongly suggest looking at some of the decent welding forums on the net. A class or three will save you a lot of time in the end and you'll be a better weldor, but some folks would prefer to get their feet wet before they realize they could benefit from a class.

There is a ton of BS on those sites, but there are also some damned competent weldors. Knowing who knows what they are talking about and who doesn't takes a while, but cruise through and you will see that there are many "how does my welding look" threads. Might be a decent starting point for ya.

Scott

 

[Stouttrout]

That isn't exactly "self taught" then...

Self taught is when you buy the welder and read a book and attempt to figure it out for yourself without the other knowledgeable person there...

I should have worded that better. The first 20 or so coat racks and 30 or more horshoe lamps was self taught. The I talked a buddy into helping me when it came time to Weld brackets on an axle. I learned alot and got a good feel for it on my own but it the wise old tips and tricks you learn that make it work right.

 

[rdawdy]

Find a high school continuing ed. class. They cost $150-250 for one night week for six to eight weeks. Texas is along to, but I teach two classes every weeks during the school year. The class cost $175. and we supply everything for you use. I suggest you start with Oxy-fuel welding it easy to see the metal flow together and see the weld puddle form. A very good book is Welder's Handbook by Richard Finch. Also check the Miller Electric or Linclon Electric web sites. Both site sell some excellent videos to show what the weld should look like.

Rick
One old shop teacher

 

[PAToyota]

I should have worded that better. The first 20 or so coat racks and 30 or more horshoe lamps was self taught. The I talked a buddy into helping me when it came time to Weld brackets on an axle. I learned alot and got a good feel for it on my own but it the wise old tips and tricks you learn that make it work right.

Yep, then basically the course of events I went through except substituting a class for the buddy...

 

[Merkava_4]

On the left side of the page is a list of all the technical/community colleges in the State of Georgia. I'll try to find one that has a welding program for you.

http://www.utexas.edu/world/comcol/state/#GA

Columbus Tech looks like a good one!

http://www.columbustech.edu/

Course schedule here - scroll down to W for welding:

http://www.columbustech.edu/registrar/course-schedule.htm

 

[mike944]

I'm a self-taught weldor, about 10-15 years of on-and-off experience.

I just recently took an evening class at a local tech high school. Like everybody else, i HIGHLY reccomend trying to find one. It took me 2 years of searching before i found one in the local area. Try your local tech high schools, not just the CC's. CC's in my area had nothing.

The best thing for me, was just to have somebody who knew what they were doing to critique my welds, and tell me what i was doing wrong, and how to fix it.

If nothing else, you'll learn what to look for when buying a welder, and what type of welder is best suited for the work you want to do.