Lurn me sumthin' bout welding

I was wanting to take the mig class at CVCC this comming semester so I could use weld on my truck for free but they make you take cutting processes first..then stick...then mig..tig
 
mmcj7 said:
I had ran a stick for several years before getting the opportunity to mig and I was nervous but it was like spreading butter after learning to stick (for me). Good luck and the only way to get there is with sparks:lol:
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Agree wholeheartedly. I learned on stick and when I first tried mig I felt like I was cheating. Except for learning not to move my torch towards the work as I was welding. That was the hardest part. Now that I think about it I learned O/A cutting before stick and I think it helps teach you about the puddle...

I think there's no substitute for brutal honesty and destructive testing. Sawing welds apart, sledgehammer in a vise, etc. Mig can make pretty welds that aren't super structural, but you can still pretty much say that if a weld looks shitty, it is. The whole concept of "gorilla welds" (ugly but strong) is BS.

Prep some joints and lay down a bead or two then cut a cross section with a sawzall or bandsaw. Pretty cool to see if you have or haven't joined the 2 pieces of metal together completely. Same with the vise, when you have your welds hold up to the sledge treatment and metal bends before the welds fail, its a good feeling.

I have a 220 mig and a gas engine stick at work and if I had to pick just one I think I'd have to go with the stick machine. Less prep, more flexibility (sort of). You can change bottles/electrodes and do stainless and aluminum with mig but stick is just so simple.
 
when yall say stick what are yall saying sorry i would love to learn to weld to haven't got the chance because getting to college and now college doen't allow you to do these kind of life skills!

could somebody post a link to a good starting stick welder i want something i can learn on. all i want to do is cosmetic work on cars and trucks like welding floorpans/ body panels etc. and make some bumbers and a roof rack. cause i'm cheap
 
NO.
What I'm saying is
welding thin metals is done easier with a mig welder
welding in tight spots is done easrer with a mig welder
I would only get a stick welder if you plan on doing outside construction or plan on gettin a mig set up for it.

Your needs sound like they would be satisfied better by a mig welder.
sheet metal
cages and bumpers
Welding cages can be tight within the cab. Once your ground is connected and the power is on....the electrodode on a stick welder is hot....I don't like stick welding in tight spots like that beause they will arc of any metal you touch that is connected to the grounded metal. The mig welder doesn't do that. You have to press the button to complete the circuit.
 
1stgenxxx said:
..I'd get a AC/DC so that you can add a pedal and spool gun for TIG if you so choose. This way you can AL and stainles .
DC also give a smoother, more controlable bead/focuses heat better
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Sorry. With a standard AC/DC arc welder its not that simple. Without a reastat control or footpedal you'd be limited to very coarse adjusted scratch start DC tig only. AC tig alluminum would also be out of the question do to the lack of High Frequency AC out put. You could however try DC tig aluminum (very difficult and rarely done). On top of that no gas solinoid would be present so a manual shut off would have to be used on the torch or regulator which is very costly. This also mean you'd be running a dry non water cooled set up which is limited on how many amps you can run without burning up your equipment or hands. As for the spool gun attachment; SMAW or stick and GMAW or mig welding use to different types of weld output current. They use either CC or CV current. Constant Current or amps (stick) or Constant Voltage (mig), these generally do not innerchange unless you have a multiproccess machine. The only way around this is with a voltage sensing wire feeder; often refered to as a suit case feeder. This set up is often used in the field with flux core wire and is not a feature found on spool guns for alluminum. The weld output isn't considered optimal for precise tuning and would be a disaster on aluminum.
 
By the way the thread is getting off track. The original poster wanted info on what to learn with. As far as what equipment to use when and where thats a whole other debate. And just like this one open to all sorts of opinions and what boils down to individual preferences.
 
You are correct sir....I will get back to my natty light and Information security homework. Your welds are awsome. :Rockon:
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
By the way the thread is getting off track. The original poster wanted info on what to learn with. As far as what equipment to use when and where thats a whole other debate. And just like this one open to all sorts of opinions and what boils down to individual preferences.
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The discussion is still teaching me a lot. :) I don't mind the opinions. Take it where you guys want. My original questions have been answered. Now it's fair game! hehhe
 
Well, a lot of what I'd usually say has been covered here. Especially the fact that a pretty weld isn't always a good one, but an ugly weld is almost always a bad one. I'll also say take a class. I did. Best $65 I've ever spent. Do this BEFORE you invest in a welder and gear. You may find you just don't have the knack. Some people, no matter how practiced, just shouldn't be allowed to weld. That's my opinion.

What I can add is this: Don't waste your money on a bargain helmet. Your basic $25 Jackson is a good investment until you get serious and start looking longingly at auto-darks. Skip the Horrible Freight ads and go to your local welding shop and try some on there. Find one you're comfortable with, with a good viewing window, and don't be afraid of the price. Your eyes are worth it.

Get as comfortable as possible before starting your arc. Supporting your body and arms isn't cheating, it's good welding. Sometimes you can't, and you have to practice for that, but if you can, do it. You're not trying to be a tough guy here, you're welding.

Take pride in your work. NEVER settle for "good enough." Keep reading and researching, and learn everything you can to make yourself a better welder. Even if you're a hobbyist, it'll come in handy some day. Learn a little about metallurgy. Figure out why that little crater at the end of your bead is a bad thing. And don't be afraid to grind it out and try again. Everybody has to occasionally. There's no shame in it, but it's enough of a pain that you'll try harder next time.

There's a lot of great advice in this thread, coming from some very accomplished welders. I hope I was able to help. Have fun with it, and don't be afraid to ask anyone for help.
 
WARRIORWELDING
Talks a good talk. Listen grasshopper. Other than that practice, then practice some more.
 
catfishblues said:
Take pride in your work. NEVER settle for "good enough." Keep reading and researching, and learn everything you can to make yourself a better welder. Even if you're a hobbyist, it'll come in handy some day. Learn a little about metallurgy. Figure out why that little crater at the end of your bead is a bad thing. And don't be afraid to grind it out and try again. Everybody has to occasionally. There's no shame in it, but it's enough of a pain that you'll try harder next time.
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Probably the best advice on welding that can be given. I have been trying to teach this to the half ass mechanic I hired at work, he thinks good looking is just for looks and snotty welds are good enough. BTW he is not much of a mechanic either!
 
johnnymac said:
Probably the best advice on welding that can be given. I have been trying to teach this to the half ass mechanic I hired at work, he thinks good looking is just for looks and snotty welds are good enough. BTW he is not much of a mechanic either!
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Sounds like your starting in a bad place:lol:
 
)))))))If it looks like this, its PROBABLY good. ooo(o)0)ooIf it looks like this,its crap. Ive welded my own bumpers and stuff, but I still dont trust myself to do a cage and Ive been able to stick steel together for about 6 years.
 
I agree with lbyota85. (post #7) Correct welding procedures are only learned with proper training and ALOT of repetition.
FWIW, my favorite rig is a Miller xmt 304 CC/CV 300 amp machine.Not cheap,but well rounded.
 
To the OP. Chris, call me or swing by sometime and you can come mess around with my junk. Two MIG's and a plasma. Good times! BTW I finally got the shop cleaned up and you can actually work in there now.
 
marvilusone said:
To the OP. Chris, call me or swing by sometime and you can come mess around with my junk. Two MIG's and a plasma. Good times! BTW I finally got the shop cleaned up and you can actually work in there now.
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Hahha that's awesome man. Can I bring my trailer by? I got some things to fix on it and I figure it'd be a good place to start learning.

You gonna be around on Thanksgiving day? I need to come get that PS pump I've been talking about for weeks.
 
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