Entry Level Welding Help

[PineRidge]

Mig, Tig, Buzz Box. Oxyacetylene welding, Arc, shielding gas, is your head spinning yet Doug? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm the kind of guy that likes to sit down and digest it all, in my own time frame, before I lay out the cash. One of the best reference books that I have ever read that covers all aspects of welding is the "Welders Handbook" by Richard Finch. It puts the information in an easy to understand language of something you can absorb and lets you know what to expect out of each machine from the inexpensive right on up the ladder. Lots of good pictures and charts that you will use the rest of your welding days.

You can find it at eBay for about $15.95 so the price is right. And who knows it just might help you to make the right decision on which welder is best suited for your needs.

 

[DAP]

Thanks Mike. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I was hopin for the bombardment though.

I like options! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[alpha]

get a lincon ac 240v welder. the dc units run more and us back yard hacks dont need em. my local weld shop told me to get the home depot lincon welder, he said I didnt need a high end job.His honesty paid off get all my oxy act. there. also stay away from cheap mig tig units know guys who got em and spend all day try to make em work

 

[boustany]

The * BEST * deal on books on welding is at https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/foundation/

and

https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/lincoln/spmount/store.asp?PID=16&cat=6

(I don't know why they have 2 addresses)

Basically Lincoln Electric practically gives away books on arc welding, etc.., probably for around the cost of printing them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Unfortunately, they ship UPS, which means that if you live up in Canada UPS charges (I'm trying not to use the S---- words) more for 'brokerage' than the books will cost, but thats another story. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[MadReferee]

I have been welding as a hobby since 1975, starting out with an oxy-actelene torch setup. I used it to mostly build and repair racing motorcycle frames. I then purchased a 240v AC stick welder from Sears. This worked well on heavy gauge metal over 1/4" but was useless on thin gauge stuff like auto body panels. I still have both these units but they only collect dust now unless I have over 1/2" steel or need heat to bend steel.

Once I bought my first MIG setup I have never looked back. MIG's are easier to use (even for the beginner), will weld just about any steel from auto body panels up to steel about 1/2" thick (with multiple passes) and works great with 3/16" to 1/4" walled tubing. I have recently built several tractor implements (landscape rake and dethatcher among others) and did extensive body work on 2 cars and the MIG makes this work a breeze. I have no need yet for the capabilities of a TIG unit.

My current MIG is a 220v Millermatic 175.

 

[Bird]

Doug, I couldn't tell you what books. The ones I read were the manuals with the little gas rig, later a Lincoln stick welder, and the last was a little 110v Miller de Mexico stick welder. Of course, I've known and talked to a number of real welders in my lifetime, and when I was just a little tyke, my Dad drove a truck selling and delivering welding supplies. There are just so many different kinds and sizes of equipment that I wouldn't know of anything that begins to cover them all. When I bought my first little rig, I thought my father-in-law might be able to help with some instruction; wrong again. He made his living as a welder for the railroad repairing damaged coal cars; said he'd never had anything to do with those little tiny rigs. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> The * BEST * deal on books on welding is at https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/foundation/

and

https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/lincoln/spmount/store.asp?PID=16&cat=6

(I don't know why they have 2 addresses)

Basically Lincoln Electric practically gives away books on arc welding, etc.., probably for around the cost of printing them.
</font>

The only problem that I can see is that since these books are all sold by Lincoln they may be a bit biased toward promoting Lincoln products and not necessarily whats best for the individual. The Welders Handbook covers all forms of welding and more than a few different names in the Industry. It is not trying to sell a product as much as the idea of welding for fun. I also think that it may be just a bit easier to digest for a new welder. I have seen a few of the other books offered and I don't think that even engineers need as much technical data that they throw at you.

 

[Henro]

I'm surprised that no one suggested the most important first step to avoid frustration! Take a community college evening class in stick welding.

Nothing beats having an instructor around. And if you are lucky you can get a pretty good deal on the class, considering that materials and equipment use will likely be included in the tuition.

The class I took was ten 3-hour sessions. It was not as cheap as some have posted here. Around 250 bucks I think. But it was well worth it.

At least for me, who had to work a bit to get up to the zero point!

Like has been said above...practice, practice, practice is what it takes more than anything. That and having an instructor to show you that yes, it IS POSSIBLE to produce a good weld with the equipment in your hand, no matter how impossible that may seem when you are first starting!!!

After taking that class a year or so ago I kicked myself quite a few times for waiting until I was over 50 to start to learn to weld.

You don't have to take a class, as others have said...but I am really glad I did and others here have reported that they were also.

You might also take a look at Hobart welders message board which is a pretty good welding site. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You are not going to regret learning to weld... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[EastTexFrank]

The book I bought and read, even before I bought my little rig, was the "Haynes Welding Manual". I thought it was a good general introduction to welding and it was relatively cheap. My welder also came with an instructional video that was helpful. Also, I think Northern Supply now carries a series of welding videos for about $25 each. I haven't seen them yet but that may be my next move. Finally, I'm in the process of checking out our local Community College for a welding class. I'll learn to lay down a decent bead if it kills me.

 

[boustany]

The books aren't biased. Obviously, they use photos of Lincoln equipment, when they use photos of equipment, but for the most part they talk about welding, not the equipment.

So, they talk about striking an arc - not whose electrodes to use and so forth. Most all photos/illustrations just show the material, filler, rod, whatever, and don't even deal with the equipment.

You can get hardcover textbooks for $5 to $12! At those prices I wouldn't care if the WHERE biased. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif