Learn to weld?

[smslavin]

I'd like to learn how to weld. Looking for suggestions on where to go for a class (preferably on the north side of town or in the Boulder area) or anyone here that might be willing to teach.


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[bh4rnnr]

Emily Griffith has a realy good welding program. Made it all the way to TIG and Overhead ARC (PIA) before my time ran out. They work with you. Nights, days whenever.

 

[lars]

Warren tech out in lakewood/golden also has a good set of classes.

 

[timmbuck2]

I am in North Golden, would love to join!

 

[smslavin]

cool. thanks for the pointers. traveling the rest of the week for work (flying tomorrow should be extra special fun) but i'll look into them when i get back.

timmbuck2, the more the merrier!

 

[J Kimmel]

also airgas on 8th and Zuni offers 4 hour classes on Saturdays might be pretty good for beginners and there are also advanced classes too

 

[Rezarf]

Start welding and post up pics, I was coached along well by some of the more seasoned welders here.

 

[Beater]

whatever you do, learn how to run an oxy fuel set up, and learn it well. That will serve you very, very well. oh, and buy a journeyman level set up. I have 3 machines and a torch set up. I grab the oxy fuel more than the several thousand dollars worth of electronics almost every time.

 

[RedCreeper]

I had a teacher go to warren tech. But after going to school i would say for someone who just wants to do as a hobby buy a welder and lots of scrap and start making stuff. you tube is a good source to. all gets better with practice. i stated making stuff for the shop like this stool. the more time under the hood the better you get. I'm not the best and I'm up north but if you want to learn a few tricks come on up.

 

[smslavin]

buy a welder and lots of scrap and start making stuff.

you make that sound too easy. what do i buy? where do i buy it? do i have to change any electrical?

I'm not the best and I'm up north but if you want to learn a few tricks come on up.

thanks for the offer. i'll probably take you up on it.

 

[RedCreeper]

Sorry about that. There are a few metal yards around. I go to K&K for scrap stuff. Good prices. Im headed to work now but wanted to post up so you did not think I forgot ya. I will post up some stuff later today.

 

[AxleIke]

My personal experience:

I took a class, learned the basics, but not enough to be good.

I'm still learning, but I've learned more from practicing, and posting welds up online, and getting feedback from folks who know what they are doing.

I'm considering taking a class to get certified at some point, but for just doing your own stuff, I would recommend spending the money on some nice equipment rather than a class.

Aside from the welder, a nice, quality (not HF) auto darkening helmet is well worth the coin if you plan to weld a lot. I had an HF one for a while, and while building my various rigs, I began to notice spots and issues with my eyes. Turns out, the reaction time on those HF helmets is slow, and the Eye Doctor said I was starting to damage my eye balls.

Got the new helmet, and problem has gone away.

Alternatively, the cheap option is to get a good shade regular helmet, and learn to do it that way. I hate those, but some folks swear by em, and they are more than adequate to protect your eyes.

And, John, I'm curious why you recommend the gas set up? We learned it in my course, but I've never been a fan, as it requires way too much heat to go into things, and warps the hell outta everything I've every tried to weld that way. I've only ever used a torch regularly to heat and bend stuff. Welding with it always took too long, and made a mess.

By the way, I'm not arguing with you, but rather, I want to hear your reasoning, since you actually do this for a living.

 

[J Kimmel]

I took a class years ago, I never weld with gas and have no plans to get a setup. One thing I would say its helpful is learning how to make, watch, and work a puddle. If you can do that its pretty much the basic for any other type of welding...but I'd love to hear more input from a pro

 

[Beater]

well, with gas, it's not set it and forget it. You need several tips, different gas pressures, etc etc etc. My main point is that with one unit, and a third of the cost of a multi-process machine, you can use it for more than anything else.

welding with gas is just like tig. tig gets way hot too ya know...

j

 

[RedCreeper]

Well I am no pro and have tons of knowledge from school but the only way to be good at it is practice. So take what i say with a grain of salt cuz i know there are better welders on here then me.

My suggestion is like many on here is start with good gear. Good helmet and PPE so you don't kill your self learning is the best start. Miller, Speedglas, Jackson and Lincoln make good hoods. I have a Jackson and a Speedglas. Love my Speedglas. Large viewing area and light. Oh and don't forget the safety glasses. I where them all the time when in the shop. Even when welding.

