I've been welding since the early '70s. I went to school in a small town and they had FFA/AG courses and welding was part of that. I also vote for a stick welder as your first machine. IMO, it's a lot more versatile for fabrication and repair work. I would ad however to go ahead and get an AC/DC machine. It gives you a lot more capability on what you will be able to do as you progress.
advice for new welder
- Thread starter muttspeak
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flusher
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I like the welding videos from Wall Mountain
Instructional Welding Videos
Get yourself a 220 volt AC/DC stick welder (mine is a Hobart LX Stickmate) and learn from the videos. They teach how to watch and maneuver the puddle--the essence of welding technique.
Reyer Farms
Platinum Member
Hey y'all. Teaching yourself to weld can be big challenge.A good book about principles and technique and Safety can be a great investment. I agree with the ones recommending a stick welder. Almost everything I do is with a stick welder. Later get a small mig. You can scratch start tig for steels later from your dc stick machine. The Hobart stick mate or miller thunderbolt machines are pretty tough. Aluminum could be done from spool gun with mig. Grow into it it is a vast amount of info to take in. Stick welder, cutting torch, grinder, a few clamps & a lot of practice you can do just about anything. Pretty much self taught and loving every bead!
sixdogs
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Like others, take a welding class. Maybe even twice. Then, post photos and get info from the guys in this welding section. There are some real pros here and their advice, plus the tech school class, has taught me to weld and be proud of my welds.
Personally, I think that Mig welding is probably the easiest process to pick up and get decent results. I agree that if you really want to learn to be a good welder--learn oxyfuel first. Learn to weld old school first and those skills and techniques will make learning other processes that much easier. Tig is a good example. Tig is probably the most difficult to learn because of the high level of precision required, but if you master controlling the puddle with a oxyfuel torch you will already know what you need to do when you pick up a tig torch. Another reason to learn oxyfuel: cutting and bending metal. I rarely, if ever, weld anything with oxyfuel anymore because other processes are more efficient with less warping, but I use my cutting torch a lot.
sdkubota
Platinum Member
Mig and Tig welders are generally for lighter gage metals unless very large industrial models are used. Stick welders are for heavier metals > 1/8". I am not saying both statements are written in stone but that is a basic reality. Decide what you will be welding and allow it to guide you.
ArcticFord
Member
I recomend learning stick welding first. It is more versitile than Mig og Tig. Steel under 3-4 mm may be difficult to weld. As a method to repair more heavy gauge steel is stickwelding best. Esab OK 48,15 is a very good repair stick. As said longer up in thread, only way to learn this craft is to gather scrap and start weldin. I`s like learning bicycling, when you first know how to do it right, you may be "away" for years,but it`s in you hands starting again. I`ve tried it.
ArcticFord
Member
Did not recomend any welding machine. I used ESAB equpiment and Caddy isgood start. Pricy,but second hand fearly ok
CADDY ARC PORTABLE WELDER
CADDY ARC PORTABLE WELDER
undercut
Silver Member
So, Muttspeak, did you try anything that was suggested?