Any welders here? I want to learn.

[DannoMight]

I seriously want to learn, but the only formal courses I can find are comprehensive classes at local tech schools that run 9 months in the evenings. What I'd like to do is first get some hands-on experience crash course style, see if I like it, and am any good at it, then perhaps invest the $1000 to take the school classes.

Any of you welders think I could actually learn how to MIG worth a shit from a DIY style instructional video?

i kinda know how to weld already. its not too hard as long as you have a steady hand and know how to adjust the welder to the steel your welding. shit close to where i live and ironworker makes some good $$ as long as they are working. they get $40 per hr plus an annuity and also anything over 8 hrs or 40in a week is overtime pay @ 2x scale so basically $80hr for a journeyman.

 

[RottenWillow]

i kinda know how to weld already. its not too hard as long as you have a steady hand and know how to adjust the welder to the steel your welding. shit close to where i live and ironworker makes some good $$ as long as they are working. they get $40 per hr plus an annuity and also anything over 8 hrs or 40in a week is overtime pay @ 2x scale so basically $80hr for a journeyman.

Mostly I'm interested in learning for the car modding we're doing right now. It requires welding and neither me or my fiancee knows how, so that's the one thing we'll have to pay someone to do. I think I've got the patience to be reasonably good at it, then in the future we won't have to go to a metal fab shop for anything.

I think I'm going with a TIG welder since it seems to be the most versatile and it also gives you more control than the other types.

 

[RottenWillow]

You know all those 199 dollar mig welders and even most of the ones on Ebay, they suck buddy. A good mig welder is gonna cost you. Also, on setting up a welder Miller has these cards, they have a pull thing in the middle, and you line up the metal size with the type of metal and they give you the starting point. Yu must fine tune from there depending on how you weld. Why are you choosing Mig? I like Tig myself. You can pick up a Miller Dynasty Tig welder for about 2700 bucks. Get used to the term "stack of dimes" also. Because thats what you want. I just worked at a place not long ago and well, they just had me pulling beads as fast as I could, and if it looked like sheot we grinded. That sucked. Your best bet is to hit the Adult Education school in your area. They have probably two night classes a week or a 6 hour saturday course I am sure. OOps, TIG welders are also stick welders, as well as your high end MIG welders are also stick welders. 220V is what you want, not those cheap 110V. They don't penetrate and are mostly made for small gauge steel or sheet metal. With TIG you can do anything, the possibilities are endless. Not only that but when you get good (10 or so years) You'll be able to weld anything. BTW MIG welding is fast man. I mean fast.

Watch you puddle, run it, in small circular motions and move. And don't think a welding job is easy. At times its hardcore man..............

Just tellin' ya how it is bro......
Good luck.......
Keep us posted........
Walli

screwed up the karma message. I am taking your advice and getting a TIG setup. Thanks.

 

[Humble Pride]

Mostly I'm interested in learning for the car modding we're doing right now. It requires welding and neither me or my fiancee knows how, so that's the one thing we'll have to pay someone to do. I think I've got the patience to be reasonably good at it, then in the future we won't have to go to a metal fab shop for anything.

I think I'm going with a TIG welder since it seems to be the most versatile and it also gives you more control than the other types.

why not spend about $3K and get a unit that can Stick/Mig/Tig weld..........................

worth every penny

 

[RottenWillow]

why not spend about $3K and get a unit that can Stick/Mig/Tig weld..........................

worth every penny

You're offering me $2500 to add to the $500 max we have to spend on a welder?

 

[Humble Pride]

You're offering me $2500 to add to the $500 max we have to spend on a welder?

$500 for a water cooled Tig machine with pedal and all??????

Make sure it's rated to weld thicker than "tin-foil"