How to weld?

[SplitG2]

Ok, I know you all wont let me down.....I need to learn how to weld.  Having farming equipement and such requires me to learn!  Please point me in the right direction.

[Dinsdale]

I took an Adult Ed course at BOCES that was good. Had an instructor that concentrated on actually welding. Mention it because a friend took one in another county and they mostly talked about welding but did little.   By the time the classes were over I built a folk-lift attachment for my skid steer.(still have it with no failures. LOL)

I ended up with a stick to do farm type stuff myself and a few projects for the shop. Its cheap to use and does structural stuff well(tubing, angles,bar stock, heavy plate). Doesn't do sheetmetal well, not built for it.

Wire machines for the small shop market were just coming on the scene so I can't give a good comparison. I will say stick requires a bit of practice, good prep work to clean surfaces, and some "feel" for amperage and rod choice.

Heres a gate project done with 1/8" wall 2" square tubing frame; I do stuff that mainly supports my wood shop. I'm no pro, I'm sure there must be a few here to chime in;

[fasteddie]

I guess I would check out a local BOCES to see if they had any adult courses . Other than that , I don't know .

http://education-portal.com/welding_training_new_york.html

New York welding schools

New York

 

• 
   
• Alfred School of Art & Design at Alfred University - Alfred | (607) 871-2441 
   
• Modern Welding School - Schenectady | (800) 396-6810 
   
• New York University, Department of Art and Art Professions - New York | (212) 998-5700 
   
• Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts - Rochester | (585) 475-2654
  

[fasteddie]

What the heck . I GOOGLEd welding schools New York and got the info in the above post . When I click on the links for the schools , the links aren't available .

[SplitG2]

Thanks guys!  Dinsdale, that gate is amazing!

[Dinsdale]

Thanks guys!  Dinsdale, that gate is amazing!

Thanks.....

A few things I learned along the way....

I first was getting steel scraps at a junk yard. Most were some funky alloys and welding 2 dissimilar metals of unknown origin is tough when your starting out.

I never cleaned enough and had all kinds of inclusions in my welds that looked like crap and kill the weld strength. A good prep saves time and rod!

I still struggle with verticle and that takes more practice than I give it.  

A real welder?

....is a damn good artist.

I'll stick to wood

[16. ga hunter]

not sure where you are but i know here in rochester mahany,jackson and rochester welding supply all have workshops than range from beginners to full on cerified welders contact a local suply company and see i have been to one run by jackson through work when i was building custom exhaust and was a much better welder in the 3 days

[hunter49]

Get it clean,get the amperage right (my down fall) & follow the hot puddle with the rod  in circular motions to get good penatration. Practice, practice,practice! If you blow a hole in your project back off, let it cool then go back & fill it in.  When cutting metal you push the hot puddle . good luck & practice.

[Geno C]

youtube it or take some classes... i learned on my own. my welds are pretty dang good

[raymerlo]

check out Lincoln welding,lots of info,went to boces at nite took oxy/acetelyne and stick welding,check out northen tool for welders,I bought

a wire welder 135 amp for about $350.00 came with gauges  and flux cored wire,stick welders are cheaper,I have had a lincoln 225 for 25 years still going strong,not as hard as it seems,start with mild steel and practice,practice

[rock]

its not to hard split get a mig lots of scrap keep your stuff your welding clean. get a grinder with a wire wheel some sanding disks when your welding with a mig it will beging to sound like grease frying you will be able to see the heat transfer between the two pieces your welding. if you get your stuff and have problems you could give me a call and i can try to help over the phone good luck

[growalot]

Best course I ever took at BOCES was 2 yrs of night school welding...also get a good book on it as well....We have a small arc welder for home use comes in handy

[SplitG2]

Thanks again everyone!  I will contact boces, check youtube, get books and try and contact a local welding shop to see what they have.  I think like most of you said....practice, practice, practice!

[raymerlo]

Check out northern tool they have a deal on the 135 mig,bought one 2

years ago,well worth the money and I paid $50.00 dollars more

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

Been doing it every day for 16 years. I am a boiler maker. Any questions, I will do my best to help

[shu9265]

splitG2,

If you know how to use hotfile, I can upload some good how to videos for you.