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View Full Version : looking to learn how to weld.

npor
10-19-2008, 10:50 PM
I don't know anything about welding.

I emailed the guy asking for more information about this welder. With the VERY limited information given on this piece of equipment, would this be something that would be good for me to learn on?

http://savannah.craigslist.org/tls/880563100.html
bobbycos
10-19-2008, 10:55 PM
I don't know anything about welding.

I emailed the guy asking for more information about this welder. With the VERY limited information given on this piece of equipment, would this be something that would be good for me to learn on?

http://savannah.craigslist.org/tls/880563100.html

you could learn on it BUT i would go for an evening course in Welding at a local vocational college. there you would learn the proper ways of welding like oxy/acetalyne gas, TIG,MIG, ARC and gas brazing along with learning how to cut metal using oxy/acet and plasma. thats what i did years ago
accordaffair
10-19-2008, 11:06 PM
you should check out working in a machine shop like wed3k did, they make good money I hear
lokuputha
10-19-2008, 11:06 PM
TIG ftw!
C91BLX7
10-19-2008, 11:09 PM
TIG ftw!

Indeed!

I need to learn, well I am going to, but will have to start with ancient arc first.
npor
10-20-2008, 09:40 AM
I found a lincoln 225 amp welder for $125...but its the machine only. things like the shield , gloves and other accessories do not come with it.

is this expensive for just a machine?
doughboy415
10-20-2008, 03:44 PM
this is the best for you,you can fluxcore(no gas) or mig with this setup. Has all the accesories,and the best part is price and loation sears:tu:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920580000P?vName=Tools&cName=ElectricalShop&sName=Welders&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a
bigjoegood1
10-20-2008, 09:57 PM
Also, check out harborfreight.com they seem to have some economical welding supplies also. I just started a welding class at my UA Mechanical school to improve my stock. I found that plumbers with welding cert are always in demand and make darn good $.

You could check out some welding books from your local library and there is even a haynes manual for welding.

Also, you can google welding and look at some of the links as there is a lot of good info out there that is free
:tu:
Otto
10-20-2008, 10:47 PM
Arc for the win! :lol: Learned it from my boss and co-worker at my last job. Anywho, this got me thinking, I might like to get a welder myself when I attempt to fix the CB's body.

Also, grab some scrap metal and have fun practicing. :D
doughboy415
10-20-2008, 11:04 PM
I've got my papers(certs) in stick(7018,8018 6011,6010,6013), mig,fluxcore and shortarc, I've been doing it now for 22 years, right now I'm unemployed, getting my unemployment, so its a vacation for me, but I got plenty of places to go when I'm ready. I suggest finding an older welder near you,they will teach/show you more than those manuals or some schools. When I got a new welder fresh out of school,usually I had to teach them the correct way to do things,most schools give you the basics not real life situations.
lokuputha
10-20-2008, 11:33 PM
this is a good read: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/tutorial.htm

but IMHO, the best thing to do is get a welder and start welding...it will really get your confidence up and get your hands to calm down.

We Learn…
10%…of What We Read
20%…of What We Hear
30%…of What We See
50%…of What We See and Hear
70%…of What We Discuss With Others
80%…of What We Experience Personally
95%…of What We Teach Others
–William Glasser
NAiL05
10-21-2008, 12:01 AM
You should go take a class at a community college.
lowandslow
11-05-2008, 05:44 AM
tig ftw!!! i love tig welding...
NAiL05
11-05-2008, 01:02 PM
Tig is nice but start out basic (MIG). Know the basics the easier to move on.
starchland
11-05-2008, 02:27 PM
want to learn welding too...whats the best kind of weld for body panels?
RacH22
11-05-2008, 06:21 PM
want to learn welding too...whats the best kind of weld for body panels?

There isn't really a best for it, it really all depends on what you need from it.

MIG has the smallest heat effect zone, but can't be hammered on or it loses it's integrity. TIG has a larger heat effect zone and can be hammered to a degree without losing integrity. Oxy/Ace welding has the largest heat effect zone and can be hammered far beyond MIG.

In general, all bodyshop's do nothing but MIG weld. Simply because they generally don't need to hammer or shape the panels after welding. In most cases, the metals are preshaped and are what I consider "drag and drop, stich in".. TIG and Oxy welding sheet metals are more for hotrodders and custom panel fabrication where you may need to weld two parts together and then shape them as one on an english wheel/shot dolly.

Everyone laughs when I tell them to READ! READ! READ! As if the only way to learn to weld is by doing it, WRONG! The fact of the matter is, you can be a welder for 25 years and still not be a professional if you never learned the proper methods and practices. :tu:
accordaffair
11-05-2008, 07:17 PM
There isn't really a best for it, it really all depends on what you need from it.

MIG has the smallest heat effect zone, but can't be hammered on or it loses it's integrity. TIG has a larger heat effect zone and can be hammered to a degree without losing integrity. Oxy/Ace welding has the largest heat effect zone and can be hammered far beyond MIG.

In general, all bodyshop's do nothing but MIG weld. Simply because they generally don't need to hammer or shape the panels after welding. In most cases, the metals are preshaped and are what I consider "drag and drop, stich in".. TIG and Oxy welding sheet metals are more for hotrodders and custom panel fabrication where you may need to weld two parts together and then shape them as one on an english wheel/shot dolly.

Everyone laughs when I tell them to READ! READ! READ! As if the only way to learn to weld is by doing it, WRONG! The fact of the matter is, you can be a welder for 25 years and still not be a professional if you never learned the proper methods and practices. :tu:

that's some good info
LowNknoxville
11-16-2008, 08:12 PM
I've got my papers(certs) in stick(7018,8018 6011,6010,6013), mig,fluxcore and shortarc, I've been doing it now for 22 years, right now I'm unemployed, getting my unemployment, so its a vacation for me, but I got plenty of places to go when I'm ready. I suggest finding an older welder near you,they will teach/show you more than those manuals or some schools. When I got a new welder fresh out of school,usually I had to teach them the correct way to do things,most schools give you the basics not real life situations.

this is true! I see so many guys come in right out of school and have no experiance! Those schools teach you a bunch of stuff you dont need to know! Your going to learn by doing it! Your much better off learning from a shop that has guys that have been doing it for a long time! If you buy a mig machine and want to weld body panels which are most of the time 16 gauge metal get a machine that you can hook gas to! a 225 amp single phase machine is ideal for body repair! PEACE
alb_accord
12-08-2008, 04:37 PM
this is a good read: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/tutorial.htm

but IMHO, the best thing to do is get a welder and start welding...it will really get your confidence up and get your hands to calm down.

lol that is how i learned to weld. well tried to learn... i did my patch panels on my car my self. lol but at the same time i forgot the #1 rule in welding. " you never weld outside where the wind is blowing" lol

some of you guys said it here. the only way to learn welding is by practice.