/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Go slow and don't panic. Welding is a simple concept, but requires practice. Like throwing a ball. You're not going to be good, but you'll always get better.

you wont learn shit

school here is about 16 months plus another 4 if you want to learn some more swag shit after words you need to rack up 400 hours before you get your apprenticeship

my only advice is do not use a cheap helmet/gear oh and if it aint TIG you're going to learn fuck that job

>>345500
I didn't know welding involved so much elitism.

>>345497

dont be a knowitall fuckwit; when you dont know something, say 'i dont know'. seriously, ignorance is fine, stupidity ought to be punished.

if you're actually open to newness, and you enjoy it, you'll be fine.

>>345500

woah, aren't we just a bundle of fucking optimism.

welding techniques other than TIG are real techniques. and OP will learn if s/he pays attention and has an opportunity.

sheesh.

Strike the stick like a match. Drag the little glowing puddle around. Do a good job removing the slag.

>>345502
>>345499

sound advice

>>345500

where do you live dude? it takes 8 weeks to get certified in my town. that seems like a crazy amount of time just for training. I hope it's payed

>>345497
90% of welders are dumb as a pile of rocks, especially those under 30, learn who you can trust to not be fuck wits.
Get an auto-darkening helmet, it will save you lots of grief.
You will get arc flash. It sucks. Plan to take the next day off at least if you get it, keep potatoes around the house. Cut one in half and place over your eyes, it will help with the dryness/sandiness.
Wire wheel the fuck out of your welds. Did that? Good. Now do it twice more.
Get gloves that fit, you should be able to have at least 60% of your normal dexterity, 80% is best, any more and they're too thin for things like arc welding.
>>345502
>>345499
These guys have sound advice.
>>345500
This guy is one of those fuck wits.

>>345519

>arc flash

holy shit that's terrifying. I just looked it up. sounds like I'll really have to study/practice and be on my game.

awesome advice. screen capped for future reference

>>345524

Forgot to mention. The reason you'll want to call in sick is the headache from hell you'll get when you wake up the next morning. First time I had it I was out for 2 days.
Oh, and if they cram you in a booth with no fume hood, tell them to fuck off and report then report them to OSHA

>>345524

Sorry, my mistake. That's not what I'm talking about, meant to say arc BURN.

It's when you watch as an arc is struck without any kind of eye wear. Think a flashbang grenade without the bang.

>>345531
Would it be a bad idea to wear contact lenses while welding?
I'm getting the feeling that it would be bad.

>>345500
wow, I bet you're a real faggot to work with, probably have some limited tinbashing skills but people will actively avoid coming to you with a problem because of your high and mighty attitude..


as for OPs question, yes it will be hard, your weld will look like birdshit, and you will make mistakes, but that is how you learn, I always questioned why the hell we had to learn so much gas welding when it is hardly used, my welding teacher later told me it was to get us used to controlling the weld pool, and that is one of the fundamental parts of welding, learning how to judge what is too hot, how much penetration you are actually getting, all while keeping a nice straight even bead.
welding/engineering is a great trade to get into, I have NEVER had to hunt for a job, pays quite well and as long as you don't get stuck in a workshop making the same crap day in day out it can be quite enjoyable, good luck OP

Im about to start a welding class this upcoming semester. Im gunna be there Mon-Fri 3pm-11pm for 22 weeks. At the end of it I'll supposedly know the basics. I almost finished with my machinist course which is a similar deal. There 5 days a week for 40 hours. Im learning a lot of manual work but also learning to operate and write programs for cnc. There are two guys in their early 60's who have been doing machinist work their whole life that are in my course. They are taking it mainly to learn more of the CNC side and one of them had a stroke so he is doing it just to keep busy. On the manual side of things they are on par skill wise with my instructor. The funnest part of the whole class is interacting with the two old dudes and having them show me their old man machinist tricks. And listening to their stories about how dumb asses lost a finger tip. It would be cool if whatever shop i get a job at has some older guys who will show me the ropes and kind of take me under their wing so to say.

Im hoping with the skills i learn in the machinist and welding class I'll be able to land an entry level position in a shop somewhere.

What do you think i can expect to make as a shop bitch for my first manufacturing job? Hopefully the year im taking to learn the skills i need will pay off in the long run.

Welding is pretty fun OP. I started out welding in high school, after which I fell in love with and started aiming for it to be a career. Seventeen yrs later, I now work as an underwater welder in Seattle.

Also on a side note, your clothing should be cotton and shit of that nature, I seen ppl wear the wrong type of clothing, shit catches on fire and melted to the skin.

Try and get qualified as both a welder and a sheetmetal worker. If you can do both at the same time great if not, do one then the other. They compliment each other and will increase your paycheck.

