New to welding - Any suggestions on where/how to start?
 

Hi everyone.
I have just got 2 (new to me) welding machines: one is a stick machine and the other one is tig??(the one with the wire spools but no gas, just electric but it can be converted to gas, I was told).

They're both 110v so nothing professional, they're even portable. I got them with a few accessories like dark mask/helmet.

My14yo son and I want to learn how to weld and repair stuff when needed but frankly we don't know where to start, the youtube videos we found are way too advanced.

We don't even know how to use the machines.. I mean we need the fundamentals. (I've already booked some written materials from our library)

Does anyone have any ideas on how to start the art of welding for casual hobbyists?

What other tools are needed?
What other equipment is needed

Last but not least:
What starter projects do you recommend?


Thank you

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your local ROC program. Take the welding class there. Best advice ever.

local JC or adult school. Take the classes.

Find a continuing education class through a local secondary school/community college. Also, a lot of welding shops will put on classes. You'll want an Argon/CO2 mix for the MiG (that's a MiG you have...but you can use fluxcore wire to get started without investing in gas.)

Stick is a good way to get started...that seems to be how most get started. That's really for thicker materials. Stick is good for plate and general welding. MiG is good for sheetmetal or thicker materials. With the MiG you have, at 110v, you'll be limited to probably 3/8" thickness.

You wouldn't want to mess TiG until you understand the fundamentals with MiG...you'll most likely get discouraged. There's a lot that goes into it. If you hone your skills with Stick and MiG, then think about getting into TiG if you want pretty welds, or plan on welding aluminum.

A good resource is the Lincoln Electric Foundation. They offer VERY reasonable books on the subject, and also sell very reasonable starter projects, and will send you the metal, etc.

https://education.lincolnelectric.com/products/curriculum/bookstore/

Find a local metal supplier, and buy steel "drops" if they sell them by the pound. Practice, Practice, Practice.

Oh yeah, and make sure you really wear protective equipment.

Here are a few razor blades I TiG'd last year....

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Yep, a night class is invaluable. And lots of fun.

then Youtubes.

As others have said if a local high school/college/welding supply has classes available take them ! They will start at the basic level and work from there , you might ask an instructor if it would be ok to bring your machine into at least one class to learn the basic setup . Welding is a skill set that you have to practice a lot to get good at . And safety can NOT be ignored , you need good gloves and a great helmet preferably an auto darkening remember you only have one set of eyes !

Find a local weld shop supplier and get to be friends with them , you are going to need the gas mix and they will have it along with any thing else you will need . It may be a little more $$$ than buying off the internet but establishing that relationship has value . Most of the guys/gals there will know what they are doing . In the beginning it may be frustrating to learn how to weld , don't get discouraged just keep at it . Once you get the hang of it welding is a lot of fun............. it is a manly skill set :D

Wire fed with shield gas plus a good grinder....

SAIT has a ton of continuing ed classes.
School of Manufacturing and Automation.
Beautiful facility too.

The summer camps are open at SAIT and very appropriate for kids your age.

Lots of great advice from everyone, which I tracked with when I started welding after we bought the farm 25 years ago. Especially the classes. It really taught me how to properly use the welder (the right setting, etc.) I ended up buying. And it was fun!

Two things to add: Get a good, portable welding table. It really makes a difference.

Get as much scrap metal in the type of metal you will be working on. I ALWAYS spend ten or fifteen minutes tuning up my skills before I work on what it is that needs welding.

One more thing. There are also welding kits for toys and other stuff that makes learning interesting. My son learned to weld early and would make tanks and other stuff.

https://www.42fab.com/weld-it-yourself

Enjoy!

get yourself an auto-electronic darkening welding hood. A godsend.


HF has many.

The classes will teach you about safety equipment, a must. And the eyedrops for retina burn, get those. You might need a small portable oxy acetylene torch to pre-heat your work if you plan on using the 110 mig very much. I use mine on the back of my buggy in the field. Used the hell out of it.

Lots of good info here. Welding is something I have always wanted to learn.

This

I am just getting started. I bought a new Lincoln MP welder with bottle on a big sale at a local dealer. Currently playing with MIG. It will do TIG as well. They have a certification school but with welder purchases there you can get time with an instructor after classes which is what I did. I'm waiting for the local "hobbyist" welding school to have an opening and am on their wait list. I decided to tackle a few projects and found a bunch of old bed frames and bought some other scrap at a local yard. The bed frames are kind of nasty to work with because of the paint so the metal takes a lot of work to prep. First project is a firewood holder. These are in process photos. Getting closer to being ready to paint it. Will build a welding cart next, then a table. Have fun and most of all be safe.


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You need to keep looking
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=welding+tutorial

this ^^^^ is great advice... You will definitely need it.

Yes, youtube for sure.

Thank you all for your comments. You have certainly provided valuable information.

Stick first, then MIG. MIG is automatic transmission and stick is manual. TIG is a one man band with a lot of moving parts - footpedal, torch and filler rod.

Also, get yourself a chop saw or Portaband. And wear long sleeves!

While I as doing a little welding this weekend I came up with a joke: "Some welds look like a stack of dimes; mine are more like March of Dimes"