Learn how to weld/fabricate

[2cool2hear]

I'd like to learn how to weld/fabricate as a hobby. There are so many things I want to build/repair, such as car parts, furniture, sculptures, etc.

I doubt I have time for classes. Instead, I think I'm going to begin with two books:

Welding For Dummies by Steven Robert Farnsworth
http://amzn.com/0470455969

How To Weld (Motorbooks Workshop) by Todd Bridigum
http://amzn.com/076033174X

If you have better suggestions, feel free to share. I'm curious to see what other options are out there that I haven't thought of yet.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Wait. You have time to make sculptures, but no time for a welding class?

There's no substitute for seeing what the instructor is talking about, so I'd at least recommend a good instructional DVD. If you're looking to learn MIG, the DVDs by Steve Bleile and Ron Covell are both pretty good. You can rent them at Smartflix for $10, although I think you can buy them for $35-50.

 

[BIG Eric]

When you take a welding class the mistakes you make are part of your tuition. At the community college that i am taking a mig class the cost with books is 520.00 In the four months I will be in class I am sure I will burn through at least that much in materials and electricity. Your choice but thats my opinion.

 

[GShelton]

The only welding class in my area is $3300 plus books!

 

[kevin47]

You don't mention how old you are...or where you think your going do this "fabricating"...Out in the backyard...? Do your own a welding machine (I guess not) ...I think you'd better at least see what your local CC has to offer and at what price...Did you plan trying to make any money at this ? or is it just for fun...?

 

[kevin47]

The only welding class in my area is $3300 plus books!

Geez, that's not at a CC...! That sounds like professional training...I think he means he'd like be build a trellis or a mini-bike...!

 

[justanengineer]

Personally, my vote is also for taking a class. Barring that, I would purchase and read a professional welding text, something from the college/trade school level like "Welding Principles and Applications" by Jeffus. Books like that tend to be ridiculous ($150+) new for the latest edition, but if you can find an older edition the price is usually <$30 and the content is just as good as newer editions. The books targeted for the hobbyist such as the ones you linked to **** to be kind and tend to be like the internet - full of half truths and bs.

 

[vator]

I agree it is much better to learn with an instructor, but there are some good web sites check out Welding tips and tricks he has some great videos

 

[78Bird]

I took several welding classes at my local CC, for a few hundred each you get lots of practice, instruction, and guidance.

well worth it, IMO.

Dont look at professional schools, community colleges are what you need. i find it hard to believe local CC doesnt have some welder classes that can be taken a-la-carte.

 

[e30bradley]

I am learning.. I have had a few lessons from a friend who has been welding for who knows how many years (~40+years). I also have college level books for professional training when my father went to welding school. On top of that I occasionally watch welding tips and tricks videos. Nothing is better than having an instructor their to tell you "no, thats all wrong" or "thats good!" or "LET ME SHOW YOU how to do it" you will learn so much faster with less frustration.. I'd recommend you take a class or find a mentor.

 

[lilscorpion]

I'm self taught. Patience, a good machine, and research will get you where you want to be. I didn't have a lot of money up front so I started with a stick welder. Learned about the different electrodes and leaned the various positions by trial and error. At some point, while helping a friend, I used a mig and realized that the stick had to go. Less science and skill necessary and no more scratch starting. I bought a small machine and outgrew it in a couple of years but got my monies worth for sure. Sold it and upgraded to a Miller 250x. What a difference. >> forward a few more years >> I've owned a mess of high end machines - MIG and TIG. Looking back, I can share this with you - it's an expensive hobby. When considering the amount of time and materials used, I'd say a class at a CC would be/would have been a fantastic idea. No where is there such a variety of machines, there to use with paid for materials, and with experienced instructors at your disposal. I'd bet that one or two classes would more than equal years of learning on your own if not more. True a class might cost nearly as much as your first machine but the experience may save your from getting in too deep or maybe even buying the wrong first machine. Hell, you may even find out it ain't for you. Seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[DonnyT]

I just signed up at the local BOCES. Total cost 290.00 for 30 hours of instruction.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I took a class at a local community college a few years ago, it was an evening class - one night a week for three hours. If I recall correctly it was $250 for for eight weeks. You get to work with good equipment under the supervision of an expert, I thought it was a good deal.

 

[64Trvlr]

I think you would be better served with at least a basic welding class then try to "do it yourself".

