Welding Questions

rmcculloch · 10-02-2003, 01:43 AM

Hey guys, I want to learn to weld, but don't know where to start. I can't take a class at a community college because I am a firefighter and I work a rotating schedule. Any good websites or books you could recommend, and what type of welder should I get, MIG, TIG, ARC? I want to be able to weld bumpers, roof racks, etc. Any help would be awesome.
Thanks

xjsport · 10-02-2003, 01:51 AM

I learned how to weld by taking classes. I am sure it all depends on your teacher and how good the programs are. Sounds to me that you need a mig. There is no reason for a tig welder for bumpers and stuff and a arc welder is tougher to learn on. However, i learned on stick and i think it made me a better mig welder. You should learn all three but for welding in the auto field, mig is the way you should go.

ZmOz · 10-02-2003, 01:54 AM

MIG is probably the easiest to learn. Just keep practicing and one day you just start making great welds. I learned with a stick welder and now with that I can make NASA quality welds. I recently got a MIG welder for my garage and my welds looked horrible for a while...then one day I just figured it out and they started looking great.

I would take a look around at aws.org, it's all about welding and they also have a forum about it.

xjsport · 10-02-2003, 01:56 AM

oh yeah, it takes more than a welder to make stuff. most of the time you are cutting and grinding and the welding only last a few seconds for the hours you spending fabing. You'll need equiptment to cut and grind. Chop saws will get most stuff done but try and get a bandsaw for cutting. ALso atleast a torch outfit is needed, plasma perferable but even More $$. You'll need a good grinder both bench and hand held. Drill presses are good but you can use a hand drill. I guess my point is you may get a welder for $600 but you'll need that $$ again to just get you making the pieces.

AthlonAJ · 10-02-2003, 04:19 AM

I would look into joining some local offroad clubs, usually someone in them knows how to weld and might give you some good tips and hands on. When you do get to actual welding don't forget a pretty weld isn't always a strong weld. Weld something than clamp it in a vice and try and bust it apart, if it breaks at the weld, check out your penetration and keep practicing.

XJ Sean · 10-02-2003, 11:48 AM

Of course there's no substitute for practice, but I just got some welding books from Lincoln for dirt cheap, 3 books for 22 bucks or something (they're even hardcover)

https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/lincoln/spmount/

I got:

Arc Welding Instruction for the Beginner
New Lessons in Arc Welding
and Metals and How to Weld Them

I've only read the 1st so far, but it's very informative (may not be as much for you and your MIG)

hjeepxj · 10-02-2003, 01:06 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by AthlonAJ -=-
Weld something than clamp it in a vice and try and bust it apart, if it breaks at the weld, check out your penetration and keep practicing.

I remember doing that in autoshop...

now, define penetration exactly (

) i think it means getting the heat/and weld deep into the 2 peices your trying to "mate"

ZmOz · 10-02-2003, 06:53 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by hjeepxj -=-
I remember doing that in autoshop...

now, define penetration exactly (

) i think it means getting the heat/and weld deep into the 2 peices your trying to "mate"

Yes, it's how deep the weld has penetrated into the metal. Should go all the way through...

AthlonAJ · 10-02-2003, 07:20 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by hjeepxj -=-
I remember doing that in autoshop...

now, define penetration exactly (

) i think it means getting the heat/and weld deep into the 2 peices your trying to "mate"

Git dem' hormoans in check dadburnit! :bangnerd: Welding ain't sexy...or is it? Just don't weld nekkid or you'll have some wicked flash burns!

jpcomanche · 10-02-2003, 07:28 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by XJ Sean -=-
Of course there's no substitute for practice, but I just got some welding books from Lincoln for dirt cheap, 3 books for 22 bucks or something (they're even hardcover)

https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/lincoln/spmount/

I got:

Arc Welding Instruction for the Beginner
New Lessons in Arc Welding
and Metals and How to Weld Them

I've only read the 1st so far, but it's very informative (may not be as much for you and your MIG)

Thanks for the link. I ordered some books today. Great deal!

ZmOz · 10-02-2003, 07:48 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by AthlonAJ -=-
Git dem' hormoans in check dadburnit! :bangnerd: Welding ain't sexy...or is it? Just don't weld nekkid or you'll have some wicked flash burns!

I've welded without a shirt before...that is a BAD idea...

mudxj · 10-02-2003, 08:06 PM

a buddy of mine came home with our arc welder that his boss was going to throw away . score

hjeepxj · 10-02-2003, 08:36 PM

Quote:

-=- originally posted by AthlonAJ -=-
Git dem' hormoans in check dadburnit! :bangnerd: Welding ain't sexy...or is it? Just don't weld nekkid or you'll have some wicked flash burns!

