Debating on learning how to weld

[superhomunculus]

My ultimate goal is to be able work my frame but also start a new hobby. My only experience is stick welding and that was almost 25 years ago in shop class.
So first, I need to justify spending the money. Honestly, Ive pissed away more money on less. And my wife already said okay. So that settles that. Next, I need recommendations on a welder. Then, I need to learn how to use it (obviously). And of course I'll need lots of practice. Any good tutorial videos, resources, words of wisdom, etc.....

 

[ArmArak]

I'm not sure where you are located, but I took a welding class at my local community college a few years back just for fun. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. It's a good way to quickly learn and get a lot of practice without the large investment up front (I only had to buy the protective equipment eg. gloves shield etc.)

 

[sportscarfan]

I bought a Hobart Handler (115v) probably 15 years ago and it has served me well. That said, Miller also makes a good machine, and if my TIG welder is an indicator, HTP is also good stuff.
There are probably others, but your best bet with MIG is to also buy a bottle of 75/25 gas (Argon/CO2).
Also buy a decent (not harbor freight) auto-darkening helmet.
My only tips are to start with the settings the machine recommends (inside the cover there is usually a guide), make sure your polarity is correct, and listen for the bacon frying sound. Clean bare metal always yields the best results...rust, paint, zinc/galvanized coatings, etc. will just cause problems.

 

[mtbtim]

Buy a welder and just go for it. I thought I'd make time to take welding classes at a community college. It never happened. There's lots of great videos on YouTube that will help you get started and then you just practice, practice, practice. I got a bunch of scrap metal at a fab shop and I'd just spend time in my garage laying beads down. Mig welding is pretty easy to learn.

Once I felt my skills we OK, I started welding things. My biggest project was welding on Total Chaos spindle gussets.

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[brillo_76]

I did this year's ago. Living in the rust belt myself. If your planning on welding the frames. I would buy a 125 /220 mig siekd gas welder. As the 115 really isn't quite have enough amps to weld 1/8 easily. Yes you can do it but it's alot easier with 220 volt welder. My build thread is full of welding of frames photos etc. If your curious how I do it.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[ZSW99]

I took some trade school classes shortly after I graduated high school. It was pretty helpful to get some basics and have a good explanation of the safety aspects. A lot of the safety stuff is common sense but it’s worth it to know how to handle bottles etc. It was nice too because we got access to stick, mig, tig and oxy/acetylene and also plasma cutters so it was nice to see the back to back differences. After that though I didn’t weld for almost 15 years until last year when I bought a 120v mig machine (Lincoln 140hd) and it’s been awesome.

So far I’ve built front and rear bumpers, welded spindle gussets, welded panhard relocation brackets, and made a custom roof rack. I’ve also made a ton of other stuff for around the house. I consider the welder an indispensable tool.

A 240v machine will handle frame welding better but I’ve successfully welded similar thickness stuff with my small machine with proper prep and preheating so I’d say it depends on the scale of work you need done. YouTube goes a long way. Dirt Lifestyle channel has a lot of good info for home fabricators

 

[3bears]

do it...i had to rely on others to weld for me...now I wish i had the skill....do it

 

[Doc2012]

Dude.

YouTube; and make a couple friends at a welding shop, or take a couple classes.

Stay away from Harbor Freight shit welders; and look at Eastwood.

The 135 is a fantastic welder; and is a 120v. Perfect for a garage.

It’s also a Mig/Flux welder; so you can start out with flux, then buy a CO2 or C25 (argon/CO2) tank when you decide if you actually want to do it ‘full time’ or not.

And don’t be afraid to 1) watch YouTube videos, or 2) talk to people about it.

It’s a blast (literally) to be able to have an idea and turn it into something functional.


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[thezentree]

Take classes at a community college. I did, and learned a TON in a very short period of time. You'll get there eventually with youtube but it'll take years, and you won't get the metallurgy part of it.

 

[Nova_GTS]

I was in the same boat about a year ago... though I feel like aluminum welding is a more valuable skill and usually has some cross compatibility with steel.

