Welding class?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Manalapan FL
Welding class?
I'm planning to take a welding class in the very near future and would like to know what type/method of welding would be the most useful. Most of my welding will be on cars/boats (although a significant majority of boat parts are aluminum...).
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
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What kind of items are they (the aluminium ones)??? MIG is easiest and can be used on aluminium but a more expensive machine really pays off there (double rollers, adjustable roller tension, push/pull, pulsemig) but with ac/dc tig you can weld anything so if they are small parts that may be the best choice. It's hardest to master, especially for someone that has never welded before, a high $ inverter type machine w/ adjustable ac frequency, slope, foot control and wave centerline (cleaning/welding) controls is very very nice. A buddy of mine has a kemppi mastertig with all those gadgets and it sure makes welding aluminium a lot easier, almost foolproof apart from the handling of torch & rod. The imverter will allow you to weld w/ a pointy electrode and a larger electrode at that, clean welding at higher settings w/ a stable arc is very easy w/ the pointy vs. rounded tip. I should have gotten one of those and may do so when I have some cash to spare (this whole suspension deal is sucking the blood out of me, everything is always 3 times as expensive as anticpated LOL)
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
MIG welding is the most versatile. If you are taking the class at your local community college, they will probably require you to learn basic welding technique before teaching MIG. Before I could take a MIG specific class, I had to take Welding I, which starts out teaching gas welding and brazing, then moves to stick welding, then Welding II, which teaches out of position stick welding, MIG, TIG, and cutting processes. Only after that was I allowed to take a MIG specific class, which taught MIG, spray transfer, and flux core, in all positions that are considered possible with these processes. This term, I'm taking a class called "Prep for Cert" where I will be able to practice what ever I like. I have no plans to certifiy, but I really would like to learn to TIG weld aluminum well.
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by MotorHead
Holy shnit you took all those classes before flux core Mig welding, no wonder I can't weld with my new Mig welder worth a crap 
My pieces stick but don't look real nice.
Don't know if I have the patience to learn all that other stuff I'll never use.
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St. Jude Donor '07
I took a welding class a few summers ago; they taught everything: MIG, TIG, FCAW, stick, OAW/OAC, PAC, CAC. Personally, I like TIG the best; best control over weld quality, pace, and cleanest. When I was MIG/FCAW, there were sparks everywhere and I'd be hesitant to weld without leathers. TIG is very clean and you could do it wearing a long sleeve shirt. The only thing that keeps me from running out and buying a TIG setup is cost 
You might be interested to know that TIG was originally developed to weld together aluminum air frames during WWII
You might be interested to know that TIG was originally developed to weld together aluminum air frames during WWII
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Keizer Oregon
Originally Posted by MotorHead
Holy shnit you took all those classes before flux core Mig welding, no wonder I can't weld with my new Mig welder worth a crap
They won't break but I used half a pound of mig wire to get them to stick. 
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St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by Jughead
My pieces stick but don't look real nice.
Don't know if I have the patience to learn all that other stuff I'll never use.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Brampton Ont.
I'd never welded in my life untill I took welding classes last year. I chose Tig because it was the cleanest and most cosmeticaly pleasing and wanted to weld Stainless to a vertually seamless condition. Mind you, grind and polish is the next process. I am by far good and find that if I don't do it every so often I tend to loose my touch.
P.S. the equipment isn't cheap.
P.S. the equipment isn't cheap.
Last edited by Maymyvetteliveforevr; Apr 11, 2005 at 11:14 PM. Reason: typo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Summerville SC
I trained and got Certified in TIG Welding first. Than found a job for a Production MIG Welder... tested and got Certified for MIG Welding. The only tip I can give you is that I really like to weld very hot for better penatration. 
It all depends on the thickness of the metal. I owned a MILLER Millermatic 250 with a bottle of Argon. 
It all depends on the thickness of the metal. I owned a MILLER Millermatic 250 with a bottle of Argon.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
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From: Manalapan FL
Thanks for the input.
I'm not planning on doing anything heavy-duty. Just welding frame nut backings, repairing brackets, small cracks and perhaps some frame gussets.
I'll probably save the aluminum welding for a pro.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
I'm not planning on doing anything heavy-duty. Just welding frame nut backings, repairing brackets, small cracks and perhaps some frame gussets.
I'll probably save the aluminum welding for a pro.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I got my aluminum rad welded last summer and I thought I took it up the wazzoo, is there any truth to his line about it being expensive to start the equipment up to weld one hole in a rad ?
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Start up as in turn the power on, dress the electrode if necessary, hook up the proper bottle of gas, set the correct settings and grab a welding rod? err..no? The equipment itself is expensive depending on what machine you have but the process itself is not, a good weldor won't mess up the electrode so they don't have to be dressed (and that's when they wear you grind them down) and the filler rod and gas used to fix a small hole is..well next to nothing.
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by The_Dude
MIG welding is the most versatile. If you are taking the class at your local community college, they will probably require you to learn basic welding technique before teaching MIG. Before I could take a MIG specific class, I had to take Welding I, which starts out teaching gas welding and brazing, then moves to stick welding, then Welding II, which teaches out of position stick welding, MIG, TIG, and cutting processes. Only after that was I allowed to take a MIG specific class, which taught MIG, spray transfer, and flux core, in all positions that are considered possible with these processes. This term, I'm taking a class called "Prep for Cert" where I will be able to practice what ever I like. I have no plans to certifiy, but I really would like to learn to TIG weld aluminum well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,470
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From: Lake Ozark, MO
While were talking welding my mig welder has a gas bottle attachment. What will that do for me in terms of better welding? Also the 110 machine I bought (4 heat ranges - multi spped adjustment) seems to feed too fast and piles up the wire without welding deep into the metal...any fix action (thicker/thinner wire)? I know this isn't Vett stuff BUT we were on the subject....