maint/installers/fab guys at work during my co-ops/internships, the first few rotations I worked with them before getting into the actual engineering parts of the industry... learned a lot there, had to weld tons of repetitive stands/guards etc that they didnt have time for and I could learn on

 

practice

 

I shoulda taken a welding class in HS instead of CAD for 2 years.

Wanting to learn MIG real bad but it looks as though I'm going to have to wait until summer semester when I can take the class at our community college. I see all this gorgeous fabrication on Pirate and I want to trade everything I own (except my truck ) for their skill and equipment.

On a related note, what MIG welder do you recommend for a youngster with no experience?

 

I started welding at the age of 14 and I am 20 now but I started welding a lot in high school and some of it was learing all the proper ways of how to lay different welds but I can weld with any kind of welder. Great thing to learn how to do.

 

I took welding every year in HS, learned it all Oxy-Acetylene, mig, stick, tig, plasma, and even a little underwater. I did competitions and did decent at the state level. The end of HS and the summer after I worked as a welder and fabricator building mostly railing, gates, but did much more too. I truley miss welding and HATE not being able to anymore. I think Im gonna get back into it. One of the best skills a person can have.

 

I'm in the same boat as SwampThing here. What would you guys recommend as a good "starter" welder?

 

It really pretty much depends on what you are going to weld and what thickness. I suggest a Millermatic 210, or anythign else in the millermatic line. ya it may be pricey but over its lifetime I GUARANTEE it will pay itself off. Id stick with a MIG welder, since they are the easiest to use and operating costs are pretty decent. Let us know what you're wanting to weld, types of material, if you are set-up with single or 3 phase electric, how much you are willing to spend.

 

I get lessons from Pop's
He has been welding i think since the beginning of time. Back when i was in short pants he was getting his plumbing certs, was doing the welding class. Everyone was asked if anyone had welding exp, not uncommon no one said anything. Pop's was doing good till he got caught welding upside down hanging from a bar in the booth, oh well to the advanced class. We are looking to get a TIG someday. He had a guy in the Air force who could TIG weld an aluminum can back together, that's heat control.
Am thinking i will be trying to get to a CC class, sounds more fun than anything else.

 

Going to start CC welding class tomorrow night!

 

cool, got some lessons on more TIG welding today at work. The wire-feed is out for service, and the Buzzbox was out of the question. I got pretty decent on the TIG, but material still shows that I am using way too much heat. Also started playing with aluminum welding.

 

Took a class at a community college in the middle of the summer, man that was miserable!

But I built a set of sliders from scratch and got alot of practice with the MIG welder and a little bit with the stick welder.

 

My first "real important" project (aside from practicing) is going to be motor mounts. I'd be willing to spend between 500-1000 (including accessories if possible) dollars for a welder that would last me for a long time with a low operating cost.

It's important to get a jump on this because, lets face it, if motor mounts break while driving down the road, you're toast.

 

ok well if your main focus is gonna be on something small like that for now then you prob dont need that 210 and in that price range, one of these 140's would prob do just fine. Because they cost in the $700 range, then with gas, wire, helmet, gloves, (considering you have no equipment) you should be just under the $1000 range. One of the biggest factors in deciding on the welder is the Thickness of material you will be welding on.

Well thats my opinion so far on welders for you.

Oops heres a link I meant to add
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/..._products.html

 

If motor mounts are a small job, what constitutes a big job? I will probably be SAS'ing in the next 5 years as well.

 

I learned a bit of Mig while welding a floorpan in my first truck ('73 Bronco). I have recently been trying tube with an arc. It's super hard. There may be a mig welder and plasma cutter in my near future.

 

Honestly Ive never built any, and Im not sayin they arent a big job as far as work wise but as far as materials and how much welding to be done, I dont see them as a big job. Someone correct me if Im wrong. And I have no clue what is involved with building/welding a solid axle, so I cant give any input for a machine for that.

What I can tell you is that I have mainly used a 210 and up and I have built thousands of feet of fencing, an entire flat-bed for a full size pickup, plus soooo much more without a single problem from these machines. Like I said the thickness of material will be a big determining factor.

The 140 has a max single pass of 3/16" and a 20% duty cycle so if ur gonna weld much thicker then that and do a lot of welding much thicker than that possibly look at a larger machine. I honestly dont know exactly what it takes to build what you are wanting so Im just throwing some info out to you that I know. SO I hope its helping a little.

 

I watched the VHS cassette that came with my welder IN SPANISH

 

I was a heavy equipment operator in need of welding skills to avoid winter layoffs back in the late 70's. I went to night classes at the local JC. Learned quite a bit in one semester.
Never did get laid off.
I am building locomotives for a living now.

 

HAHAHAHA

 

the back of a cereal box