After tons of research, I opted to buy what I would consider the best "at home welder", the Lincoln Square Wave 200.
I can TIG or Stick (I suck at stick, but my new 3rd gen may change that), it easily converts between 110/220v, and its super light.

I too took a class many years ago, I finally refilled my 80cf bottle this week and am feeling like I am finally getting the hang of it again.

 

[Kwikvette]

I literally have a thread following my 'welding progress'

Started school for welding, and with only 2-3 weeks into MIG, I already landed a job at a fabrication shop having made over 40 benches, 2 jigs, and multiple other things.

Easy to learn, difficult to master, and there will be days where you'll wonder wtf you're doing.

I love it and plan to do it for a living.

This is after having quit from a six-figure salary and having been in 3 different career paths; military, law enforcement, car business.

 

[diverscale]

Go for it.

For working on your truck's frame, you'll need a 240 volt welder. Mig flux-cored for outside or with gas for inside, is the easiest, there is no way you can't weld with that.

moreover, you can find much more utility than repairing your frame. You can repair and build full of stuff with that.

Just finished an ATV/lawn tractor trailer yesterday, that I first; could not have afforded new and pre-built, and second, would not fit my need and dimensions.

I use an hobart multi handler 200 which I love. For years I used a cheap brand welder and it really makes a difference.

 

[speedrr411]

Welding

Learning to weld opened up a whole new world for me. I only tig because I like the control and the beauty of the welds. You will not regret it.

 

[speedrr411]

Toyota related

Made these for the 4RUNNER

 

[Romeo1]

I’ve been what could call a welder for about 25 years. Started on the farm. Then did it for fun. Then for shop class. Won welding contest or two in FFA. Went to state and placed 5 th or 6th. Then built lots of happy stuff like trailers, repaired large equipment, and lots of livestock fence. So I feel like I am able to speak intelligently to this question. I’m sure I am somewhere between five and 10,000 hours worth of welding time all these years.

We live in the golden era for information, and you can learn how to do anything fairly well on YouTube. Welding really isn’t that complicated, yeah sure there is a lot of nuance and special things to learn, materials, alloys rods yada yada if you’re doing specialty stuff. In the end you are just melting two pieces together in a controlled fashion.

If you can’t afford a cheap buzz box welder and some Rod, I would argue then you can’t afford a lot of things in life. The real trick to welding though is hours doing it. Like I said it’s really not complicated, but you have to develop the feel, the hearing, and what you’re seeing.

There’s some really nice cheap little wire feed welder‘s these days too. For most hobbyist guys those are perfect. Pull the trigger, point your mig gun in, and track the bead and the way you go.

If you think you serious, find some local community college or trade school, they all have a welding class. I’d say it’s time worthwhile span for the intro.

It’s like literally every single thing in life, the only thing stopping you is you……

 

[Cree]

I will advocate a 110/220 combo MIG setup. Or straight 220. That really opens up options as to what you can do, and chances are even if you got a cheap buzz box, you'd probably want to upgrade eventually. Just get the larger setup out the git and you'll be good to go.

 

[superhomunculus]

I think I might go with the Hobart Handler 190. Looks I am going to do some wiring soon

 

[D'arce]

When I was in your position years ago I was looking at the 190 as well. I ended up with the 210MVP. It has been nice to be able to run off 110 to do some small things, especially when the 220 outlet was too far away or the cord too short to reach the project. Either way I think you'll enjoy the machine. I was able to repair my frame and build a couple WIY bumpers. I really wanted a TIG machine but some of the repairs I had to do required blind welding around a corner, which would have been impossible with a TIG setup.

 

[superhomunculus]

I started running couple of new lines this week for my future welding shop. Didn't get real far, too damn cold out. Had to use a pick axe to break through the frozen dirt, lol. Ive also been watching some good videos too. Hopefully Ill be set up in the next month or so and Ill start posting pictures of my learning progress. I have an old truck I was going to scrap, I think I might use the metal off of it to practice on.

 

[user3425]

I've always wanted to learn how to weld. Much respect to those who are good at it.