06-15-2012, 09:55 AM
Teaching yourself to do any type of welding has it's hurtles. But if you have the determination and desire to learn that skill - it will happen. If you give up after your first 10 minutes of trying, well.......
I was lucky enough to have a few good mentors to show me the BASIC procedures for stick, oxy/acet, and MIG. They showed me how to make a puddle. I was on my own to learn the finer points. Stick welding was introduced in HS metal shop. The owner of the repair shop I worked for as a young man taught me how to use a torch set and old coat hangers to weld exhaust systems together on vehicles.
I have since learned to use the proper filler rods.
I went to work for a new car dealership and they asked me if I knew how to weld. I told them of my limited experience, but they said that's OK, because you are the only one here that can do ANY welding.
Then I was given a 2 hour crash course in MIG welding at a local technical college. I had to pass one weld test in order to be qualified to do a safety recall on one particular model vehicle. So I was the only one in the shop to do them.
A few years ago I decided it was time to round out my education and bought myself a TIG welder. Self taught all the way. I thought, how hard could it be?
"Oh, what a strange trip it's been."
Don't give up gentlemen. You will get there. How many gave up on learning how to do machining / metalworking? Huh? HUH????
I was lucky enough to have a few good mentors to show me the BASIC procedures for stick, oxy/acet, and MIG. They showed me how to make a puddle. I was on my own to learn the finer points. Stick welding was introduced in HS metal shop. The owner of the repair shop I worked for as a young man taught me how to use a torch set and old coat hangers to weld exhaust systems together on vehicles.
I have since learned to use the proper filler rods.
I went to work for a new car dealership and they asked me if I knew how to weld. I told them of my limited experience, but they said that's OK, because you are the only one here that can do ANY welding.
Then I was given a 2 hour crash course in MIG welding at a local technical college. I had to pass one weld test in order to be qualified to do a safety recall on one particular model vehicle. So I was the only one in the shop to do them.
A few years ago I decided it was time to round out my education and bought myself a TIG welder. Self taught all the way. I thought, how hard could it be?
"Oh, what a strange trip it's been."
Don't give up gentlemen. You will get there. How many gave up on learning how to do machining / metalworking? Huh? HUH????
Willie