Posted: 3/22/2011 7:02:40 AM EDT
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Need some help, recommendations, info, etc. on learning to weld.
I know nothing about welding, but I desperately want to learn. I've even got a few projects around the house I'd like to eventually try to tackle on my own. Problem is I don't have time to take classes because of my work schedule, so I'm thinking about getting a machine and trying to learn on my own whenever I have a little free time on my hands. The closest I've ever come to welding is simple cutting with an oxy-acetelyne torch...but that was more than 20 years ago. I've set aside a few hundred bucks to buy a machine - either new or something used off Craigslist - but don't have the foggiest idea where to start or what I should be looking at. I'm just looking for something to learn on, get used to the basic concepts, and practice. If I learn enough that I need something bigger, better, more powerful later on to accomplish anything useful, so be it. I'll be more happy to get something bigger and better after I learn what the fuck I'm doing. Home Depot has a few Lincolns for around $500 or less which I'm thinking might be better than something used off craigslist since at least some come as complete kits. Any recommendations? Could really use some help and guidance here... |
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I'm in the same boat as you. I got a complete Lincoln Electric 110v setup from my mother, who works in the industry.
I've only done copper brazing and some stick welding in high school, so I'm way out of practice. I did fix my mailbox the other day but had to grind on the welds quite a bit to make them look decent, lol. Just need to find some steel to start practicing now. Do you have any friends that know how to weld? |
| I'm not a welder but I do know how to do the basics. I basically learned on my own by watching others do it and practicing using a machine we had at the shop I was working at at the time. The best tip I can give you is to start practicing on thicker steel. You will burn right through thin steel when you are learning. It is a skill and it takes practice to learn how to get a get a good bead. I don't think it's anything you can't teach yourself if you put in the time and read up on it. As long as you stick to using it for household repaires. I wouldn't weld anything structural unless you really know what you are doing. |
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I'm in the same boat as you. I got a complete Lincoln Electric 110v setup from my mother, who works in the industry. I've only done copper brazing and some stick welding in high school, so I'm way out of practice. I did fix my mailbox the other day but had to grind on the welds quite a bit to make them look decent, lol. Just need to find some steel to start practicing now. Do you have any friends that know how to weld? Friends? WTF is that? 
Actually I do have some friends. And one or two of them weld, but they're not close enough to be of much help...as in a 2-3 hour drive away. |
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That is a lot like, "I want to do something with guns." You need to get more specific about your mission if you don't want to spend a ton of cash on a do everything setup.
Tell us more about your projects (type of metal, gauge, etc). What power is available in your shop? What process do you want to learn first (tig, mig, stick)? |
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I would go with a 220 unit like a Hobart 180 or similar and get a gas set up to run argon/co2 mix you might check out this forum http://weldingweb.com/ there is some good advise on there. If i can help any just shoot me a PM.. |
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pick up the 110v lincoln's off craigslist. It should cover 90% of everything you will need to do, is reliable, parts are easy if necessary, and you can sell it and get your money back out of it if need be. Mig is the easiest platform to weld with. You can run flux-core, and not even need a gas bottle. I've had big migs, portable migs, tigs. That little red lincoln 110v I've had since 95 is still running strong, with no replacement parts necessary yet.
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Yeah, don't worry about angle, penetration, undercut, weave, slag inclusion...
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That is a lot like, "I want to do something with guns." You need to get more specific about your mission if you don't want to spend a ton of cash on a do everything setup. Tell us more about your projects (type of metal, gauge, etc). What power is available in your shop? What process do you want to learn first (tig, mig, stick)? Projects I'd eventually want to try are mostly things like steel gate repair (about 1/8" thickness), repair to the cracked frame of a large hanging bell (about 1/4" steel), fixing a busted garden cart (thin sheet steel - not sure of gauge), maybe make a frame (steel?) to hold a solar panel or two or a pedestal mount for a beltfed. But all thats way far off, I know. I'm really looking at this as more of a learning experience to get me started doing something. If I need a better set up to accomplish those tasks later on, I'm fine with it. |
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Just get some scrap steel and practice , practice , practice . No replacement for hands on ( Im self taught in mig and stick , gas from 8th grade IA class , tig from just watching others) This is what I've often heard - practice, practice, practice. And since I don't have the ability to work my schedule around going to a class, I figure I'm just going to have to spend a lot of time learning by trial and error. |
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You got it easy. When I taught myself to weld, we didn't have the Intarwebs or YouTube. I had to read a book.
