Where can I learn Welding basics?

[Chili]

I see that TCC has a couple of body work classes that include welding, but I'm really just interested in the welding. Nothing fancy, I just want to learn at a hobbyist level. I have ideas that rattle around in my head from time to time and want to be able to tinker.

[bcoop]

Pick up a welder and just do it! If you don't do, you don't learn!

[ThreeFingerPete]

Pick up a welder and just do it! If you don't do, you don't learn!

Not exactly.

[Chili]

I wouldn't trust myself to know all of the basics. I'm totally okay with practicing on my own and all that, but I literally know nothing about it. I would just want something to get me started. Not looking to be good enough to earn a living with it or anything.

[bcoop]

Not exactly.

Yes, exactly. I taught myself.

[71chevellejohn]

Out here(ABI), one of the welding supply houses gives classes(or at least they did) on Saturday mornings. You may check with welding supply places in your neck of the woods to see what they recommend.

[turbostang]

Yes, exactly. I taught myself.

QFT.

I'm self taught - with only one class in high school (back when high school had cool shit like that)

I took a job that evolved into some heavy fab work, but only Tig'd a half dozen times there in 12 years or so...but no one ever believes it.

My first turbo kit, I bought a 1200$ welder and got after it. Now, with all the import stuff, welding is cheap.

If you buy a welder, i'd be glad to show you how to use it. I've offered MANY times to MANY people and not a single person has taken me up on it. My time is very limited, but all the stuff I do is welding, so it's not like i'm doing anything that i'm not already working on.

[bcoop]

QFT.

I'm self taught - with only one class in high school (back when high school had cool shit like that)

I worked in an auto shop running parts, sweeping floors, and other odds and ends bullshit. The guys would stay and drink for several hours a night, so I'd stay late and practice on scrap exhaust tubing. I got VERY few tips from anyone. I later worked for a body shop, and would do the same. Come in early, leave late, and play with a welder. Then went on to work for a wheel repair shop, and did the same there. I had a lot of fun playing with the TIG welder, and I'd practice laying beads on wheels that were warped and could not be repaired. Once I got the hang of it, I was a second welder for the place I worked at, on high volume nights.

[JamesB]

I am self taught also. Get a welder and get to practicing. There are several books you could buy if your a reader.

[turbostang]

I am self taught also. Get a welder and get to practicing. There are several books you could buy if your a reader.

This reminds me, if you look on youtube - there's "weldingtipsandtricks" who does videso every week with a LOT of different techniques, different kinds of welding etc..

[Matt]

I use to have a key to the shop. I ran a CNC waterjet and wanted to learn how to weld so I would just go up there and tech myself. Only thing that was ever taught to me was how to fuse 2 parts together with tig, and about 5 minutes worth of training on how to run a mig bead real nice.

I ended up being the only fabricator for the company for 3 years after those 2 guys quit. I had to learn and we welded all types of stuff.

[Big Thumper]

I'm self taught. I didn't know anything about tig welding, I had to ask where to put the machine for aluminum vs steel.

I suggest learning on aluminum, that is how I did it. If you can do it, steel is easy. Other than that...practice. Do a few beads every day.

[projectPONY]

Eastfield College. check into it.

[ceyko]

They have DVD series around...

-What you're welding
-What kind of welder you have...etc

Think I saw them on Northern Tools web site. When I bought my Dad a welder I sent him one of the DVDs with it and he said it helped. He's welding stuff up these days and it does not look half bad.

[Coupe81]

Self taught too...kinda of, my old man owns a welding business. Worked for him since I was 13 as labor. Never had time to learn until I was out of high school, we mainly work with 1/8" and thicker so we use mig or arc. The last couple of years I've been focusing more in the technical part of welding (gases,wires, different techniques) and it has improved my welds a lot. I talked my dad into investing in a tig a couple months ago so we can work on some of the thinner stuff.
He ended up buying a Dynasty 200 DX w/ remote switch and water cool torch. Awesome machine lots of features but I'm have a hard time laying a bead, not very pretty. All of our mig welders are miller and have been good to us. In the field, we use gas driven lincolns, which are alright. I downloaded a video called TIG Welding Basics by covell which is pretty good but I still can't lay a pretty bead. I heard everlast welding machine are pretty good too for a fraction of the price of a miller or lincoln even has a higher duty cycle. But I don't know how well they are built and no very user friendly.