Where did you learn to weld?

[OzFab]

Arc is not stronger than than MIG, the results that they give will be almost identical to the point of being negligible. The only difference is that MIG is harder to get a truly solid weld because turning up the heat does not guarantee better penetration, whereas with Arc more heat=more penetration directly. MIG might look good but many MIG welds are not solid because it is harder to tell a good weld from a bad one with a MIG.

Just so you know I have nothing against MIG

I don't mean to be narky or nasty but I actually take this as an insult from someone who is "self taught". I am professionally trained in mig, arc & oxy/acetylene welding & have worked extensively as a welder for most of my working life.

I didn't say that an arc weld was stronger than a mig, I said the process is stronger. Have you ever tried to weld 1mm steel with an arc welder? It can't be done because you can't turn the current down far enough; all you end up with is a bunch of holes. But, I have successfully welded 0.6mm with a mig. If that's the difference at the bottom end of the scale what do you think will happen at the top end?

I have a 130 amp mig, a friend has a 130amp arc. Wound up to max, which do you think can weld thicker material? The arc, all day, every day.

This is exactly why I started this thread. IMO, there are a lot of "self taught" welders here who think they know better than the professionally trained welders who have been welding for longer than most members have been alive (not pointing the finger directly at you, exenos; I don't know your age or history). I don't know about the other guys but I take it as an insult & a sign of disrespect when a self taught 16yo tries to tell me how to weld.

@ exenos: one thing I did notice was that the only times you did post was to tell me I was wrong

 

[exenos]

Oh, ok. Must have misunderstood the differences between MIG arc when I was making my decision then.

I'm fine with the first part of your post but the last paragraph can be taken as more disrespectful than I was being (unintended but I guess it came across that way). While there are some 16yo's who think they know everything, but the majority are happy to take advice If they know that the advice is sound ( Knowing that the person who is giving the advice knows what they are talking about and not someone like them). If you get so annoyed over being given advice by "some self-taught" welder the I would suggest that you put that in your sig so people actually know what you do for a living, otherwise for all they know you could be a self-taught 16yo who's trying to give them advice.

As for the fact that I only posted to tell you that you were wrong, well it's wrong ( I know, I just disagreed with you again . I entered this thread to say where I had learned to weld and saw a change to try and help.Now asides from the first sentence, which I now know is wrong, did i get the rest of my info straight?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

watching scrapheap challenge (or junkyard wars for US)

I really miss that show! The British version, hosted by Robert Llewellyn, and Nancy Somethingorother. That show was my idea of reality TV. Scrap/low buck builds are my thing (in case y'all hadn't noticed!) I think the American version ended up being too "staged" after the first couple seasons, and I couldn't stand the host.

To hit the topic- I am completely self-taught.

 

[pipehack]

MiG,TiG, and SMAW or stick welding are all forms of arc welding. Just sayin'.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

MiG,TiG, and SMAW or stick welding are all forms of arc welding. Just sayin'.

Yup! That's why when referring to "conventional" arc welding, I use the term "stick" or SMAW to avoid confusion with MIG,TIG, FCAW, and GMAW. Anybody (EXCEPT Pipehack) wanna take a stab at what all those "AW"'s mean?

 

[exenos]

Hopefully most people know

 

[OzFab]

If you get so annoyed over being given advice by "some self-taught" welder the I would suggest that you put that in your sig so people actually know what you do for a living, otherwise for all they know you could be a self-taught 16yo who's trying to give them advice.

I don't mind being "given advice", what I have a problem with is amateurs (for lack of a better word) telling professionals that they're wrong.

Did you read the first post? My training & experience are right there & also outlined in my bio.

As for the fact that I only posted to tell you that you were wrong, well it's wrong ( I know, I just disagreed with you again . I entered this thread to say where I had learned to weld and saw a change to try and help.

...but that's not exactly how it turned out is it lol.

There's an old saying: "opinions are like noses; everyone has one & everyone's is different"

I know this & I concede that everyone is entitled to thier opinion but not to the point of providing false or misleading information to someone who knows what they're talking about, whether intentional or not.