I don't know where you live but if it's in a hot environment then drink plenty of fluids, make sure the fume extraction system is working, make sure you have good quality protection gear.

>>345544
Yeah, you shouldn't wear them. The cool kids said they can melt. Obviously haven't seen or experienced this and don't have a clue under which circumstances it could happen, but I sure as hell wouldn't risk it.

I'm studying to become a mechanical engineer so I've had a course where they taught us the basics of MIG/MAG, stick, gas and TIG welding. Just keep cool and positive, don't sweat it if you don't seem to learn something right away, usually sleeping over night helps. Don't be afraid to tell someone you fucking suck at, let's say re-lighting a stick for example, the experienced guys usually have good tips.

>>345578
Well, I guess if I get into welding I'll invest in some good glasses.
Not OP, but I have had a few people suggest learning to weld. I'll talk to a couple friends who weld about the classes offered around here.

Aus fag sheet metal apprentice here. in my 2nd year at the moment. the place i work at is all mig welding, and im learning brazing,oxy, stick, tig at tafe(trade school). the best advice i have ever heard regarding welding, is that its 90% heat management and 10% technique. youre not going to be great at it straight up. Just listen to what people say, and get a feel for it. best of luck mate, its a great skill to learn.

>>345497
The best advice I can give you is to buy or make a ventilated welding helmet. Then you can weld all day long and not have a single problem with metal fume fever. I have one. It is the difference between night and day really.

>>345497

you better be using a Lincoln Electric welder....

>>345500

>if it ain't TIG

Spoken like a true non-welder. Don't be sad cuz you suck with MIG and Arc Welders.

learn to set the machine up properly, watch the puddle, and miller>lincoln

If you can use a glue-gun, you can use a MIG welder. Stick welding is pretty easy too, but for some reason I always sucked at oxy-acetylene.

Please tell me about your welders flash
Have any of you gotten permanent damage from it?
Ive read itll put you out for 2-3 days, and make it hard to see anything

Sounds fucking scary...

>>345497
not sure if I would want to lift metal all day and be around heat and burning metal all the time.. but it seems like a good trade.. lots of pipefitters weld using arc and they seem to get paid pretty well too..

>be welding for 6 years
>be wearing contacts errday
>get flashed regularly and never need to puss out and take a day off or put shit on my eyes
>building big steel members so TIG would take 10 minutes to make a weld MIG will make in a minute

sure is a bunch of fucking noobs in here.

>>345953

I'm a 3rd-year pipefitter/welder apprentice. I actually have just a little bit of flashburn right now. Shit sucks, but I haven't had any permanent damage yet.

How much exposure you get makes the severity vary, though - right now my eyes are just kind of dry and teary, but I've had it where it hurt like a bitch all day and I was just pouring tears constantly. It's really not that hard to avoid, though: just don't look at the arc without a hood.

>>345953
its rough but 2-3 days is a bit pansy, usually 1 day and you're ok, you don't seem to notice it until you try to go to sleep, then its like eyefuls of sand, guess sunburnt retinas will do that to ya though, I've had it at least 6 times and I don't notice any permanent damage, usually from working in close quaters with others and not even realising
another tip for young players is if you're tacking a lot, don't just do the close my eyes I'll be right trick, sunburnt eyelids is all you'll get and it's equally as annoying
>inb4 sunburn.. it's the same fucking thing as welders flash/rayburn

also OP invest in a good quality auto darkening helmet, old school welders say naa ya don't need that rubbish but it will make life sooo much easier, cheap ones WILL fail, I remember arc airing all day with another guy who had a chaepie and it just stopped working once it melted, we were in a tight space so he was quite close but my miller stood up to all the shit I gave it

>>345986
>get flashed regularly
Then you are either stupid, careless, or don't know when to go complain about a serious issue to your foreman. Most likely all three based on the rest of your post. And if you didn't feel the need to take off you weren't flashed that bad.

>>345986
>6 years welding experience
>is a hazard to himself and probably those around him

Either you are lying or you are really stupid.

>>345953
It is bad.

Don't be an idiot. Keep yourself 100% covered. Use a ventilated suit for best performance if it is hot weather and you think you might overheat otherwise. For your eyes, ALWAYS shield them with the proper shades. Don't let anyone at all fuck around with your own safety and health and try to tell you that you don't need proper protection.

I'm just about finished a six month course for level C welding (Canadian here) which is just the basics.
But from my limited experience, don't cheap out on protective gear, good leather jacket, gloves, quality auto darkening helmet. I have a pair of work boots that have an armoured metatarsal cover so I don't crush the top of my foot and it covers the laces.
Welding really does take a fuckton of practice, but it's a fantastic job.
If you're really that worried about arc flash (which hasn't happened to me and I've been exposed to many arcs without my helmet on) wear tinted safety glasses, which will help against stray arcs. Also, you'd be surprised at what can find it's way into your helmet, like hot slag, molten sparks and whatnot.

