Welding instruction and equipment

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
I believe I would like to learn how to weld. Nothing fancy, just very basic steel welding. Looking for advice on where and how to start learning?

I have looked at classes at the local community colleges but the instruction seems to be much more than I think i need (not that I know what I really need I guess) 12 week+ of instruction seems a bit much to me.

Any suggestions?

Mark W
 
YouTube is a pretty good start.

There is some good reading on the 'net too, but with the "YouTube" thing, it's a little easier to learn when you can actually watch someone demonstrate what they're explaining.

Jon
 
Mark,

Yes and no, 12 weeks instruction would be very basic. Depends on how the course is structured. You say basic steel welding. My next question would be welding mild steel with what method(s)? Gas torch? Electric stick welder? Wire Mig welder? Tig welder?

I suspect if you ask around you would be able to find a local welder which would be willing to tutor you enough to get you started. Otherwise you can find a lot of good info and instruction on the internet. Companies which make welding equipment may have helpful info right on their web site and there is also YouTube (haven't checked it out but you can find most anything on youtube)
 
Mark,

Look at a Miller Wire Feed. Small, compact, and will weld anything you will want to do. Check out Mississippi Welders Supply in Hudson, WI. My son has owned one of these units for 5 years, and will NOT allow me to put a 40 amp outlet in my shop, or I would be borrowing it all the time! I believe that these people, (Mississippi Welders), will show you all of the ropes involved with starting out.

If the dial is set correctly and you keep moving the gun, it so easy a 70 year old can operate it!

My son says "No he Can't!"

Art
 
I have been a hobby welder for the past 14 years. I am not a pro by any stretch of the imagination. I was blessed to have a couple of friends as welders that taught me several things along the way. At some point I decided I wanted to have a little more formal education. I took a class at a local community college a couple of years ago, it was called "Basic Fitter/Welder." We explored the basics of O/A welding and cutting, SMAW (stick), GMAW (Mig), and GTAW (Tig) over the course of 12 weeks. It was in fact a very basic introduction to each of the welding processes. I have decent machines for each of the processes at home and can practice on my own. Which amounts to "hood time" and making lots of mistakes while learning on all sorts of things.

As it turns out the instructor of the course was an Uncle to one of the guys that I work with. Unknown at the time of signing up for the course. This became a side benefit of taking the class. He has offered his help outside of the school to instruct when needed or offer advice on projects. Not saying this will happen for you, but taking a class may open up other doors besides the typical classroom instruction.

As far as the YouTube deal is concerned. There are many valuable YouTube channels that offer a lot of good advice. WeldingTipsandTricks.com is an awesome, FREE site with fantastic instruction also a YouTube Channel. Miller welding and Lincoln Electric Welding both have YouTube channels and offer good advice and instruction. A helpful forum like this is WeldingWeb.com.

Do you have any idea of what type of welding you want to start with? What types of projects are you thinking you would like to do?
 
Mark

I took a 12 (or so) week course at the local community college. Beyond building my own ability to weld stuff together, it gave me a deeper understanding of importance of proper welding, it's relation to safety, and touble shooting failures and potential failures of misused application. Though I rarely pick up a welder at work, my understanding of welding princpals has given me a better perspective as a supervisor/manager. In my opinion, it is worth the money and time to learn the principals right. There are too many people with little MIG welders that melt metals together and think they are a welder...for the same reason my instructor made the statement that he will not follow a home built trailer down the road.

I had fun in the class, and intended to take an advanced class but haven't...yet.

Best
Chuck
 
I am a welder by trade and the new welder I am looking is a thermal arc. It is able to be switched from ac to dc and you can mig stick or tig weld with one machine at a good price.
Also a 12week course would be a good way to go. They will probably walk you through stick and mig welding. you will learn a lot in that 12 weeks and have the confidence to do welding with both stick and mig welding. Knowing that will get you going on on most steel welding situations. You can also look on YouTube and watch some videos.
 
Well thanks guys. I just missed the welding class at our local community college. Started 3/27.

$380 for 7 weeks of class. once/week for 4 hours I believe. About $120 in welding gea needed on top of this. Next one opens up sometime this summer I would guess.

I'll check online so I at least know what I'm l ooking to do. I have a couple of projects in mind and basic welding would be required.

Mark W
 
7 4 hr classes won't cut it. U need to burn some rod. Lots of it. If u can stick weld u can mig/tig weld no prob. But 4 hrs once a week for 7 weeks won't cut it. U might be able to weld flat and maybe horizontal best. Does the corse have a plate test you have to pass too?
 
Mark,I have been welding most of my life.When I was in high school all boys had to take welding class.Never have worked as a pro welder but have welded alot at work.There is a book out by a biker guy by the name of Jesse James.He had a tv show I believe called monster garrage.This book has great info on all kinds of welding stuff you are not likely to find elsewhere.It will not teach you how to weld but is a great in shop reference for equipment,rods,wire,gas setups,flux and how to buy what you need.I believe book is called "How to weld damn near anything".I will check to be sure when I get home.Good luck
 
Stay away from harbor freight for welders. And don't get a 110 welder they don't have enough juice
 
Well thanks guys. I just missed the welding class at our local community college. Started 3/27.

$380 for 7 weeks of class. once/week for 4 hours I believe. About $120 in welding gea needed on top of this. Next one opens up sometime this summer I would guess.

I'll check online so I at least know what I'm l ooking to do. I have a couple of projects in mind and basic welding would be required.

Mark W
Click to expand...


Did you expect your new found hobby to be cheap...start shopping for a welder. And I'll second Chris's thought of stay away from 110 volt welders...they are a liability. You can scabb things together, but they don't penetrate deep enough for any structural hold.

Chuck
 
Well thanks guys. I just missed the welding class at our local community college. Started 3/27.

$380 for 7 weeks of class. once/week for 4 hours I believe. About $120 in welding gea needed on top of this. Next one opens up sometime this summer I would guess.

I'll check online so I at least know what I'm l ooking to do. I have a couple of projects in mind and basic welding would be required.

Mark W
Click to expand...


Did you expect your new found hobby to be cheap...start shopping for a welder. And I'll second Chris's thought of stay away from 110 volt welders...they are a liability. You can scabb things together, but they don't penetrate deep enough for any structural hold.

Chuck
Click to expand...


Actually I found the cost of the class and supplies to be quite inexpensive and thus the post. For less than $500 I can get introductory lessons in welding. I believe I have the supplies here at work that I can scam for some products I'm responsible for. LED lightbulbs for welding gloves, helmet and so on... It is quite the barter system here at work and I'm back to having good stuff to barter with.

Mark W
 
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