How to Weld
- Thread starter bowanna03
- Start date
e30bradley
Well-known member
I hate to be 'that guy' but this has been asked so many times.. I'll search and post some links.
sfriesen
Well-known member
My method was trial by fire. I gathered scrap and built stuff around the garage that wasn't that important. Get advice from people that are experienced and watch Youtube Videos. MIG was easy to pick up, and I ended up teaching myself how to TIG while fabricating the exhaust for my truck. Do not try to learn on anything that has to be structural or has anything to do with anyone's safety. Scrap metal is cheap and you'll end up in the garage for HOURS playing around with it.
e30bradley
Well-known member
check it out.. i think some of this info is useful for MIG.. but overall it's for Arc welding.
I only have experience with MIG and Arc welding
I only have experience with MIG and Arc welding
Get someone to teach you. You'll learn more in an hour with an experienced welder looking over your shoulder than you would in a week of reading books. Make some passes, cut them apart, break them along the bead, and repeat.
I like stick welding more than MIG, and I think it's easier to learn MIG after you know how to stick. I've found MIG is good for light stuff, while stick is definitely for heavier, dirtier pieces. Gas welding is also a great way to learn also. Good luck and have at it.
I like stick welding more than MIG, and I think it's easier to learn MIG after you know how to stick. I've found MIG is good for light stuff, while stick is definitely for heavier, dirtier pieces. Gas welding is also a great way to learn also. Good luck and have at it.
Oldbear
Well-known member
Get some scrap and weld away. Grab a book or video from your local library or You tube for some starter tips.
The only real way to get better is to practice... a lot. Burn through the little starter roll that comes with your welder... You'll be better by the end of that roll, but then "plan" to get even better on the next roll... practice.
The only real way to get better is to practice... a lot. Burn through the little starter roll that comes with your welder... You'll be better by the end of that roll, but then "plan" to get even better on the next roll... practice.
check out these how-to's to get you started 
http://www.thefabfoundry.com/forumdisplay.php?23-How-To-s
http://www.thefabfoundry.com/forumdisplay.php?23-How-To-s
I took an adult evening school class back in the late 80s.
Now, I follow along with the vids on the welding tip and tricks.com web site.New vid everyweek and he's a real down to earth no BS welder.Check it out.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...S87EctjDPCQZO0ntwmh9g&bvm=bv.1357700187,d.dmQ
Now, I follow along with the vids on the welding tip and tricks.com web site.New vid everyweek and he's a real down to earth no BS welder.Check it out.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...S87EctjDPCQZO0ntwmh9g&bvm=bv.1357700187,d.dmQ
R.Anderson
Well-known member
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/
This guy has the best videos on how to's and tips that I ever found on the web.
He also covers the major welding processes MIG, TIG, and stick.
I took classes for welding we started with stick then MIG then TIG. Flat and horz first, vertical then overhead.
I also agree with finding someone that can weld to help you out in learning and practice, practice, practice.
This guy has the best videos on how to's and tips that I ever found on the web.
He also covers the major welding processes MIG, TIG, and stick.
I took classes for welding we started with stick then MIG then TIG. Flat and horz first, vertical then overhead.
I also agree with finding someone that can weld to help you out in learning and practice, practice, practice.
ToddGrossman
Active member
Agreed with all the above. Get some different gauge sheet metal from scrap or Home Depot, size the wire and respective tips, and practice, practice, practice. I'm no pro by any means, but before I weld anything, I always use a piece of scrap of similar material and gauge to practice on and adjust the settings until it's right.
best way learn to weld, get a cracker box welder. a 50 lb box of rods, get by yourself and burn the whole 50 lbs,at one setting, stick some rods, catch your self on fire, shock your self. burn the whole box.
then you be ready to learn
then you be ready to learn
Neuswede
Well-known member
I started with some books to learn the basics and to identify the wrong way to do things so I practiced doing things the right way. Quality fabrication means spending the time to prepare the pieces to be welded, and using adequate clamps, magnets of fixtures to securely hold your pieces. This will all come with practice, but practice doing things correctly. A day spent doing things wrong will not advance your skill level.
I started out welding sheetmetal, in order to learn how to minimize warpage and it was a cheap way to practice. You also learn how to control your puddle very quickly.
Invest in the best helmet you can afford. These are your eyes we are talking about, so guard them carefully. You will also find that good light is always your friend when welding.