Not sure why John like the gas. Good to cut stuff but i was never a fan or trying to weld with it. I have both MIG and TIG and prefer TIG. More control. But for fabrication I tend to MIG more because of its speed. Not a cheap hobby but a fun one. At my work we TIG stainless. If you want to use this metal just make sure your well vented. Bad stuff to breathe. On that note be aware of certain metals that can be toxic. Like galvanize and Stainless. Bad stuff and can get sick quick.

Get yourself a good little MIG welder and just start burning stuff. If you can use a 220 machine I would go that route. I recommend using a shielding gas. Cleaner. A teacher in school always said "Just keep burnin rod brother!". Was a ironworker his whole career. There are a few techniques as far as the gun movement and I am sure everyone here does it different. Whip and pause, circles, z pattern and a few others I cant think of at the moment. I do whip and pause or circles. works best for me.

As far as settings all machines come with the basics so you can have a starting point. One thing I do know is EVERYBODY welds different. Whats works for me may not for you. Just listen for bacon sizzling and your in there. I used to look at YouTube videos during school to see how others are doing it. WeldingTipsandTricks.com is a good one. You will hear a lot of welding jargon but if you adapt these lessons to a method that works for you its a good start. I am sure once you get set up and post up picks there are lots on here that could give suggestions to help you out.

Like is said take what i say with a grain of salt. Don't want to sound like a know it all you know what. Everyone is going to have a different opinion on what is best. Like Miller or Lincoln. Soak it all in and go from there. Hope this helps.

 

[RedCreeper]

Oh almost forgot metal is forgiving. If it is a bad weld grind it out and do it again. It is almost always fixable. Almost.....

 

[AxleIke]

well, with gas, it's not set it and forget it. You need several tips, different gas pressures, etc etc etc. My main point is that with one unit, and a third of the cost of a multi-process machine, you can use it for more than anything else.

welding with gas is just like tig. tig gets way hot too ya know...

j

I haven't done much tig welding, but the difference I noticed was that the TIG torch was WAY hotter than the gas, so the melting occurred immediately, and did not require any form of pre-heating.

When I've welded gas, I've had to go up and down the joint a bunch with the torch, heating to near red hot, and then weld, for any decent penetration to happen. Not only does the weld itself take about 10 times longer to do, but that excess heating seems to cause far more warping.

I have no doubt I'm doing it wrong, but I never had the patience to learn it, since MIG is so much faster.

For my needs, the speed and ease of using the MIG was far more important than the "weld anywhere" portability that a gas set up affords an experienced welder.

Now, perhaps there is a good way to do sheet metal with a gas setup, and that I would be VERY happy to learn, because MIGs seem to suck at sheet metal work.

 

[RedCreeper]

TIG you need to ease into the pedal until you see the puddle form. And hold the handle of the torch not the TORCH itself.... lmao.

 

[Beater]

isaac - you're missing the point - my point is to learn gas, then you can do any process better. Gas is all about puddle control, and even the gas flow comes into play with the puddle. it's very tricky stuff. but, when you can learn to control the heat with gas, you can do way more on stick/Tig when you switch over.

most people use way too much gas pressure on oxy/fuel, and the wrong size tip. Plus, you really have to pay attention to prep, just like on tig/stick.

mig is wayyyy too easy imho.. it takes work to learn how to get-r-done on gas, and it only benefits you on the other processes.

as for sheet with mig, go 110 with low voltage, or go to a really big 220v machine, that has the capability to go real low. a 110v hobby welder with gas and .023 will do wonders on sheet, but you do have to move really quick and increase your gaps.

 

[RedCreeper]

John I understand what your saying about gas but think for this instance he would be better to start with mig or stick. Yes gas is tricky and would teach someone some control but as i said everyone welds different. I would start with Stick and learn how to control the heat and puddle with it and then move to MIG. But everyone has a different technique and learning curve. Gas is more of an art and is real tuff for someone who has never been under a hood before. Especially getting a correct neautral, Oxyidized or Carbonized (don't quote my spelling) flame and understanding what is looks like and does before you ever apply it to your surface. For someone who just wants to learn the basics and how to lay a quality and strong weld MIG is the way to go. Easy learning curve. Once they can do that maybe get brave and try the gas. Just my .02.