Below are some links to the James F Lincoln Foundation. Spend a couple of hours looking around. There are a lot of reasonably priced books, DVD's and other materials in here.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/education-center/jfl-foundation/Pages/jfl-foundation.aspx

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...ining-materials/Pages/training-materials.aspx

http://www.jflfoundation.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=24

http://www.jflfoundation.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=22

 

[brownbagg]

classes are not for everybody, in my area the welding classes are at a community college in a bad part of town, so no way i would want to be there at night, and you would have to take three or four classes of theory before you start hands on. at five hundred dollar a class and nine months before hand on, it would be a waste.

i would reccomend buy you a cracker box and catch yourself on fire couple times, cracker boxes are cheap, at yard sales, everybody want mig but a decent mig would cost at least 2000, any mig running off 110 not worth playing with, they are sheetmetal welders

 

[Angelfire]

I've had to pretty much self teach myself as well. The only vocational classes offered here are part of a full 2 year degree and are only offered M-F during the days. Well I work days so can't attend.

Read as much as you can and practice, practice, practice. I find when I'm doing a project, I start out making booger welds but by the end of it, I'm doing ok. It's all about practice.

Oh, and it might be beneficial to adopt my mantra with regards to my welding "if it breaks and someone could die, I don't do it"

 

[Jackfre]

I did a 5 yr apprenticeship through the UA and had a lot of instruction. I worked mostly on powerhouses, pipelines & refineries and much of it was 100% x-ray. All stick and tig in those days. I worked for a few years and then went back to school for a semester of all day welding. My mechanical skills increased but my understanding of the process improved dramatically.

A good instructor (emphasis on GOOD) will make your welding so much more enjoyable you can't believe it. As well, he will save you time and money. I have great respect for those who are able to do this on their own. I'm really happy I had instruction. Spend some time at Millerwelds.com

It's funny, I like to go to art museums. Whenever I see the big steel or metal sculptures I always check out the welds. To hot, to slow, undercut, etc

 

[Falcon67]

Books are not a completely bad idea really but Jack's DVD recommendation is better IMHO. Go to the scrap yard and buy some steel by the pound in various sizes. Buy a GOOD welder - DO NOT start out with some cheap azz cracker or HF unit. It will give you bad habits and when you do upgrade to a real welder you'll likely have to re-learn everything. Been there, done that. Then start burning up wire and fusing metal. Beat or cut your practice pieces apart and compare to your books/etc. One issue you may have is that you have no idea if that steel is mild, Iconel, etc that you bought for $.010/lb and all of which acts different for welding. Aluminum is worse by far from what I've seen. I don't currently have aluminum capabilities.

I can make things work and do some decent welds, but I also could not pass a test to save my azz.

 

[aka Larry]

Classes have since gone up, but I took a course at my local CC for $68 plus a book. The con-ed classes are what you need to seek because a curriculum course is a lot more dough.

IMO, there is no substitute video or book for a guy who is qualified standing right next to you showing you how. Even after you are taught it still takes a **** load of practice. I can't imgaine how long ZTfab has been at it...or at least I'll fell better if he says he'e been practicing for 20 years.

 

[ford33]

I would encourage you to take a local community college welding class. I just finished a semester in welding at my local cc. It was a saturday morning class for 4 hours.

The price with books was about $550 and was worth more than that in my opinion. We practiced oxy, mig and tig. The instructor showed us the techinque, then watched us and then corrected our incorrect methods from the beginning so no bad habits formed.

What I thought were great welds by me, literally fell apart when hit hard with a hammer. I learned how to read the weld pool and make the correct setting on the welder for proper heat penetration.

If you plan on welding you need to know how to make a safe weld. I have confidence in my welding ability that I doubt I would have had without this training. I also know that I am not an expert.

 

[Hghgrad]

I'm self taught, just picked up a Lincoln mig at the store one day and started playing around. My work schedule doesn't allow for any sort of classes or anything, so I figured it was worth it to just try it and see what I could do.

The first few things I built, I put them in the press and crushed to see if they'd break apart. I cut stuff apart to see if I was getting full penetration. I beat stuff with a sledge hammer.

Recently, I had one of my first welds fail. It was part of my mig cart

It took a while before I trusted my welds for anything that could break apart and cause damage to anything...but I regularly build trailer hitches, bumpers, winch mounts, frame repair, Ect now.


Classes aren't the end all for instruction. My brother went through the local college and took a class. Still can't weld worth a damn. Find a friend that welds, watch and learn from them. Ask questions. Cut stuff apart and look at your welds. If you're inclined, it'll come to you.

Half the battle is knowing how to set the machine up properly, knowing what settings your speed and heat need to be on, and getting decent form.

 

[Cadillac STS]

I took a class from the community college across the street from where I worked. It was worth it. Funny thing happend one time though. I wanted to practice after work and I ran across the street to do it. Got there, went to my locker and changed my suit coat for my welding jacket. Practice stick welding for a while then noticed the sparks ruined my nylon slacks, all kinds of holes and ruined my shoes too! Probably lucky I didn't start the myself on fire that night.

