Learning to Weld -School or immersion?

[Uncle Dave]

Or both?

I've tacked a few things together with a Mig, and the shop now has a Tig and a plasma cutter.

I been calling guys to do it forever and as long as I got access to the gear I figure why not use it.

Should I bother with a class of some sort (any recommendation) or just start doing it?

The experienced guys always have solid tips and tricks to make life easier, but Ive got no coach to lean on.

Thanks!

Uncle Dave

 

[rvrrun]

I'd dive in, if you enjoy it take instruction. Tig is not much different than gas welding if you've done that, it's just adding a foot into the mix. You might burn through more material/consumables on your own, but if it's all in the shop already go for it.

 

[MOUZER]

i went to welding school in the 80,s i am aws and LA certified in the 80,s also cert underwater welding for the pile drivers union in wilmington in the 80,s....worked about 6 months never welded just construction........never ever welded a day in my life after.....post to work on oil rigs never happened....i dont know if i could weld a boat trailer..........lol bought a 18 wheeler 25k never having a lic i trained myself drove my self to dmv......first job hauling exsplosive material for dow chemical in wilmington.......pile drivers paid $65 a hr i was 18 truck paid me $1.25 mile i was 21 drove for 30 yrs...if i stayed welding for the pile drivers union i woulda been a wealthy man..maybe

 

[ltbaney1]

I have my D1 cert, which means Ive taken both physical and book tests for stick and flux core welding to unlimited thickness and a couple of tig and mig certs. I went both school and immersion. The nice thing about school is they go deep into how and why, then you go do it. Immersion is good because you are not in a well lit booth with plenty of room. Your stuck where the work is and you adapt. I still do a lot of work for fun, and friends and pay every 2 years to keep my certs, but have not welded for a living in about 6 years. Some of the prettiest welds I have seen, have also been the ones that fail instantly. Did all my school at OCC but I hear long beach and Cerritos have good programs as well. Feel free to PM if you want

 

[MillerTime]

Would probably speed up the learning curve with someone giving you pointers. Whether thats at a votech or someone that is knowledgeable and can actually explain it well, you won't know til ya find out. For mig, I had instruction early on, and between that, and the fact that i give a crap about my welds, its made me better than most here in the collision industry in our market. Most people dont know how to "tune" a mig, but its pretty easy once shown how.
I can't stick worth a crap. I dont think ive tried tig since shop class in highschool, but i shake to much to do it anyways.
On the plasma, im learning the hard way. My fil was a machinest at Tinker af base for like 30+ years, and i seen him do it some, but hadn't really done it til i got a machine from him. Anyways, learned the hard way to check the wear parts in the torch on the plasma. I didn't realize i needed to, and now i need a new torch end.
To condense all that down, yep, instruction one way or another from someone with lots of experience would be optimal!!
Good luck! Lots of fun learning something new!

 

[tkrrox]

COC used to have a really good welding program. I spend 2 yrs in it when I was young. I got certified in flux and stick and then realized I hated it. I went to work in a fabrication shop that did props and scenery. Then went on to ornamental iron until I realized it was too hard to compete. Now I just play in the garage.




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[braindead]

If you're disciplined you can learn on your own, I'm not so I took a class. As far as tips and tricks there hit and miss depending on who you ask. When I took the classes at El Camino College in Torrance I was fortunate enough to sign up for the TIG class with a master welder who has worked for fed ex for over 20 yrs welding all the really fancy metals they use on planes. The other teacher had there carts, but was an artist and couldn't explain the reasoning for why shit went bad or was incorrect.

And if it were a better picture you could see that just because there pretty don't mean there weak. This was done by the master welder

 

[nrbr]

Depends on what you want to do in my opinion. I was taught by 2 or 3 old timers on the mig. I've built some cool shit like a few boat trailers that haven't broke . But I'm sure these boys with the certs are much superior welders . I'll only weld shit for myself or family/friends though

 

[braindead]

Pic wouldn't upload in the last message so here ya go

 

[rush1]

Immersion first go out and burn some shit up, weld , weld and them weld some more when you think you've got it and your all that . Go to school and learn how to do it right. Afterwards you'll know I was right you wont just be a book reader you'll know what works and why and have first hand experience as to why.

 

[951prerun]

Just go for it if you have the tools. I bought a mig, tig, and plasma machines when I was 18 and just started going to town. Along the way I asked several people for pointers and gradually honed my skills over the years. If you have questions just ask away!

 

[Mandelon]

Maybe a cheap class at a local community college or through The Learning Annex? Not sure if they have that in your area or if they happen to have welding...

 

[Racey]

Buy a welder, just start welding. Between YouTube, here, and other forums you have all the information you need as a hobby welder.

It's a "feel" craft, the only way to get good is by pure experience.

 

[bagged97taco]

As others have said. Just go for it. Buy scrap metal and just weld. Don’t build anything just melt metal together. Get a feel for it, then build something. YouTube is good for info.

 

[AEA]

Go to www.weldingtipsandtricks.com and spend some time with his videos. As other have said get some metal and have at it. Cut and etch your welds to see how you are doing.

 

[lbhsbz]

Or both?

I've tacked a few things together with a Mig, and the shop now has a Tig and a plasma cutter.

I been calling guys to do it forever and as long as I got access to the gear I figure why not use it.

Should I bother with a class of some sort (any recommendation) or just start doing it?

The experienced guys always have solid tips and tricks to make life easier, but Ive got no coach to lean on.

Thanks!

Uncle Dave

@sandeggo

Get ahold of Kevin...he'll make you a weldor.