Here's an example of the helpful videos available for the welding student: AHH! FUCK! MY SHOE!! See, you might not have thought about investing in personal protective equipment if you hadn't watched "Learn Arc Welding with Willy Miller." |
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Quoted: Just get some scrap steel and practice , practice , practice . No replacement for hands on ( Im self taught in mig and stick , gas from 8th grade IA class , tig from just watching others) Yep. Oh, and arc welding produces a lot of UV radiation, and YOU CAN GET A SUNBURN (A BAD SUNBURN) from welding. They don't make those protective coats just for the sparks!  |
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You got it easy. When I taught myself to weld, we didn't have the Intarwebs or YouTube. I had to read a book. Here's an example of the helpful videos available for the welding student: AHH! FUCK! MY SHOE!! See, you might not have thought about investing in personal protective equipment if you hadn't watched "Learn Arc Welding with Willy Miller." On my first ship, I had a pair of steel-toed, leather boots with a nice rubber, non-slip sole. The only problem is that the tongue was half nylon, for breathability. They really were very comfortable. But guess where the slag landed the first time I fired up the buzz box?
It'll melt right through nylon in about 0.037 seconds, sit on top of your foot and just buuuuuuurn while you hop around like a retard. 
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You got it easy. When I taught myself to weld, we didn't have the Intarwebs or YouTube. I had to read a book. Here's an example of the helpful videos available for the welding student: AHH! FUCK! MY SHOE!! See, you might not have thought about investing in personal protective equipment if you hadn't watched "Learn Arc Welding with Willy Miller." On my first ship, I had a pair of steel-toed, leather boots with a nice rubber, non-slip sole. The only problem is that the tongue was half nylon, for breathability. They really were very comfortable. But guess where the slag landed the first time I fired up the buzz box?
It'll melt right through nylon in about 0.037 seconds, sit on top of your foot and just buuuuuuurn while you hop around like a retard. 20+ years ago when I did a little cutting with oxyacetelyne, I dripped a little slag into my boot. Young dumbass that I was, didn't have them tied up good and a bead dripped right in. Thats not a lesson even a dumbass like me needs twice to learn.
ETA - can you guys give me a little info on the capabilities and uses of the different types of welding - mig, tig, arc, gas? |
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You got it easy. When I taught myself to weld, we didn't have the Intarwebs or YouTube. I had to read a book. Here's an example of the helpful videos available for the welding student: AHH! FUCK! MY SHOE!! See, you might not have thought about investing in personal protective equipment if you hadn't watched "Learn Arc Welding with Willy Miller." I think that retard would be the last place I would go for welding advice. Unless I wanted to learn the value of safety equipment, and how slag in the mouth tastes 
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Get some professional instruction. If there's a community college near you they might offer welding classes. Wish I could, but my schedule doesn't allow for it. I get to work at 7:30am and don't get home until after 9pm most nights. Working on the weekends isn't uncommon either. |
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First go here:Welding Web
read some of the newbie threads and post your own, just be polite, there are some crusty dudes over there. Try to find a basic welding book that describes the processes so you are familiar and can choose the one that fits your needs (MIG, TIG, OXY/ACET and Stick). MIG is by far the easiest to learn quickly and run. Stick has the cheapest setup, but is more difficult to master right off of the bat. TIG is another level above the others. It sounds like you are familiar with O/A. There are lots of good videos for learning located at Millerwelds.com and other manufacturers too. Tons on youtube too, but be wary of most. Also, go here:Welding Tips and Tricks and watch the videos on MIG and the other processes. He's got the best videos that show the arcs and movements you'll need to learn, although the best videos are for TIG (still useful to see the pool and movement). Also, go ahead and invest in an medium priced auto darkening hood. It will save you lots of headache and frustration learning to weld. |
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Check out your local community colleges for a welding class. My son and I signed up for one and we're having a blast. I already knew how to Mig and gas weld, but I wanted to learn to arc and Tig weld and am being forced to practice. I'm going to wok on my arc welding again this week, and then next week I'm going to start on Tig. You can even bring in projects if you like. For $360, it was worth every cent. After all those years going to school, who'd have thought it could be this much fun?
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Good stuff there. +1 for the autohood. Love 'em. Thanks for those links. That tig finger looks awesome. I usually barehand tig. Gonna get me a couple them! 
Quick funny welding story: Brazing class. Student can't get his torch to stay lit. Instructor gets pissed and grabs it to show the dummy how it's done. Insructor is a skinny little dude with a fantastic mullet wearing a oversized denim shirt with the cuffs unbuttoned. Instructor fumblefucks with it for a few minutes and can't get it lit either so he throws the striker across the shop and draws his Zippo. Unknown to Mulletboy was the gas wasn't tight at the base of the torch and had been flowing up his sleeve. Flick the Zippo and WOOOSH!! Flames are shooting out his sleeves and neck hole and he's doing some funky chicken dance.
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Good stuff there. +1 for the autohood. Love 'em. Thanks for those links. That tig finger looks awesome. I usually barehand tig. Gonna get me a couple them!
The tig finger actually works well. I have two and use them extensively when welding AL, one for my torch pinky to glide along the surface and one for the other hand to rest on the work. It can be kind of a pain to have all that stuff on your hands, but it works well for the high heat applications. |