Welding

[jruss]

I want to learn how to weld. I have 0 experience with fab. Where should I start?

 

[mesha]

Find someone with a welder and try it. If you are around you can try mine.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I taught myself. I went out, bought a welder, and started laying booger welds. They sucked big time, but it slowly got better. Then a buddy of mine came by and tutored me for a couple hours. I've been laying down solid welds ever since.

Community colleges and trade schools usually have awesome welding classes. If you're around you can try mine as well. It's addictive and very handy. I can't believe how much I end up using my welder.

 

[Herzog]

There are some really good welding technique videos out there to watch and learn from before you actually sit down to run a bead on plate. I would recommend learning on an old arc system because if you can control that and make good welds, you can MIG like a champ. I'd be willing to bet that most people wouldn't have a problem lending out an old arc welder to learn on since you can't really hurt them.

After you get good at laying down a bead on flat surface, start changing it up a bit and do a non-flat surface and even some vertical stuff so you can learn how the puddle acts in different situation and learn how to control it.

 

[I Lean]

I'll agree with that--stick welding takes a lot more work and skill, all of which helps your MIG technique. Practice a bunch on scrap steel, before you commit to something you need to look good or function well. (or safely)

 

[TJDukit]

I learned in high school to stick weld. Now that I finally have a wire welder and have practiced a little I can say it is an easy transition even though it had been 16 years since I touched a welder. I still want to get a bottle for mine so I can actually mig weld but for now flux core will do the trick.

 

[Gravy]

Read the Army welding handbook it is available online for free.

Watch "how to weld" it is sold at most welding shops.

practice practice practice before you weld anything than requires safety.

 

[rollover]

PDF book

http://www.metalwebnews.org/ftp/army-welding.pdf

 

[blznnp]

definitely agree to doing stick first, teaches you the basics, i personally also like to start with oxy/acy welding cause that really shows you the basics. im sure if you live near anyone here on RME that has a welder, they would let you use it, i know if you were in West Jordan or nearby i would gladly let you use mine to get some experience.

 

[frieed]

All of the videos by Steve Bleile (http://www.weldingvideos.com/about.html) are outstanding....

 

[rollover]

SLCC and some high schools have night classes if your so inclined as well.

 

[jruss]

Thanks for all the tips. I'll start with the vids and reading material and go from there.

 

[sixstringsteve]

PDF book

http://www.metalwebnews.org/ftp/army-welding.pdf

I wish that book went into more detail. Browsing through that made me realize just how much I don't know.

 

[proskier101]

I just wanted to add my style here.

I just weld shit on my jeep. If it breaks, I weld it differently next time. If it doesnt break, cool.


Nothing has broke yet.

 

[Herzog]

I just wanted to add my style here.

I just weld shit on my jeep. If it breaks, I weld it differently next time. If it doesnt break, cool.


Nothing has broke yet.

How do you get the shit to bond to the steel?

 

[Cascadia]

 

[proskier101]

How do you get the shit to bond to the steel?

I would take pics but I dont want to submit myself to jokes. The first welds look like shit. lol. spray painted shit.

 

[carsonc1974]

I would take pics but I dont want to submit myself to jokes. The first welds look like shit. lol. spray painted shit.

Not trying to be the know it all a-hole, but this is not good advice... it puts the driver at risk as well as the rest of the public. Its part of the reason we have these stupid safety inspections. Cars, trucks, trailers should not be a learning expiriance. You should learn the techniques / skills on other projects where your life or the lives of others are not at stake... rant over

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[proskier101]

Youve never lived in the South have you?

These safety inspections here and their standards are a joke.

I knew a lot of people with sketchy looking stuff that wouldnt pass inspections here, 50,000 miles later, it is still driving and hasnt kill a bus full of nuns and school children.


I can weld well enough that it will hold. It doesnt talk much to learn basic welding. Looking pretty doesnt really mean strength. Take dana 35s for example, you can get chromolys/lockers/diff cover, it looks nice but is a piece of shit.

 

[Caleb]

I can weld well enough that it will hold. It doesnt talk much to learn basic welding. Looking pretty doesnt really mean strength. Take dana 35s for example, you can get chromolys/lockers/diff cover, it looks nice but is a piece of shit.

Correct, looking pretty doesn't equal strength, but I've never seen a shitty weld that was welded properly. So, I'd take a pretty weld over bird shit any day.

Best advice I'd give, go take the course at SLCC. It's not too expensive and will teach you a otn of different techniques. Starting with oxy/acet welding and cutting, then on to arc. You will be shown several techniques as well that you otherwise would never get a chance to see. Very worthwhile. When you're done with the class, you will be confident in your welding.