Best way to learn how to weld?

[zixxer]

I want to learn how to weld. Are there any online walkthrough/guides? I googled "learning how to weld" and "how to weld" at no success....

I have a harbor freight close by; and they have welding equipment on the cheap.

What are the different types of welding machines? Cheapest? Best?

 

[hjo3]

The local community college here has classes on welding. You might try that.

 

[Analog]

Be careful with the harbor frieght stuff. Look at the duty cycle, that's how they're so cheap. The units get very hot when used for even a short time, that's why the duty cycles are so low.

 

[79Blazer]

The way I learned was, I picked up a MIG welder from Walmart and tought myself. Theres a few books Borders or pretty much any book store can order.

 

[Eli]

Weld.

 

[79Blazer]

Try this.

or this

 

[imported_Kckazdude]

Personally I learned with a stick welder and lots of scrap peices of metal.

 

[zixxer]

what's the best type of welder to start with?

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: Kckazdude
Personally I learned with a stick welder and lots of scrap peices of metal.

Me too, only they weren't scrap when I started.

 

[FoBoT]

in addition to CC's , try Vo-Tech's for welding classes

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
what's the best type of welder to start with?

The easist is a wire feed with solid wire and argon/co2 gas mix(mig).
Stick(arc) is alot harder especially on verticles and overhead but is more portable and not effected by wind like mig is.
Torch set(gas) is the hardest but you will learn the most about what your puddle should look like, penetration, and control.

 

[zixxer]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

?

 

[woowoo]

Get a job in an eastern Ky. coal mine
You will be an expert in no time.

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

One last thing. Do not skimp on the hood. A cheap hood with a crappy lense is a waste of money IMHO. A decent hood with a #10 lense is a good starting set up.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

?

I have one of these and it is a good starter welder, BUT don;t ecpect great lookign welds. The wire feeder slips a LOT so sometimes you have to clean the feeder wheel off and go again.
Also you can't add gas to this machine, it ONLY does flux. Flux is easy and cheap but not that pretty.

But get this, or something like this, and use the .030 flux and try it out.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

?

Notice the duty cycle.

In other words, it's a piece of garbage. But it would probably be a OK cheap beginner welder.

It is 12% @ 80A. 12% of 10 minutes is 1.2 minutes. That means you have to let the welder rest for 8.8 minutes for every 1.2 minutes you weld.

20% @ 60A, obviously, isn't that much better.

You'd have to go down to like 5A to use it continuously, lol.., 5A would barely weld tinfoil.

 

[Vette73]

This would be a much better buy and give you a little better quality and better feal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=6098


And get a AUTO-DARKENING WELDING HELMET. Makes learning much easier

 

[dartworth]

You can weld for years and still not be a good welder...

<--Certified Welder...

Stick, Tig, Mig, Carbon Steel, Stainless, Aluminum, Monel, Inconel, exotic metals ...We do it all

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: se7enty7
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

?

I don't know your needs to be able to say if that would work for you. 90 amp is pretty small. If you are going to use it on anything bigger than 1/8" I don't recomd it. Flux core wire is good for outdoors but get a machine that has the ability to mig. A mig machine can do flux or solid, that machine only does flux.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy

Originally posted by: se7enty7
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

?

I don't know your needs to be able to say if that would work for you. 90 amp is pretty small. If you are going to use it on anything bigger than 1/8" I don't recomd it. Flux core wire is good for outdoors but get a machine that has the ability to mig. A mig machine can do flux or solid, that machine only does flux.

Basically it's for various auto related projects. Some header and exhaust welding, as well as flat pieces for brackets and whatnot.

Probably mainly joining straight pieces of exhaust/header with curved pieces..

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Check out some of the little Lincolns that Home Depot sells. Might be better for you.