Welding......?

Question

I want to learn how to do some basic welding in my garage. Firstly , What will i need to get & where.
Secondly , Is there anywhere i can find information on how to do it?
Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

My suggestion is that you take one of those 6 week welding courses at the local college.
You just don't start by reading a book.
Now i have an office job, but i have been a welder fitter for 20 years.
Make sure the first thing you buy is a fire extinguisher

Answer 2

I suggest visiting any of your local welding equipment dealers.

But first, consider what kind of project's you want to do.

If you know what you want to do, the dealer can recommend the best equipment for your purpose.

For a beginer, a Lincoln 225 AC will do most any job you would care to try. Except for aluminum, and light sheet metal, such as a car body.
Welding is not difficult to learn. It just takes practice. The lincoln 225 comes with some very basic instruction. If you can read, you can do it.

"Lincoln Electric" part # K1357 AC-225C 230/1/60

Answer 3

I disagree with explorer, I started out with a small hobby welder and a how too handbook. If you can read and follow dirrections and don't attempt to weld yourself a steel structure on the first go there's nothing wrong with doing it that way. Now, if you're looking it as a profession then take the college corse, if you're like me just wanting to do the work for your self rather than pay someone to weld it then you're okay. Go to the book store or library and check out some of the books that they have on it, and then you can go to a local welding supplier and talk to the people there about some of the equipment there. here's a link to the mail order catologue that I bought my first welder http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?f=displaysubcats&CategoryID=10&tab=9

Answer 4

I agree with taking a short course to find out what type of equipment you want to purchase. You may want to use Mig or Stick or Tig. Different machines for different applications. For general use around the garage, you will probably get a Mig machine. Then you would need to decide if you want to weld with a gas shield wire or fluxcore.

Answer 5

You are far better to do a course where you can learn the different types of welding equipment so you will then be able to decide what equipment you will need.
My own choice would be gas less MiG.

I found this link just by typing Welding Supplies in the search box. If you do the same and add your city/state etc you may find one in your area that you can contact.

Answer 6

GMAW/MIG metal inert gas metal wire is fed to the work with electric current witch causes the arc creating the heat to melt the base material and the wire to form the fillet. A shielding gas is used to prevent contamination of the weld.

GTAW/TIG tungsten inert gas electric current is passed through a tungsten electrode causing an arc creating the heat to melt the base material and a filer rod is used where needed to provide the fillet. A sheilding gas is used to prevent contamination.

Stick/Arc welding electricity is passed through a metalfiller rod causing the arc creating the heat to melt the base material and the filler rod for the fillet. the sheild is provided by the flux on the outside of the rod that burns away ast the rod is spent.

There is a type of welding that uses a flux cored wire. although a mig machine is used no gas is needed. this is not gasless mig! it is arc welding.

In terms of investment and maintenance(consumable parts) from bottom to top would be : stick , mig,tig.

stick welding is the most forgiving for dirt, rust, paint,etc.

wirefeed would be the easiest to learn,but is very dependant on how clean your base material is.

Tig can be very enjoyable but can be very expensive to start out.

The best way to learn is to start out gas welding. If you want to just start sticking things together buy a stick welder and some 6011 rod it is the easiest to start and has the largest arc length variable, is extreemly forgiving for contaminatants and is the easiest in my opinion to actualy see the puddle.