Learning to weld?

[slip knot]

I just got a "squirt " gun mig. for years i used a stick welder AC/DC and figured that the mig would be a cake walk. I'm still working at getting it dialed in to my style of welding. May go take a JC course or two just to help save me some time on the learning curve. I figure I'm never too old to learn something new. as I get older I'm learning that time is more of an expense than training costs!

 

[ZRX61]

Do you know the title of the Lowe's book by chance? I'd like to check it out on Amazon. Thanks!

Either of these:

Welders Handbook by Richard Finch

How to Weld by Todd Bridigum

Finch also has a couple of other books.

Also:

Welding Essentials by William Galvery & Frank Marlow

Welding Fabrication & Repair by Frank Marlow.


There are others, Barnes & Noble stocks most of em.

 

[DonkDonk]

Based on what you said in your original post, I believe you have about the same goals I had when I started welding about 10 years ago. After some research, I decided it would be easiest to learn with a 110 volt MIG and that it would probably do everything I could envision doing. I bought a Lincoln Weld Pak 100, which came with a how-to VHS tape. I watched the video and commenced making things using flux-core wire that came with the welder. Periodically, I would re-watch the video. Once I used up the flux-core, I bought a CO2/Argon bottle and solid-core wire and began MIG welding. I have built a number of projects for the shop, including tire racks, sheet stock rack, spare welding bottle cart, etc. My latest project is a downhill racer that can be seen in the fabrication forum on this journal. If you PM me your address, I will send you my VHS tape, if that would be a help.

I agree with this 100%. Practice.

Any monkey can mig weld. You can teach a 10 year old how to mig weld in 10 minutes. Buy a $300-600 Lincoln welder from Home Depot, get a bottle of gas, spend a few hours watching videos on Youtube, and start welding. Build something. Build something else. Obviously you don't want to be making structural welds on your motorcycle when you first start out, but you can learn the basics really fast... VERY short learning curve to be able to build a welding cart, etc. The learning curve to teach yourself how to solder electrical joints with a soldering iron is steeper than welding 1/8" steel together with a MIG welder.

Now if you want to learn to TIG weld, sign up for the class.

 

[ZRX61]

I agree with this 100%. Practice.

Any monkey can mig weld. You can teach a 10 year old how to mig weld in 10 minutes. Buy a $300-600 Lincoln welder from Home Depot,.

If ya gonna start out with a $600 welder, buy a Hobart 187...

 

[38D]

When I did this a few years ago, I found a retired pro via craigslist that taught lessons. I think I ended up doing 6 lessons for a total of about 9 hours. I specifically asked to start by doing TIG on aluminum, which we did. About 7 of the hours were doing this. We then did last 2 hours on some MIG and stick. The reason I wanted to start this way is simple: if you start with the hardest, everything else seems easier. Well, I think it worked pretty and now I can weld aluminum decently.

I ended up buying a Miller Dynasty 200 w/water cooled torch, which is the same setup I learned on.

 

[dbilik]

I taught myself to weld first with DVDs by Ron Covell. He has one for Mig Welding and one for TIG welding. They are a little pricey but well worth it. You can also rent them from smartflix.com.

After that, I went to a junior college to learn more and have a professional look them over and make sure the welds looked good.

 

[PCO6]

I'm pretty much self taught in arc, O/A and mig. I relied on books, pointers from friends and as said above ... lots of practice. I wish the internet and YouTube had been available when I was learning. I now find myself going there often for more information. The best thing I did though was take a community college night class. It was intended to be on general auto restoration but at the last minute the instructor had to bow out. His replacement was a panel beater by trade and for a large part of the course we concentrated on hammer welding sheet metal using a torch but NO filler rod. I still find this form of welding to be very satisfying.

 

[2manytoyz]

I bought a small Lincoln "hobby" level welder, watched the included video, and a number of videos on YouTube. Some really good ones out there.

I'll never be a professional welder, no delusions of becoming one, or the need to weld heavy metal. The 110V model was a better choice for me. Power available almost anywhere, could even use my Yamaha generator.

I put my welder in the back of my truck, took it over to a friend's shop, showed him what little I knew, had him welding in a matter of minutes.

I recently made a small, light use hitch for my garden tractor. This will be used to pull an 8x10 utility trailer from the back of my property, to the driveway, and vice versa. I'm too lazy to pull the trailer by hand that far, and my heavy truck would rut up the lawn. I didn't want to lose the use of the standard hitch, used with a pin type trailer, so this mounted above that one.

While it's far from the quality work of a pro, this IS functional, and will certainly do what I intended it to do. Bottom line, YouTube does have good videos that can teach you the basics.

 

[bluesman2a]

In your area, I've heard that Lanier Tech has some good courses for hobbiests such as ourselves. I've heard good reviews on their welding and machine classes.

Alternatively, if you're not whiney or annoying (and I don't get the impression you are) I'd be willing to help you out. I'm self-taught, but I think I can run a passable bead. 90% of what I had issues with when I started was being able to look at and critique what was wrong with my own welding. Once I got the "feel" of what was good/right things really kind of clicked. THAT is the value of a hands-on class, getting you to that "aHA moment faster.

If you are interested, PM me, but I'm over near the Mall of Georgia, so it may be a haul for you.