I'm done. I need to learn how to weld.

[jmg222]

Tired of bringing every little job that requires welding to a local shop. I've been meaning to do this for years, never got around to it.

I'm not looking to be a master welder... I know there are a ton of different types of welding, I want to start with something that will give me the best bang for the buck, at least let me work on sheet metal projects, things like welding on frame stiffeners, smaller stuff like that.

I want to learn to do it properly, not from yahoos off you tube-- any suggestions? checking my local universities to see if they offer any courses... If I'm overplaying this, let me know.. maybe just buy a book and a small set up from harbor freight and start practicing?

 

[alwayzAMC]

i would not discredit youtube as a learning source, i have learned a ton from watching videos there, it contains a lot of great info from competent welders. longevity welding forum is also a great place for beginner tips and tricks. what type of welding process are you trying to learn? i picked up a mig welder a couple years , and found it fairly easy to pick up. i do however have a mass amount of metal knowledge from being in the scrap metal industry for decades and that helps a bunch, but still think one can pick it up pretty easy.

 

[jmg222]

i would not discredit youtube as a learning source, i have learned a ton from watching videos there, it contains a lot of great info from competent welders. longevity welding forum is also a great place for beginner tips and tricks. what type of welding process are you trying to learn? i picked up a mig welder a couple years , and found it fairly easy to pick up. i do however have a mass amount of metal knowledge from being in the scrap metal industry for decades and that helps a bunch, but still think one can pick it up pretty easy.

Didn't mean to discredit everything on youtube I've actually gained most of my mechanical skills by picking up a project, watching a ton of youtube videos, and then settling on what seemed to be the most reasonable route...

I'm in a weird position that I don't know what kind of welding that I want to learn.. I have a few projects coming up that I'd like to do myself-- smallish stuff like welding on frame stiffeners, welding a seam in my wheel well that I cut into when I over-zealously cut for my flares, reweld exhaust hangars. For now, stuff like that, but I could imagine going more advanced in the future...

 

[alwayzAMC]

i do alot of the same welding on my jeep, and my mig has worked wonderfully on it. using mig gas has proven to be much easier than flux core for me, and people i talk to at the fab shops i visit hate flux as well. just be prepared to learn a whole new definition of what clean metal is while welding, lol

 

[jmg222]

i do alot of the same welding on my jeep, and my mig has worked wonderfully on it. using mig gas has proven to be much easier than flux core for me, and people i talk to at the fab shops i visit hate flux as well. just be prepared to learn a whole new definition of what clean metal is while welding, lol

right.. this is why I'm thinking maybe local night course or something.. one of the trade schools here has a beginner tig/mig course... is that what I should be looking at?

 

[alwayzAMC]

it could be a good start, personally i'd rather take a part time job at a fab shop and get paid to learn, lol

 

[jmg222]

it could be a good start, personally i'd rather take a part time job at a fab shop and get paid to learn, lol

that's probably a better way of doing it, but I unfortunately already have a full time job that doesn't involve any welding getting away from my desk 2 nights a week at 8pm for a course is enough of a problem..