BTW: I'm not trying to say that all "self taught" welders don't know what they're doing. A good friend of mine is technically a self taught welder in that he has never done any formal training. But, he is an electrical engineer with Qantas & has recieved a lot of input from work colleagues. As a welder, he's better than me but he's always open to criticism & knowledge & would never attempt to tell anyone he knows more about welding.

 

[exenos]

I was meaning put it in your sig so it is right out there and easy to see. It could help to prevent a lot of problems. Just say something like "Trained in MIG & Arc with 20 years experience".

I'm not trying to give false information, I was just saying what I had thought was right. As it turned out, it was wrong.Also, I was not saying that I knew more about welding than you. I was just putting out information that I had been led to believe was true while disagreeing with what you had to say.

 

[OzFab]

I'm not trying to give false information, I was just saying what I had thought was right. As it turned out, it was wrong.Also, I was not saying that I knew more about welding than you. I was just putting out information that I had been led to believe was true while disagreeing with what you had to say.

I wasn't saying you did; at that point I was generalising, that wasn't directed at you. Apologies for the confusion

 

[exenos]

I wasn't saying you did; at that point I was generalising, that wasn't directed at you. Apologies for the confusion

Ok, thanks for clarifying. on my part.

 

[Cobbler]

I started welding out of boredom growing up in my old man's body shop as a kid. I was welding with a torch by the time I was in 6th grade. I had a 1 year technical class in high school and then I took a job right out of HS where I worked for a couple years and then moved on to welding structural steel and became a AWS cert. welder for Mig in the 1G and 2G position. I'm proficient in most methods but as a hobbiest I use a TIG welder the most. I've made the most money welding aluminum. I have in my shop a 250/250 Lincoln tig/stic, a 200 Hobart Beta-Mig. I had a full portable unit but I sold it as it was never really used. I also screw around with machining and have a 10x50 vertical mill and a old South Bend Heavy 10 lathe.

 

[Skittl3]

hmm i taught myself to weld

 

[bzboardco]

I learned to stick weld at Wiregrass Technical College...also have aerospace maintenance ccaf and automotive technology degree....landed me a millwright job at a saw mill...started doing some mig...changed depts and now a saw filer and sharpen and repair 40 ft bandsaws and mostly mig weld cracks

 

[jdmkid]

I taught myself to MIG weld, gas and gasless. Although im 5x better with gas and i would say im pretty descent for being 16 and only welding for a few months

 

[OzFab]

I taught myself to MIG weld, gas and gasless. Although im 5x better with gas

Lol, isn't everyone? That's the nature of the beast...

 

[getting kart smart]

I taught myself to weld about 7 months ago. I have a miller arc welder my dad gave me with high and low settings and a dial for each. I had no interest in metal work until I got my welder. I was always doing something with carpentry. Since the welder I now have a torch set, chop saw, angle grinder, and many other valuable tools. I can't believe I wasted all this time with wood. Metal work is so much more fun. Oh, and I am almost done with my 3rd kart build. The last 2 were frame built by me and all of you that donated your time and valuable information. Couldn't have done it without all that posted

 

[OzFab]

Good for you

I also do a lot of woodwork; it depends on the application.

The difference between the two is wood is much easier to work with but doesn't have the strength of steel.

Here's something I made earlier

 

[fowler]

Use to do a bit of cabinet making

I would have said the opposite

With metal u cut and weld

No need to make joints and wait for glue to dry
And with metal u can just paint it

No need to apply and sand back many times

 

[landuse]

Fabroman - that is some nice work

 

[OzFab]

Fabroman - that is some nice work

Thanks

Use to do a bit of cabinet making

I would have said the opposite

With metal u cut and weld

No need to make joints and wait for glue to dry
And with metal u can just paint it

No need to apply and sand back many times

Very true but, what i meant was If you have to make a joint, it's relatively easy; have you ever tried to dovetail a 1/2" steel plate?