I want to learn how to weld

[rkinsey]

The one thing I regret not doing at school is Metal Work as a subject. I never learnt to weld or work with metal and now I find that I could use this skill to help me (and possibly others) around my Patrol and trailer.

So I have decided to teach myself how to work with metal.

I would like to know if there are any recources online that can help me do this. I have looked at YouTube and there are a few tutorials on there that can get me started but I want to know if there are any websites or books available on the subject.

I know you cant just pick up a mig and stick two bits of metal together. You have to understand how the metal wil react to such treatment and how much power you need to do to get the job done right without blowing holes in the job or creating one big god awful mess!

My grandfather was a design engineer and I never got the chance to learn from him.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Cheers,

Rob

[Irvs]

Yeah I'm in the same boat, I did metal work at school but never was taught how to weld very well. Would love to learn properly

Good luck with it all mate

[Bloodyaussie]

When I lived in Sydney I did a basic course on welding, did not cost much and was a very casual affair with most there saying they just wanted to get out of the house but I wanted to learn to weld.

Taught me the basics to get me started on my own at home.

Worth looking into mate,,

[2TROLLFAM]

There's a few boilermakers on this forum so no doubt someone will be able to assist with this.


Sent from Sharen's iPhone using Tapatalk ....

[threedogs]

Get some scrap iron, get amps right ,get comfortable. If you blow hole turn amps down or move rod faster
only use GP rods, dont try position welds. if looks like cookie poo grind and weld
or buy a MIG a new born baby can MIG weld, personally I don't call it welding, but I prefer stick welding
Very hard to blow holes with a MIG, bottle pricey to hire, Go Mig can even use gasless

[macca]

Welding is a very technical process and certified welders are paid well for their skill.

Us back yard welders "pick up a mig and stick two bits of metal togeather"

Mig
Grab a pile of scrap, adjust current and speed so it crackles when welding, you will know the sound when its right. I set mine on a lump of steel on the bench adjusting the speed to get the crackles while welding, then weld the job.

Adjust angles, directions etc and you will get the hang of it pretty quick. Mig is opposite to stick welding, with the mig you point the tip toward the unwelded joint at 30 45 degrees and the weld passes under your tip leaving no slag. Stick the end of the rod points toward the weld sort of keeping the slag back on top of the finished weld.

Generally mig is straight welding where stick is a figure 8 movement of the tip.
Mig is like painting the weld on with an artist brush, really quite easy.

An auto darkening helmet is a great way to weld as well.

Play around for a hour or two and you will be making stuff in no time, dont forget to cover yourself from the arc it gives a good sunburn on legs, forarms, neck etc that are not covered.

[macca86]

Slow and steady don't watch the bright blue arc watch the .weld pool behind it. Be comfortable there are many ways to weld try them use what works for you. You drag anything with a flux mig or stick and push with bare wire mig. For the home handy man stick weldeR the way to go. Get a name brand inverter like cig kempi liquid arc miller etc. use GP rods to learn on cheap I use ausarc rods.i prefer to use 16tc rods better welds and great for vertical and overhead work. Oh and practice practice practice. For under 6mm work use 2.5 rods over 6 mm work 3.2 rod.s read the rod packets and use the power settings they recommend use the lower end to do ups and overheads and upper end to go down and and fillets

[rkinsey]

When I lived in Sydney I did a basic course on welding, did not cost much and was a very casual affair with most there saying they just wanted to get out of the house but I wanted to learn to weld.

Taught me the basics to get me started on my own at home.

Worth looking into mate,,

Thanks Mate. Was this a TAFE course or done privately? Got any contact info?

[my third 256]

i did a tafe class to get me started
oxy / stick
had to do a project and i made the trolly for the gas bottles
what a great 8 week course met a lot of great guys to
still keep in touch after 30 years

[rkinsey]

Get some scrap iron, get amps right ,get comfortable. If you blow hole turn amps down or move rod faster
only use GP rods, dont try position welds. if looks like cookie poo grind and weld
or buy a MIG a new born baby can MIG weld, personally I don't call it welding, but I prefer stick welding
Very hard to blow holes with a MIG, bottle pricey to hire, Go Mig can even use gasless

Cheers Threedogs. I am certainly going to give it all a go. I taught myself how to build computers and laptops so I am sure I can figure this one out.

