learning to weld

[bad_religion_au]

how hard is it. i've got a friend that can teach me, but i don't wanna ask him to if it's going to be a very long process

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

I learnt Oxy, MIG and Stick at Box Hill TAFE, when I was 15. I also used a Spot Welder in Metel Fabrication class, in the second Term.
I found it easy, I'm just too impatient to do long Welds.
Didn't go much into the settings, as MIG and Stick were only used on Mild Steel.

 

[Planet_X]

How hard is it, well that is going to be an individual thing. Kinda like throwing a rock or baseball...how hard was that...and can you even remember?

Its a physical skill, that has elements of intuition and innate talent mixed in.

But you don't have to be especially gifted to make a quality weld, and you can even move yourself to the 'gifted' category if you spend some time learning about your chosen weld process , that simple step will move you out from the hack category fairly quick, but its like anything: you have to do it, not read it,not talk it ,not watch it.

Note: reading, talking, and watching can help or hinder , but as long as most of your time is spent doing it...she will work out.

 

[bad_religion_au]

am i safe to assume once he gets me started on the basics i won't have to pester him every 3 minutes?

of course, he's still welding my cage up

 

[Adventure Teq]

It takes a little time to get the basics down, then it takes some more time to get your technique down. Once you learn the capabilities and settings of your machine then it's a matter of time before you find that comfort zone. Once you find how to get in a comfortable welding position, which isn't always easy, then you start producing quality welds.

Some folks with lots of time with a gun can probably stand on one leg and and have one arm tied behind their back wearing an eye patch and can produce a nice weld. Until you get to that point it's all about stabilizing yourself and the gun, getting all up in it's face, reading the puddle and making the necessary constant adjustments to make it do what you want it to do.

With a MIG it's about as easy as it gets and with a little time you'll be layin some sweet beads. Yeah and studying up on the whole process is necessary as well, not to mention actual training.

Get after it, there's no hurry and you've got nothing but time...

 

[Planet_X]

am i safe to assume once he gets me started on the basics i won't have to pester him every 3 minutes?

of course, he's still welding my cage up

IF he says he is willing to teach you...well that really is his risk.

 

[honk]

Gather up as much scrap steel as you can find - just start collecting it.
My biggest hangup was that I hated wasting a nice piece of expensive steel so even though I had what I needed for the first thing I wanted to make it took me a while before I would jump into it.

Once I got fed up with that I went scrounging and now we have weird 'yard art' spotted (hidden) here and there through 12 acres of trees . But when I ran out of crap steel I was ready for anything!

(oh, if you do scrounge junk steel you'll want to quickly develop an eye for the cleanest pieces available.)

 

[MrMoMo]

I second the scrap for practice. Not sure if you are going MIG stick or TIG. I'll assume that you are going MIG as it is the quickest to learn. A good mig weld is all in the angle and speed (once you have the heat/wire speed) Practice, note the angle you are on and change it a little each time you make a pass. Another tip that may help is to do a "dry" run before you actually weld it. I.E. make sure that you are comfortable for the entire pass WITHOUT welding. if you get 3/4 of the way along what you are trying to weld, and find that your arms have the shakes, try a new position. Rest your elbows on something, stick your baby finger out and drag it along the edge of what you are welding (ahead of the weld so you don't burn it off!!) If you've got good rhythum (sp?) i.e., can play the drums, try your hand at oxy acetelyne for a while, then try TIG. it's all in the timing with that.

Biggest thing to remember..... Flip lid down, then strike arc. NEVER other way around! Otherwise you will be rubbing the sand out of your eyes at 3 in the morning - very painfull.