 

[jon.human]

As an alternative you could probably find things on YouTube. as far as settings The new millers MIGs with the autoset feature is pretty close. I have a miller 212 with Autoset and it works great. I was a Welder in the Airforce and several other Civilian jobs, about 20 years experience... sometimes the best way to learn it to just do it. if it doesn't look right grind it out and do it again...

 

[Jere]

Yeah youtube or weldingweb are a good place to start. Really it's a good idea to decide what welding system you are going to use and go from there.

Personally I went with Oxy/Ace as it is very versatile and cheap (if you buy used especially) to get into, and I had no 220 hook up in the garage. After I spent about $300 I had a quality working setup to learn with, bought a couple of $10-20 books. Haven't even thought about spending money on a class. I have made a new exhaust for my car, a sculpture thing from sheet metal and fixed a lot of broken stuff. If you are not a school person I recommend this route

SHEET METAL HANDBOOKRon and Sue Fournier
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/14342390703585032910?hl=en&sugexp=ernk_timediscountc&gs_rn=3&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=5unq613uCzTNuSCKlO2nZg&ds=sh&pq=sheet+metal+fabrication&cp=27&gs_id=rf&xhr=t&q=sheet%20metal%20fabrication%20ron&pf=p&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=UsB&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&sclient=psy-ab&oq=sheet+metal+fabrication+ron&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42553238,d.dmQ&biw=1024&bih=511&sa=X&ei=yaQjUaOYDKS90AHblYDwDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFEQ8wIwAA

 

[wrench3047]

I took a high metal shop class and I was decent on the farm with stick welder. Fast forward ten years I picked up a mig after minimal welding, never operated one thinking same same. I made a mess even after reading up on setup and technic. Ten minutes with a guy willing to show me how, I made a ok weld. Ten more years later I weld a few times a month using up as many grind wheels as lbs of wire wishing I got more instruction when I had a willing instructor. I get by understanding more with each YouTube video; weldingtipsandtricks, longevitywelding, are a couple video posters that are helpful, but thinking you can learn just from the text in my experience doesn't work quickly or well.

 

[aka Larry]

My advice, have ZTFab teach you! I'm sure nobody here would argue that he's qualified.

 

[crewchief888]

check out miller and lincoln's websites, bound to be some useful and truthfull info there.

lincoln has a DVD that comes packaged with their welders, i'm sure miller does as well.

i was mostly self taught, my dad was a welder and showed me some basics of stick & oxy/acet welding when i was about 10 years old.
i had a general metals class in high school, when it was time to take my arc welding final "test", i was the only one who passed.
instructor was amazed when i started my gas welding portion of the class, his words were "you've done this before, nothing much i can help you with"

 

[Big A]

I've taken a few college night classes (MIG and oxy-gas). The biggest benefit is repetition. You have to do things over and over and over until you get it right(ish). I don't have that kind of discipline without someone standing over me.

I also took a metal sculpture class that was very loose, but gave me a chance to try various kinds of welding before I took more structured courses.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

This thread now has me interested as I've always wanted to learn how to weld... The only time I welded anything was in middle school and had to spot weld sheet metal to make lanterns, which I really enjoyed.

Now I actually searched where I live northern virgina and there is a community college 8 minutes away from my house that offers welding...

This is what they offer for their welding course. Each class is 4 months long and rougly 4 hours per class.. $150 per credit and each class is 2 credits give or take


Course Prefix Course Name

WEL 116 Welding I (Oxyacetylene)
WEL 120 Introduction to Welding
WEL 121 Arc Welding
WEL 122 Welding II (Electric Arc)
WEL 126 Pipe Welding I
WEL 127 Pipe Welding II
WEL 130 Inert Gas Welding
WEL 141 Welder Qualification Tests I
WEL 142 Welder Qualification Tests II
WEL 145 Welding Metallurgy
WEL 146 Welding Quality Control
WEL 150 Welding Drawing and Interpretation
WEL 160 Semi-automatic Welding Processes



I wouldn't be changing my career or anything like that from IT but I think this would be fun... any down sides to taking the entire thing above if this is not going to be my profession? Who knows i might change but the likely hood of that is slim... this is more for personal growth and knowledge...

Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[Cadillac STS]

What about joining a pipefitters union. They often have Learning / Teaching areas set up at the union hall to get further certification and it is free to members.

 

[Stuart in MN]

To be clear, the classes many of us are talking about are not full blown welder school, they're night courses once a week meant as an introduction to welding for hobbyists. You may have to search around to find them, in my case the welding class was buried in the back of the college course catalog where it was hard to find. Look for extension or continuing education classes.