MurDoc · 10-02-2003, 11:18 PM

if you get stick you can buy 7018 it's drag only in flat position but your bead will come out nice. 6010 isnt bad but you'll have to learn how to whip. mig is easy to learn but i think your better off learning how to use stick.

10-02-2003, 01:43 AM	#1
rmcculloch Registered Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Welding Questions Hey guys, I want to learn to weld, but don't know where to start. I can't take a class at a community college because I am a firefighter and I work a rotating schedule. Any good websites or books you could recommend, and what type of welder should I get, MIG, TIG, ARC? I want to be able to weld bumpers, roof racks, etc. Any help would be awesome. Thanks

10-02-2003, 01:51 AM	#2
xjsport Registered Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bedford, tx Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I learned how to weld by taking classes. I am sure it all depends on your teacher and how good the programs are. Sounds to me that you need a mig. There is no reason for a tig welder for bumpers and stuff and a arc welder is tougher to learn on. However, i learned on stick and i think it made me a better mig welder. You should learn all three but for welding in the auto field, mig is the way you should go. __________________ 98 xj 4.0, aw4, 4.56 gears,RE 5.5, 34" TrXus Mt's, warn hs9500i, custom4x4fabrication bumpers, custom tire carrier and rock rails, surco rack, rusty's steering, more brace, dana 44 arb, dana 30 arb w/spicer x shafts.

10-02-2003, 01:54 AM	#3
ZmOz JU's Eric Cartman Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,125 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MIG is probably the easiest to learn. Just keep practicing and one day you just start making great welds. I learned with a stick welder and now with that I can make NASA quality welds. I recently got a MIG welder for my garage and my welds looked horrible for a while...then one day I just figured it out and they started looking great. I would take a look around at aws.org, it's all about welding and they also have a forum about it. __________________ How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

10-02-2003, 01:56 AM	#4
xjsport Registered Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bedford, tx Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	oh yeah, it takes more than a welder to make stuff. most of the time you are cutting and grinding and the welding only last a few seconds for the hours you spending fabing. You'll need equiptment to cut and grind. Chop saws will get most stuff done but try and get a bandsaw for cutting. ALso atleast a torch outfit is needed, plasma perferable but even More $$. You'll need a good grinder both bench and hand held. Drill presses are good but you can use a hand drill. I guess my point is you may get a welder for $600 but you'll need that $$ again to just get you making the pieces. __________________ 98 xj 4.0, aw4, 4.56 gears,RE 5.5, 34" TrXus Mt's, warn hs9500i, custom4x4fabrication bumpers, custom tire carrier and rock rails, surco rack, rusty's steering, more brace, dana 44 arb, dana 30 arb w/spicer x shafts.

10-02-2003, 04:19 AM	#5
AthlonAJ Registered Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lamont IA Posts: 1,879 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would look into joining some local offroad clubs, usually someone in them knows how to weld and might give you some good tips and hands on. When you do get to actual welding don't forget a pretty weld isn't always a strong weld. Weld something than clamp it in a vice and try and bust it apart, if it breaks at the weld, check out your penetration and keep practicing. __________________ AJ's Offroad Armor

10-02-2003, 11:48 AM	#6
XJ Sean Registered Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: East Hampton, CT Posts: 1,407 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Of course there's no substitute for practice, but I just got some welding books from Lincoln for dirt cheap, 3 books for 22 bucks or something (they're even hardcover) https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/lincoln/spmount/ I got: Arc Welding Instruction for the Beginner New Lessons in Arc Welding and Metals and How to Weld Them I've only read the 1st so far, but it's very informative (may not be as much for you and your MIG) __________________ Swiss Colony Beef Log baby, that's what Christmas is all about

10-02-2003, 08:06 PM	#12
mudxj Registered Join Date: May 2002 Location: toms river nj Posts: 384 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	a buddy of mine came home with our arc welder that his boss was going to throw away . score

10-02-2003, 11:18 PM	#14
MurDoc Registered Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 133 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	if you get stick you can buy 7018 it's drag only in flat position but your bead will come out nice. 6010 isnt bad but you'll have to learn how to whip. mig is easy to learn but i think your better off learning how to use stick. __________________ In the quiet words of the virgin mary come again. the racist genocidal terms "Hispanic" and "Latino", terms which are anti-Mexican, anti-Chicano, anti- "Central American", and anti-Indigenous. Hispanic just means Spaniard. Latino is another word for the colonialist people of southern Europe who invaded our lands. We are not Spaniards, colonialists, or Europeans. Both words deny us our true Indigenous Anahuac heritage and identity.

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