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Any self taught welders?
- Thread starter GeauxLSU
- Start date
If you are a smoker get a zippo and don't keep a bic lighter in your pocket.
That was lesson one in welding class in high school.
I can weld - it will look like homemade sin thru a cheese grater but it will hold!
That was lesson one in welding class in high school.
I can weld - it will look like homemade sin thru a cheese grater but it will hold!
I used to work with a few welders…
Just takes practice
I can lay down a bead
I can lay down a bead
I was welder of the year a couple of years in high school but haven’t welded until recently. Gawd, my beads are terrible. I bought a metal mill and lathe for playing around with and am learning strictly from YouTube.
You can learn on your own. Just watch some you tube videos about the prep. (Very Important)
Be VERY CAREFUL about electrocution. Understand what is happening with the welding process. It is a controlled short circuit with very high current. You can injure or KILL yourself if you do not know what you are doing.
Understand the Ground Clamp.
Start with a MIG welder, stick welding takes some talent to keep the stick at the right angle and distance. I found it much easier to learn MIG then do some stick.
I found that if can just get some scrap pieces of metal and practice, practice, practice, you will get the hang of it.
Be VERY CAREFUL about electrocution. Understand what is happening with the welding process. It is a controlled short circuit with very high current. You can injure or KILL yourself if you do not know what you are doing.
Understand the Ground Clamp.
Start with a MIG welder, stick welding takes some talent to keep the stick at the right angle and distance. I found it much easier to learn MIG then do some stick.
I found that if can just get some scrap pieces of metal and practice, practice, practice, you will get the hang of it.
There was was a great deal on a Miller 211 here not long ago. Perfect to start with. Flux core can be more cantankerous. Some mixed gas and a little practice, any monkey can MIG. I think the 211 is good for 1/16 up to 3/8” multipass. I welded a hundred or so lawn mower blades together to start.
With enough alcohol, anything is possible.
I taught myself on an old MIG welder I got off another member here almost 10 years ago. Just wanted something to be able to fix stuff around the house when needed. My bead sucks but it holds lol.
I know you can teach yourself, just don't do anything structural until you really know what you're doing. Lot's of practice, videos, safety, research and get some criticism from someone with experience to speed up the learning process. Just like anything else, put the time in and you will get there.