I started out welding sheetmetal, in order to learn how to minimize warpage and it was a cheap way to practice. You also learn how to control your puddle very quickly.
Invest in the best helmet you can afford. These are your eyes we are talking about, so guard them carefully. You will also find that good light is always your friend when welding.
Figure out if you want to stick weld, mig weld or tig weld and build a budget.
Start with google and watching videos.
Also miller sells a student package on their site for $80ish? Lots of books and a short dvd.
Also usaweld.com has a mig and a tig welding video.
Oldbear
Well-known member
I forgot the burning part... do some over head. This way you'll appreciate not having molten balls roll down your sleeves and rest in your arm pit...
The BEST way is to take some classes! You'll have access to decent equipment, an instructor who knows what he's doing and can show you the right way to do things, as well as what you're doing wrong. Plus, you'll have access to plenty of practice materials, consumables, etc.
It also makes for a better and funner, less frustrating experience. I'm speaking from experience, since I've just completed my first semester of classes at a local college.
Yes, a lot of us probably would eventually figure it out on our own with the help of YouTube, others, etc., but IMHO you'll progress MUCH faster and not form bad habits if you can get some formal training-----not only that, but it's fun being around others who are also enthused and at the same stage as yourself.
Just my.02!
It also makes for a better and funner, less frustrating experience. I'm speaking from experience, since I've just completed my first semester of classes at a local college.
Yes, a lot of us probably would eventually figure it out on our own with the help of YouTube, others, etc., but IMHO you'll progress MUCH faster and not form bad habits if you can get some formal training-----not only that, but it's fun being around others who are also enthused and at the same stage as yourself.
Just my.02!
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Murphy4570
Well-known member
Learn from a welder in a boilermaker's union or something. That's how I learned TIG. Still **** at it though.
First thing to learn is either oxy-acetelyne or stick welding. Both will make TIG and MIG easier to pick up, respectively. You won't really use oxy welding at all for any fabrication work (mostly an obsolete process), but it will teach you brazing, which is still useful in limited applications.
First thing to learn is either oxy-acetelyne or stick welding. Both will make TIG and MIG easier to pick up, respectively. You won't really use oxy welding at all for any fabrication work (mostly an obsolete process), but it will teach you brazing, which is still useful in limited applications.
gmm213
Well-known member
We used this site a bit in school. Very good site. Guy knows his stuff. Go to a farm and ask to learn a bit. Theyll teach you stick a bit and just ask for your help in work. Thats how i got started then went to an adult vocational school
bugdust
Well-known member
I agree with everything except the "MIG for light stuff"...I work for Caterpillar...nothing light there...all built with MIG. Stick is for "in the field" work and shipyards. I used to train welders for a living...practice, practice, practice works well, unless you are practicing the wrong technique...then you are just good at doing it wrong. Many local vo-tech centers offer welding courses.
Everybody and their brother can weld, few can do it well.
started welding 57 years ago, at 8
go to a community college or vocational school
they'll have all the machines and instructors
hey bugdust ever try hard facing with a MIG?
with a stick it comes out at 92 Rockwell on the C scale
ever make nonslip horse shoes with boron carbide crystals?
you use gas
try welding stainless to Ti
with TIG and you figure out the rod
what do you cut with?
my Victor J550 head on my Aircrafter torch will go 8", most i've done is ~4"
no auto helmets at my house.....
1 stick full helmet
5 TIG/MIG helmets with different lenses and magnifiers
1 cutting shield
2 gas welding sets of glasses
1 brazing set of glasses (i use GasFlux
)1 aluminum set of glasses
my last welding score on ebay;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Pur...727?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cb8f9b07
a mint Purox D-00 torch, it was missing its mixer and had ears silver soldered to the tip nut....all fixed now its in a bag with its almost unused full set of tips, in my desk
i've been spoiled by a Purox D-00 since i got my own when i was 12......Dad would let me use the Victor.....but not his Purox
its about 80 years young
kald
Well-known member
+1 on that site.
sharkytm
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would suggest getting a decent entry level machine used off of Craigslist. I started with a crappy Campbell Hausfeld flux core machine, and hated it. Once I got my Miller, it was a whole different story. Also, definitely try to get a gas bottle. MIG is much nicer and easier to start with than flux core (way less smoke, way nicer looking welds, no slag).