Where did you learn to weld?

[OzFab]

I found a recent thread that has members "disagreeing" over welding techniques so I thought I'd start a thread asking everyone where/how they learned to weld & how long ago?

I ran a search & couldn't find a similar thread but I apologise if this has been done before.

Personally, I learned oxy/acetylene & arc welding as part of a mechanical apprenticeship over 20 years ago & mig a few years later in a panelbeating apprenticeship. I've welded everything from car panels to chassis rails & beyond.
I haven't tackled TIG yet but only because I've never had the opportunity.

 

[B man]

Well i learned when i got in shop class. mig. tig. and stick. tig is pretty easy.

 

[OzFab]

Well i learned when i got in shop class. mig. tig. and stick. tig is pretty easy.

I've seen it done, it looks very similar to oxy, I've just never done any myself.

 

[ryf]

I was taught to arc/stick weld when I was 10 by my dad, spent 15 years doing it for hobby and necessity and got into mig when I was shown how to do it by my brother in law about 6 years ago.

 

[landuse]

I can only stick weld (and not really too well). I taught myself

 

[fowler]

School taught me to mig weld
I taught myself to stick

And my work put me though a proper course to atain a certificate 1 in welding (most basic qualification )

 

[r_chez_08]

School taught me to mig weld
I taught myself to stick

Same, except the technician at school is crap at welding, I am better lol!

 

[rcarteraz07]

Well, I've done it here and there with my grandfather who has been a welder all his life. I'm actually starting to go over to his shop more and more so I can try to learn better.

 

[fowler]

Same, except the technician at school is crap at welding, I am better lol!

Ya that's about right
They taught me what the controls are on the welder then trial and error worked good

 

[r_chez_08]

They didn't even tell me that I was just like, right I am going to give mig welding a try on your welder, hope you don't mind... Lol
It's so much easier than stick.

 

[flowerman]

Well I had been wanting to weld since I was about 9 since watching scrapheap challenge (or junkyard wars for US) so being 13 I bought a 100e clarke mig welder for about £230
So I taught myself got given a few tips from a blacksmith down the road, and them went on to teach my dad. Its great because the farm up the road is always getting me to weld up old bits of machinery. I have welded with stick a little but its a lot harder than mig! I agree the technicians at my school cant weld to save their life.... lol

I agree the technician at my school cant weld to save their life and there they are trying to teach others lol

 

[fowler]

ha after work sent me though a proper trade traning organizeation (tafe)
i found stick to be the better choice more options

also a stick welder is the size of a shoe box and weights 6 kg
where as the mig is masive and even with the seperate wire feder its still 10kg and has a massive cord trailing u everywhere

not practical to put over your sholder and climb a dump truck
also stick will power though some surface rust or old paint

gotta agree with flower man though
when ever i go home my dad gets me to weld up cracks that are too thin or too small to do with the old transformer stick welder

also any little work like tacking or welding small tubing mig is better as it is click and go
no need to find a palce to strike

 

[OzFab]

I agree the technician at my school cant weld to save their life and there they are trying to teach others lol

There's an old saying:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"

 

[crazzywolfie]

that saying is not alway true. i had a teacher that was a good welder and use to give me good grades but i always made unique projects with good welds. my gt snow racer had a a stereo on it and one of the only sled that did not have the steering ski break off since it pivoted.

learned to stick weld, mig weld and braze in grade 10. i liked stick but mig was so much more convenient. i also like doing the brazing projects. making a airplane out a sparkplug without it cracking is a lot harder to do than you would think.

 

[Rustydog2010]

Have taught myself. Get the welders out, find some scrap, go to town.

3 easy steps!

 

[r_chez_08]

There's an old saying:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"

Lol, nice one!
Not always true but I can see where you are coming from.

 

[baer]

Taught myself.
Actually the kart I just built was to get welding skills before the next (and bigger) one.

 

[OzFab]

that saying is not alway true. i had a teacher that was a good welder and use to give me good grades but i always made unique projects with good welds.

True, there's an exception to every rule

 

[jman231994]

I half taught myself......I havent taught the other half yet

I just cant do fillet welds (theyre the 90 degree ones right?) and odd spot welds i suck at

My butt welds are generally very nice though lol

 

[OzFab]

I half taught myself......I havent taught the other half yet

I just cant do fillet welds (theyre the 90 degree ones right?) and odd spot welds i suck at

My butt welds are generally very nice though lol

Fillet welds need a bit of technique; I've seen a few videos on youtube showing how it's done. As for spot welds (with a mig) they just need a lot of heat but, plug welds are easier.