[Steve4wdin]

Hi Rob, Just read this post. If you want help learning to weld I can teach you. I am a fitter and can weld pretty much any type of metal that can be welded. Tig. Mig , Arc and Oxy. PM me if you want. I only live at Erskine Park.It may cost a beer or two lol,
Steve

[rkinsey]

Mig
Grab a pile of scrap, adjust current and speed so it crackles when welding, you will know the sound when its right. I set mine on a lump of steel on the bench adjusting the speed to get the crackles while welding, then weld the job.

Adjust angles, directions etc and you will get the hang of it pretty quick. Mig is opposite to stick welding, with the mig you point the tip toward the unwelded joint at 30 45 degrees and the weld passes under your tip leaving no slag. Stick the end of the rod points toward the weld sort of keeping the slag back on top of the finished weld.

Generally mig is straight welding where stick is a figure 8 movement of the tip.
Mig is like painting the weld on with an artist brush, really quite easy.

An auto darkening helmet is a great way to weld as well.

Play around for a hour or two and you will be making stuff in no time, dont forget to cover yourself from the arc it gives a good sunburn on legs, forarms, neck etc that are not covered.

Thanks for the tips Macca. Would never have thought of getting sunburnt inside!!!

Cheers,

Rob

[rkinsey]

Hi Rob, Just read this post. If you want help learning to weld I can teach you. I am a fitter and can weld pretty much any type of metal that can be welded. Tig. Mig , Arc and Oxy. PM me if you want. I only live at Erskine Park.It may cost a beer or two lol,
Steve

Mate! Steve, you're on! I will PM you.

And the beers will be forthcoming.

Cheers,

Rob

[rkinsey]

Slow and steady don't watch the bright blue arc watch the .weld pool behind it. Be comfortable there are many ways to weld try them use what works for you. You drag anything with a flux mig or stick and push with bare wire mig. For the home handy man stick weldeR the way to go. Get a name brand inverter like cig kempi liquid arc miller etc. use GP rods to learn on cheap I use ausarc rods.i prefer to use 16tc rods better welds and great for vertical and overhead work. Oh and practice practice practice. For under 6mm work use 2.5 rods over 6 mm work 3.2 rod.s read the rod packets and use the power settings they recommend use the lower end to do ups and overheads and upper end to go down and and fillets

Crikey. There's a bit more to this than I thought. Oh well, if it aint worth doing well, it aint worth doin!

Thanks for the tipps Macca86

Cheers,

Rob

[my third 256]

Hi Rob, Just read this post. If you want help learning to weld I can teach you. I am a fitter and can weld pretty much any type of metal that can be welded. Tig. Mig , Arc and Oxy. PM me if you want. I only live at Erskine Park.It may cost a beer or two lol,
Steve
what a fantastic mob on here happy to teach you and give plenty of advice
thats why i love this site so much and cant weight to turn on the computer every morning
well done steve4wdin

[Bloodyaussie]

I'm going to cry... this is beautiful..... sniffle!!!

No really it's great to see, we need more good helping people out there!!!!!

And yes I did a night course for about 8 weeks , I think it was TAFE???? was some time ago.

Good luck.

[macca]

I'm going to cry... this is beautiful..... sniffle!!!


Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor said;

Joining steel with fire, its a man thing.

For the ladies who weld you know what I mean !!!!

[oilpond]

<<<Just got two bolts and stuck them together lol and like anything practice practice practice...

[rkinsey]

Thanks for all the info boys and girls... yes it is gtreat to see the helping hand come out on here. Brings us back to the "Old Comunities"where everyone knew eachother and looked out for eachother, but just an online version and your neigbours are all over the world!!

Bloodyaussie, I will look into thte TAFE course but Steve gets first look in. Dont think they will let me drink a beer while I am in class!

Cheers everyone.

I cant wait to be in a possition to help someone on here. Anyone got any computer problems they need fixing? Home or business.

Cheers,

Rob

[BigRAWesty]

Nothing will beat signing up for a basic welding course threw tafe.
Only a couple of hundred dollars and it's a life skill.
It's the little things you'll learn like
Push a mig, but pull a stick.
Focus your heat onto the thicker piece of steel.
As above, watch the weld pool (the brightest part) and ensure its melting evenly on both pieces.
Don't be afraid to slow down and let it build up.
Start with a 12S rod or 13 if your stick welding. These are easy starters and smooth welding.
With a mig you want to hear a nice crackle. If its spraying the wire the turn the voltage down or wire up..
If its spoggy sh*ting the turn wire down or voltage up.
There is a lot more to..


Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?15134-Westy-s-Accessories.-A-small-back-yard-builder.)

[threedogs]

Great skill to have, Do you have a project in mind or just want to learn.
MIG very versitile as you can weld car panels together. Know one guy who
welded a razor blade to an alloy coke can, Don't worry about position welds
just stick to a 1/4 inch fillet weld. remember to tack your job together then weld
the job will get bloody hot wear gloves,learn the fancy stuff later . grab 2 bits put them 90 degrees and go,go,go
Keep any kiddies well clear too , flash bloody hurts

[rkinsey]

Great skill to have, Do you have a project in mind or just want to learn.

Thanks Threedogs. It was a combination of a few things really and started with the passing of my stepfather last year who I consider to be one of my best mates and a bloke who was very knowledgable about everything and dindt mind passing on his wealth of information to anyone who took the time to listen. He never learnt to weld either.

So I decided to make sure I did. That and I like to make things that are useful and not just go and buy them off of the shelf.

I want to fix the trailer that has been in my backyard for the past 7 or so years and I havnt been able to use it. I want to make a custom Roof cage for the 'Trol. Looks like my son wants to get a 4WD for his first car so we have a few years and want to get one that we both can work on. He is 14.

Cheers,

Rob

[wildgu6]

Good work fellas with all the advice and tuition for Rob,
I to started to learn the basics in my younger years from a top welder that worked with me, but young and dumb and full of..... energy, i didnt follow through with it and regret it now.
He use to tell me Pete learn it mate, you'll have it for life and hahaha never be out of work, people are always looking for welders.
Go for it Rob and Top stuff Steve, your a champ

[threedogs]

Little tip when working or re-coing the trailer, turn it upside down thats how you build them and way easier setting up draw bars etc this way.
tape measure and string line is your friend here
Best advice of all no matter how good a welder you are you will never, ever , be able to weld RUST

[Richo460]

as a boilermaker i would reccomend doing a TAFE course.
50% of welding is getting the welder set right, make sure you have the polarity set right.
If there was one piece of advice i could give is to make sure the steel you are welding is CLEAN.

[P4trol]

Some great tips for beginners here. I decided to do a course a while ago... They seem to be few and far between here.

Heaps of people I meet always say 'oh yes, I have a tig/mig/electric, or I'm a qualified boiler maker... But when you actually want to do or fix something...

So forgot about it for the last month or so, until repco had a $99.00 special in their catalogue. Maybe.





Tipsy-tap

[NissanGQ4.2]

I cant wait to be in a position to help someone on here. Anyone got any computer problems they need fixing? Home or business.

Oh the list goes on and on, where do I start *L*

I taught myself to stick-weld, practice makes perfect, we had a stick welder at work and plenty of scrap steel so I thought why not, was not part of my job to learn, but something I wanted to try. Haven't welded anything in years so it would be interesting 2 know if I can still do it.

Lucky you have a local forum member nearby willing to teach you for a beer or 2

[rkinsey]

Boys, this is what this forum is all about, community.

I have already spoken to Steve and we will get together in the next few weeks, even if it is only to have a beer or three.

Todd, if you need a hand with your PCs, mate, I recon a beer or three should see em right....... PM me and we can get together.

I thank everyone for their input on this topic. When I get the trailer fixed while I am learning I will upload some pics and hopefully can inspire someone else to have a go.

Cheers,

Rob

[threedogs]

Couple of pics of my trailer build up, Might be of help
Bit of a pain flipping it overbut a few spare tyres help

[the ferret]

Just get ya self a little Transarc junior, a packet of general purpose 2.5mm rods, a good auto darkening mask, some gloves, a chipping hammer, wire brush, some scrap steel and avago mate.
Remember, that you can not weld over slag, it must be removed.
If you were over here, I'd have ya up and running in an hour.
A mig is good for most jobs but not all, but then there is bottle rental etc, etc, and gas costs.
I can't use a mig on all of my work so stick it is.
Cheers, the ferret.

EDIT this will get you started http://youtu.be/ecIhcIP1QGQ