 

[BHC Vic]

I’m studying to get me cwi. Lots of classes. If I were just tying to get my welding certs again it would just be lots of practice

 

[nrbr]

 

[wsuwrhr]

Can you teach an old dog new tricks UD?

 

[Cdog]

Mig was real easy for me to pick up. Such a great tool and fun to use. Same for my plasma cutter. I look forward to using both.

Tig on the other hand is much more complicated mainly because of the machine settings. All the different settings for aluminum verses steel and the exotic metals. I got a killer deal on a Miller liquid cooled sincrowave wave with all the bells and whistle’s. Taking a class to understand what everything does and why would be helpful.

 

[951prerun]

Mig was real easy for me to pick up. Such a great tool and fun to use. Same for my plasma cutter. I look forward to using both.

Tig on the other hand is much more complicated mainly because of the machine settings. All the different settings for aluminum verses steel and the exotic metals. I got a killer deal on a Miller liquid cooled sincrowave wave with all the bells and whistle’s. Taking a class to understand what everything does and why would be helpful.
View attachment 667135

I have the same machine just with the right side of the panel blank (which is not necessary). Its great for steel, but it leaves a lot to be desired with alum. I tried a dynasty and realized it was the machine and not my shitty welds Also the right gas, tungsten, and rod make all the difference!

 

[Mr. C]

COC used to have a really good welding program. I spend 2 yrs in it when I was young. I got certified in flux and stick and then realized I hated it. I went to work in a fabrication shop that did props and scenery. Then went on to ornamental iron until I realized it was too hard to compete. Now I just play in the garage.




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COC still does. My youngest is taking classes. he's about a year and half in and was able to find a job welding that will work with his school schedule and work at his welding also.

 

[Cdog]

I have the same machine just with the right side of the panel blank (which is not necessary). Its great for steel, but it leaves a lot to be desired with alum. I tried a dynasty and realized it was the machine and not my shitty welds Also the right gas, tungsten, and rod make all the difference!

Isn’t the right side primarily for aluminum?

Funny I had more success with welding steel with it as well. But it’s the metal I’m most familiar with welding car stuff.

 

[Racey]

Isn’t the right side primarily for aluminum?

Funny I had more success with welding steel with it as well. But it’s the metal I’m most familiar with welding car stuff.

No the right side is the pulser, it works by creating rythmic pulsing similar to you pumping the pedal on then off. You can set the durations and amperages at high and low ends, It works really good on steel and stainless under about 1/4" by only bringing heat in for just a fraction of a second to lay in one bead, then backs off, allows you to advance, and pulses again. By doing this it keeps a lot of excess heat from saturating in the part, which in turn keeps the heat at the weld very consistent from the start of the weld to the end of the weld.

Once you have it really tuned in for the material thickness and welding position you can start laying down robotic welds.

Just a random pic here of some pulse welding i was doing on stainless tubing. Notice how narrow the heat line is.

 

[Cdog]

No the right side is the pulser, it works by creating rythmic pulsing similar to you pumping the pedal on then off. You can set the durations and amperages at high and low ends, It works really good on steel and stainless under about 1/4" by only bringing heat in for just a fraction of a second to lay in one bead, then backs off, allows you to advance, and pulses again. By doing this it keeps a lot of excess heat from saturating in the part, which in turn keeps the heat at the weld very consistent from the start of the weld to the end of the weld.

Once you have it really tuned in for the material thickness and welding position you can start laying down robotic welds.

View attachment 667161

Just a random pic here of some pulse welding i was doing on stainless tubing. Notice how narrow the heat line is.

Nice! See what I mean. It’s much more complicated than mig. Haha!

 

[jones performance]

time behind the the torch is what it takes. the settings on the machines can make that easier or harder... thats where the schooling part really helps.

 

[JDKRXW]

This thread reminds me of this;

 

[Mandelon]

This thread reminds me of this;

View attachment 667227

LOl, that's genius!

 

[Bowtiepower00]

If you have a talented welder to give you some starting advice and bounce ideas off of, that is ideal to get started. If you are serious about welding, I would take some classes at your local community college. You can pick up mig pretty easily, but TIG is going to take some serious practice.

 

[braindead]

No the right side is the pulser, it works by creating rythmic pulsing similar to you pumping the pedal on then off. You can set the durations and amperages at high and low ends, It works really good on steel and stainless under about 1/4" by only bringing heat in for just a fraction of a second to lay in one bead, then backs off, allows you to advance, and pulses again. By doing this it keeps a lot of excess heat from saturating in the part, which in turn keeps the heat at the weld very consistent from the start of the weld to the end of the weld.

Once you have it really tuned in for the material thickness and welding position you can start laying down robotic welds.

View attachment 667161

Just a random pic here of some pulse welding i was doing on stainless tubing. Notice how narrow the heat line is.

Someone didn't prep there material first, tisk tisk

 

[ChumpChange]

Not sure where you're located but there's a school in Pomona that I know of.

https://www.weldingcertificationcenter.com/about.html

 

[Uncle Dave]

Awesome (and entertaining) feedback from everyone. Thank you.

I'm going to read through some links provided and check out schooling and put my hands on the tools and see how I can do by instinct.

Surprisingly to me - the guys at Miller didn't give very good beginner advice out of the gate prompting me to post the question.

But then again sales guys aren't welders and maybe I should have known better.

UD

 

[AEA]

Awesome (and entertaining) feedback from everyone. Thank you.

I'm going to read through some links provided and check out schooling and put my hands on the tools and see how I can do by instinct.

Surprisingly to me - the guys at Miller didn't give very good beginner advice out of the gate prompting me to post the question.

But then again sales guys aren't welders and maybe I should have known better.

UD

I like Miller welders but I agree with your comment about their seemingly unsupportive attitude toward beginners.