Welding Classes

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
I live in Davis County and want to learn how to weld. I am not interested in getting a degree in it, just want to learn to weld so I can start fabing stuff. I don't know what yet just that I want to learn to weld.
 
I started out with having a welder and some steel.

Practice, practice, practice.


x2

I bought a cheap 110v Craftsman welder from Sears and just started practicing with scraps of steel. After some practice, I started welding up small projects, build bumpers, sliders, little things for friends, etc. I eventually welded the spring perches on my YJ Spring Over (giving each weld 3 passes!) with my little welder.

Eventually when it was time to step up to a bigger welder, I felt I had the skill to use it. I've done all kinds of stuff with the 220v Lincoln and I think for the most part I'm a pretty decent welder.

MIG welding is easy though, if you can write your name with a pen, you can MIG. ;) It's just point & draw, then pick up some technique over time to make strong welds.
 
IMO, the best way to learn is to start with a Oxy/Acet setup. Not the most glorious, but will teach you how to control your puddle. Then move on to an Arc setup. Once you are comfortable with both of those, you will be able to pickup most any other methods (mid, tig, etc). It will also make it so your mig welds have proper penetration and you control your puddle/heat properly.

Like Greg said, there is nothing to mig welding...as a result of that, you can have an excellent looking weld and have no penetration or extreme under cutting. So, start with an oxy/acet setup and move on to arc and then get a mig.

As for technique, you can get a lot of proper techniques from the web (check out Miller's site and Lincoln's site) or I'd strongly suggest taking a begginers welding class at the Community college. It's only a couple nights a week and even if you only do it for a single semester, you'll pickup the basics, learn oxy/acet welding and cutting, brazing, arc, and get exposed to tons of other techniques. DAT may have something as well, but the SLCC program is top notch.
 
Last edited:
Tonyswelding.com has some great free instructional videos that will tell you everything you need to know about welders and welding techniques.. granted its not one on one... but take pictures of your welds and post them on offroadfabnet.com and they will tell you what you need to adjust to make your welding better.
 
IMO, the best way to learn is to start with a Oxy/Acet setup. Not the most glorious, but will teach you how to control your puddle. Then move on to an Arc setup. Once you are comfortable with both of those, you will be able to pickup most any other methods (mid, tig, etc). It will also make it so your mig welds have proper penetration and you control your puddle/heat properly.

Like Greg said, there is nothing to mig welding...as a result of that, you can have an excellent looking weld and have no penetration or extreme under cutting. So, start with an oxy/acet setup and move on to are and then get a mig.

As for technique, you can get a lot of proper techniques from the web (check out Miller's site and Lincoln's site) or I'd strongly suggest taking a begginers welding class at the Community college. It's only a couple nights a week and even if you only do it for a single semester, you'll pickup the basics, learn oxy/acet welding and cutting, brazing, arc, and get exposed to tons of other techniques. DAT may have something as well, but the SLCC program is top notch.

Agreed! MIG is so easy it can be dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced. I have seen "professional" fabricators lay down beautiful beads with MIG, that were absolutely worthless because of contamination, lack of penetration/fusion, etc.

I started my welding education with the DATC's welding program. Granted, it wasn't really geared specifically to my intended purposes, I still learned good habits there. Remember, just like painting, welding is 80% prep, 20% actual welding. Good looking beads over terrible fits, dirty material, etc. are worthless when you're dealing with people's safety.
 
So I called DATC since they are literally a dozen rock throws from my house. They told me that they don't have any continuing education classes but if I wanted to register ($40) and come sit down with a counselor we could come up with an education plan so I can get my training and pay for it by the hour as I wanted. That sounds okay to me but now what do you suggest?

http://www.datc.edu/programs/school-of-manufacturing/welding-technology

Here are my options but some of this stuff I have no idea what it means. I just want to learn how to weld, I'm an Accountant that works in middle to upper end accounting programs, I would say I am good with the math, computers and communication skills (don't ask my wife about the last one). I just want to weld.

Any suggestions?
 
So I called DATC since they are literally a dozen rock throws from my house. They told me that they don't have any continuing education classes but if I wanted to register ($40) and come sit down with a counselor we could come up with an education plan so I can get my training and pay for it by the hour as I wanted. That sounds okay to me but now what do you suggest?

http://www.datc.edu/programs/school-of-manufacturing/welding-technology

Here are my options but some of this stuff I have no idea what it means. I just want to learn how to weld, I'm an Accountant that works in middle to upper end accounting programs, I would say I am good with the math, computers and communication skills (don't ask my wife about the last one). I just want to weld.

Any suggestions?
For your reference:

SMAW - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)
GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding (Mig)
GTAW - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (Tig)
FCAW - Fluxed-core Arc Welding (cross between stick and mig)

What I would do, depending on how much you want to spend/how much time you want to spend is:

WELD 1210 Oxy-fuel Gas Welding
WELD 1250 ARC Cutting Processes-Carbon Air Arc (CAC)/ Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) (This one would be optional, but knowing how to properly cut with a torch and a plasma cutter is priceless, so many don't have a clue how to properly use either)
WELD 1255 SMAW Welding I
WELD 1310 SMAW Welding II

At this point, you will likely be able to pick up just about any kind of common welder and lay a bead. Being able to lay a good looking bead will be a matter of practice with whatever method you choose to use. At this point you will be able to control your bead, control the heat, properly prepare a joint...basically all the basics of welding. You should also have a good feel for how the arc is supposed to be and whether you should be pushing your puddle or pulling.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top