Finally going to learn how to weld

[eric383]

Miller has some great info. http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/ I was lucky enough to learn how to weld on the job when I was 18. The best tip I ever got was when you hear sizzling bacon your heat and feed are pretty close. Good luck and MIG is probably the easiest welding you can do. It just takes practice.

 

[Moparsmitty]

One of the worst welding burns I ever got was when I had my watch on (never ever again) and a hottie (not the good kind) fell between my jacket and glove (I was suited up!) and landed right behind the watch, it burned clear thru the watch case and left a 3/8" hole in the top of my wrist. It's been over 20 years and I still have that scar. Do not ever wear your watch while welding.

Patrick

Excellent advice Patrick. You shouldn't wear watches, rings or anything else metallic whenever you are welding or working around any kind of electrical equipment.

 

[ZombiePopper]

Have plenty of scrap metal around to practice butt welds as well!

My worst burn came from my own stupidity (usually the case huh? Lol) I wore a different pair of boots and I was repairing an I beam and I blew thru and the slag dropped onto the top of my boot, thru the laces, thru the leather boot tongue and my sock, then onto my skin on top of my foot, but I never took a boot off so fast in my life!

Another time I had climbed up on a truss (steel) and it was a REALLY hot day, my jeans were soaked with sweat, and as I sat down on top of the beam (that was grounded) and struck up that wire, she lit me up lol!!!!

but no matter how hot it is make sure you cover bare skin even for tacks/spot welds, you can get a nice burn from tacks over and over again.

Mig welding is a breeze, just practice gun position and how much heat is needed for the gauge of metal you're using.

 

[snakeoil24]

Learn to gas weld at a school, then learn stick and Mig in htat order. Once you can Gas weld then you can learn to Tig and solder and everything flows. Buy the best machine you can afford. A Miller is still the best for your money. Don't waste time with a wire welder unless you plan to do out door work. The Big box store welders from Lincoln avoid! If a great machine is outof your budget buy a used machnie. My Miller Tig is 35 years old and still runs great.

 

[eagleone1983]

Thanks for all the comments. So the machine I bought is a Snap-on its pretty old built in 1984 but that probably means its good. Came with a bottle, two miller helmets, two spools of wire, and a bunch of clamps for $400. I think that was a pretty good deal