I live in Southern CT and have been looking for somewhere to learn how to weld. I have checked into the local trade schools but they only offer it as part of HVAC or other programs. I don't mind putting in time to learn to right way...just want to learn from someone who knows the difference between MIG and TIGG and wants to share so their wisdom.
Buy a used welder (new if you have the money) and just practice. There's only so much you can be taught, it just takes a lot of practice. Everything you need to know is on the internet too. Miller is one of the top brands. If you want to learn to use welding as a career, I would recommend taking a few cl***es, but just welding at home, it's too easy to learn. I can post some tips that I learned over the last 5 years of welding, if that what your looking for? Btw my favorite weld, is a plug weld, I love building a puddle of weld and having it lay down smooth in the hole! haha
Buy the best welder you can afford and get on you tube and check out down and dirty welding tips and tricks, You can learn alot from watching jodys videos.......but for the most part even a school just teaches you the basics....Learning to weld comes from lots of practice.
Check adult education programs though schools, trade schools and colleges. When you start welding, build things before welding on a vehicle. It doesn't matter what you build but useful is always better than welding s**** metal together just to throw it back in the s**** bin. one of the things that my friend John Babich now retired after about 35 years of teaching welding to AG students had the beginners do was build a plant stand to take home or sell. I've still got the one one of his students sold me 25+ years ago. The main thing is to practice a lot before you start welding on something that really needs to be welded perfectly.
There is surely a hamber close that would be willing to teach you. If you were closer I would be glad to spend a couple nights a week in my shop giving lessons
As others said , buy a welder and try . I m still quite a beginner , but just with what I found on Internet and practice I can almost metal finish gauge 18 , even with core flux . It takes a lot of practice ...... Without trying by yourself first , you won t even understand the advices you could have ...
find a local welding shop and tell them you will sweep or do whatever it takes if they will teach you to weld. the idea of buying a welder and going for it is great but if you develop some poor habits they are really hard to break later. welding school is anything but exciting!
Thanks for the posts....I have spent the last week melting the feed wire, dealing with burn through, and starting all over again. I am not looking to change careers, but at the same time I am a firm believer in tradition. I want to know that what evercrazy project I dream up next, I have a good base of knowledge to pull from. It sounds like I am back to sitting in front of the computer taking notes.
This is one of the better replies, you can teach your self almost anything, however................ How do you know you are getting the best results? You don't. You need a sufficiently capable welder to critique your work so that you know you are on the right path and that you are not teaching yourself poor technique. Do you have enough penetration, enough heat etc. There is so much you can get wrong with it still looking OK to the untrained eye. I do think you are on the right track though, being pro active. Doc.
I MIG, TIG, stick, and gas weld, and I am self taught. I started by reading books, bought a cheap stick welder and torches, practiced, read more, practiced more, watched people who could weld and took any advise they would give me. As was said, on your own without some skilled guidance you can develop bad habits and techniques. I eventually became a pretty good welder, but based on my experience I suggest you buy a welder so you can practice at home, then find a good instructor and enroll in his(or her) cl***es. Like a lot of things, practice and experience matters a lot. Cl***es will point you in the right direction, but cl***es without additional practice won't make you a good welder.
So it sounds like you have a welder and are trying it. You said you are burning the wired and burning through. With all of us that weld on this site, post what is going on and I am sure you will get many responses back to help you correct the problem. Technique is the biggest thing. Find your style. Learn how to hold the gun correctly and properly. If you are burning through, turn the heat down. If you turn it down to far, you will know. Have you tried searching YouTube for videos. Here is one for example. Good Luck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpMEtZz2uYU
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