SlowB16

For all you people that know how to weld, hwo did you learn? Just trial and error or did you take some sort of class? I want to be able to weld simple stuff like body panels and piping of different types. Where would a good resource for a welding machine and how-to equipment be? Thanks in advance. - Matt

BigMoose

Matt I learned stick by trial and error. I welded a lot of rusty VW bug panels back in the 70's with a buzz box I rewound for lower current and higher open circuit voltage. Read a lot of books, mostly from Lincoln Electric. Their web site is a treasure of tips now.

When I went to TIG it was trial and error, but I got hung up on some aluminum problems and had to search out a pro at work to give me a few tips from his experience. Aluminum is a real art, I wonder if I will ever get the hang of it.

Also had a pro help me with my first TIG on cast iron, then from there cast was a snap with TIG.

Oxy-acetylene is a snap, safety and protection from flashbacks is the only real issue there.

Regards,
BigMoose

Brad

I'm still a novice at welding, but I learned by trial and error. I started with intercooler pipes, then eventually made my own exhaust and downpipe. I wanted to take a class at my local community college, but they didn't offer any. I just bought a welder at home depot and went at it. If you want to try it there are places that rent welders and there's some info on the internet.

Brad

legendboy

Practice, hours and hours of practice!

apexii

I did the exact same thing, with a lincoln weldpak 155.


[Modified by apexii, 7:40 PM 10/3/2002]

SlowB16

So is something like that good enough for body work?

SlowB16

So is the MIG just an attachment on a standard wire feed welder? I was looking on ebay and it looks like about 200-300 for a used lincoln weldpak is what I am going to be paying, does that seem right?

c1hatch

welding body work is a totlly different story than just plain welding. You are gunna be welding mostly thin 22 gauge steel. you would haev to jump around keeping it as cool as possible not to warp the panels.
practice-practice.
i think the best way to practice is to weld coupons (2"x4" sheets of metal) together.

RavenGTi

a MIG is a wire feed that uses an inert gas as shielding, as opposed to flux core wire.

the best way to learn is to be instructed by someone with skills and experience. that is not to say that you cant get good at it by trial and error. i havent found a place that can teach me, so i am stuck learning on my own.

the majority of it is just confidence. you know what has to happen, so just do it. then you learn what situations will warrant certain adjustments.

dustin

I started with TIG and it's not that hard.

Very thin steel like that is a lot easier with a pulser (I have a Miller Maxstar 200DX). It melts the metal locally instead of heating the entire area and warping it. You still have to be careful though.

SlowB16

Can body work be done with a mig or plain wire feed? Or do you need TIG because I cant afford one of those....

dustin

Yes but like any bodywork welding you're gonna have to grind it down flat

SlowB16

Yeah I figured that, but I just wanted to know if the welds would be strong enough. Thanks alot!!!!