>>346042
Nothing like a chunk of hot slag down your shorts to make a quick dis-robe on the pipeline

I'd highly recommend getting yourself a respirator, since you never know when you might need to weld stainless, or in a place that doesn't have the greatest of ventilation. You might not need it, but it's always good to have one on hand.
Never, ever skimp on safety. Don't be the "tough guy" that stares at arcs, or doesn't wear a jacket, ear plugs, safety glasses.
It doesn't matter if people call you a pussy, if something isn't safe don't do it, otherwise you will fuck yourself up.
Also, don't tuck in your shirt. If by some chance a spark or molten droplet finds its way down your shirt, WHICH IT WILL, it's going down your pants, and whether you are male or female, that will not be fun.

>>346042
>Also, you'd be surprised at what can find it's way into your helmet, like hot slag, molten sparks and whatnot.

This.

I wear safety glasses under my helmet. They are the kind that completely cover my eyes. Even then, I've had one tiny piece of slag land inside them through those little air holes. Shit can get crazy sometimes, especially when you weld overhead. A positive pressure helmet REALLY goes a long long way though. Since I started using one of those I stopped needing to use the goggles inside the helmet since there's 0 holes now. And, I never need to worry about breathing any fumes. Just keep your buddies away from the intake filter.....they like to fart in it.

>>346042
>you'd be surprised at what can find it's way into your helmet
Man, oh man, have I been surprised by that. I don't know how many times I've had a spark fly up and land on the top or back of my head and burn me. At one point I took to wearing a wool hat when MIG welding, which was hot as hell but not as painful.

Something else you may want to get is one of those leather neck gaiters. Welding helmets I've used all protect the neck well enough from sparks and such, but when you are at an odd angle and the bottom of the helmet isn't against your chest, you can have stuff bounce up in there somehow. There have also been times where the light from the arc was being reflected off of stuff around me and shining up through the bottom or from the back of the helmet. If that happens, stop right away and reposition yourself or otherwise shade - I don't recommend taking any chances with your eyes.

I expect the shop will have everything you need in terms of tools, but if you are getting anything, get a good grinder and vice grips. Emphasis on the good, don't harbour freight it, you will regret it within a week.

Above all, when you practice, don't just keep doing the same thing. Do some experimentation and pay sharp attention to what works, and even sharper attention to what doesn't. I can remember when I very first started welding, and my instructor just glanced at the piece and said "Insufficient gas flow," and kept walking. Learning to recognize the cause of defects is an important step.

>>346087
I made an attachment to one of my cheap welding helmets and hook it up to a shop vac with a long hose. I just wet a cotton t-shirt and use it over everything as you see in this pic. The t-shirt covers everything from head to neck and you can tie it back with the sleeves easily. It works extremely well for keeping fumes out since it uses positive pressure and heat from the summer sun doesn't bother me at all. It takes sparks really well too.

You can also make a mixture of borax, boric acid, and water and treat the t-shirt so it is fire retardant.

-seven ounces of Borax (a laundry additive)
-three ounces of boric acid (used for ants and roaches)
-two quarts of boiling water

really appreciate all this talk and advice guys. very helpful stuff

>>346226
Dont forget to put the VAC on blowing, else you will suck all the poison fumes down your mask

>>347578
If someone is that stupid.....

>>345554
Id say a starting out a shop bitch would make around $15 an hour.

welded all through high school, spent a little time in college but decided to just get a job at a shipyard. I can tell you that shipyards are really dirty and can be quite dangerous at times. really, welding is just about practice, someone might show you a few times and point out what you are doing wrong, but overall you just need to run a shit ton of beads on scrap. when ever you get a chance just dink around with your machine, tweak your controls and experiment. really practice your vertical welds., get good at em. one thing a lot of people forget (depending on what you are working on) metal warps fairly easily and can really screw up a project if you put too much weld into one side, or area of whatever you are working on. I have no idea what kinda welding you are going into or interested in but I would say try to learn a little about everything you can TIG, MIG, FCAW, SMAW, hell even oxy-acetylene. I will watch this thread if you have any other questions, i would be more than glad try to answer any of them to the best of my abilities.

>>345558
Isn't the mortality rate of underwater welders the highest of any job outside the military? Also don't you rake in a 6 figure salary

>>348139

no idea man. that's what my cousin does for a living though

what kind of shop is it? can you read and write? are you addicted to crack and booze?

answers to these questions are important for me to help you

>>348139
IIRC the life expectancy is something horrendous like 7 years. You do make bank though.