 

[brownbagg]

WEL 141 Welder Qualification Tests I
WEL 142 Welder Qualification Tests II
WEL 145 Welding Metallurgy
WEL 146 Welding Quality Control
WEL 150 Welding Drawing and Interpretation
WEL 160 Semi-automatic Welding Processes

couple of these i would like to take

 

[koditten]

I'm self taught. Patience, a good machine, and research will get you where you want to be. I didn't have a lot of money up front so I started with a stick welder. Learned about the different electrodes and leaned the various positions by trial and error. At some point, while helping a friend, I used a mig and realized that the stick had to go. Less science and skill necessary and no more scratch starting. I bought a small machine and outgrew it in a couple of years but got my monies worth for sure. Sold it and upgraded to a Miller 250x. What a difference. >> forward a few more years >> I've owned a mess of high end machines - MIG and TIG. Looking back, I can share this with you - it's an expensive hobby. When considering the amount of time and materials used, I'd say a class at a CC would be/would have been a fantastic idea. No where is there such a variety of machines, there to use with paid for materials, and with experienced instructors at your disposal. I'd bet that one or two classes would more than equal years of learning on your own if not more. True a class might cost nearly as much as your first machine but the experience may save your from getting in too deep or maybe even buying the wrong first machine. Hell, you may even find out it ain't for you. Seems like a no brainer to me.

I could have write this.

If you want to learn to weld, buy a decent 220v machine. This will not be money wasted. If you find that mig welding I$ not your thing, you will be able to sell it for 80% of your investment.

I too, agree that structured training is not necessary. Start welding and then destroy your welds. You will find out were the shortcomings lie.

Everything you need to know is available on the net.

KO

 

[mcallenautomotive]

$6603.89 is tuition and books for a 12 mos. class at the local community college. Too bad my gi bill ran out.

 

[Goobzilla]

Try one of your local welding supply shops for classes as well. I go to classes at the General Air store in Greeley, CO. They are taught on Saturdays by welding instructors at the local community college. Great guys, lots of fun and I've learned a lot. I've got intro to TIG in the morning this saturday, the classes are $50 but you get some free ones if you buy your machine from them.

 

[ford33]

If you are uncertain as to which classes to take, call the school and ask to speak to the department head or the teachers. They will provide information on the class and may provide a syllabus for the class. Then you can decide which ones to enroll.

A prerequisite class is often required to take higher level classes. If you have prior experience you may be able to take a test or demonstrate proficiency and not have to take the prerequisite class.

You may also have the option to audit the class which allows you to attend and participate but not receive a grade. It depends upon the school policy and the instructor must agree to you auditing the class. You still pay the full fee to audit the class.

Local community colleges are always looking to increase student enrollment yet some industrial training classes get cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Many students now-a-days want to be accountants, nurses, computer engineers and lawyers.

 

[kevin47]

WEL 141 Welder Qualification Tests I
WEL 142 Welder Qualification Tests II
WEL 145 Welding Metallurgy
WEL 146 Welding Quality Control
WEL 150 Welding Drawing and Interpretation
WEL 160 Semi-automatic Welding Processes

couple of these i would like to take

Good lord...You'd be there all day...lol I know I been there, done that...Serious stuff...I went on to be a Machinist...Until they found out I could weld...Then I had to do everything...remember to keep it a secret or you'll never live it down lol

 

[LutzTD]

im in my 4th week of a 9 week course for TIG welding, theres no way I would have been able to learn this on my own. I even get stuck now and again until he comes by and says, do this, or that. on my own I doubt I would ever have got a single weld and I watched a ton of howto videos before the class

 

[fringeofinsanity]

+1 for getting some instruction. Even if it's a mentor to help you out now and again. As Jack said, if you have the time to do this or sculptures and the like, you should be able to make the time to learn correctly. In the long run, you'll be fabricating the hings your are wanting to do much faster.

Try even a search for welding classes in your area. I took my daughter to a class held on Saturdays so she could learn the basics for $100. I come fom a family of welders and have done it for years. I could have easily started her off I suppose or had a family member help. But this was a nice controlled setting and she got some nice reference material. I took it with her and it was a good refresher even for me. Now she works with me to advance her skills and it's a great bonding time.

I do the same thing when all my girls want to learn to shoot or ride a motorcycle. They get good training, can try a bunch of different things, I don't worry I may pass down a bad habit I picked up without realizing and best of all, don't feel any pressure as they learn.

 

[1971gsfan]

The welding classes at a cc are great. GI bill paid for some of mine. I did the full daytime coarse MIg Tig OA and Spray AL. With a now long retired instructor. Great guy was a retired bomber pilot who told great stories to explain things. almost the whole class were certified and had job offers before we graduated. Fast forward 20 years and I am having to relearn some stuff as I weld in some patch panels on my car. This thin stuff can be a pain in the *** to weld. Good luck with it welding is a good skill to know
Tim