Best way to learn welding?

[AKcharger]

What is the best way to learn welding, take a Vo-tech class or find someone who is good and just do some OJT coupled with practice?

When I last did the '70 I had a friend do all the welding work (there was a LOT too!) but with the '70's next major rebuild in a few years and the '72 after that I was going to do all the work. Buying a quality rig is not a problem but doing the welding is somthing I'd need training on. I've done Oxycetalene and Arc welding years ago but really just playing. If I do my cars i want to do it right....your suggestions?

AK

[Judhudson]

If your doing MIG, I suggest you buy the Welding Book from Home Depot/Lowes.  I think it's called the Welders Handbook, and it is purple.  Mig is the easiest to use.  Just grab some scrap metal, and run a few beads.  Depending on how thin/thick the metal is, you'll have to adjust your welder.  But that's a piece of cake too.

If you want to do all the welding, such as arc, tig, etc then a class is best for you.  I payed $150 for a welding course, and I practically blew that money away because all I wanted to do was learned to MIG.  I tried arc and tig and didn't care for it.

[MorePwr]

What is the best way to learn welding, take a Vo-tech class or find someone who is good and just do some OJT coupled with practice?

When I last did the '70 I had a friend do all the welding work (there was a LOT too!) but with the '70's next major rebuild in a few years and the '72 after that I was going to do all the work. Buying a quality rig is not a problem but doing the welding is somthing I'd need training on. I've done Oxycetalene and Arc welding years ago but really just playing. If I do my cars i want to do it right....your suggestions?

AK

If you have the time and money, I'd say learn from a professional instructor.

[RogerDodger]

If your doing MIG, I suggest you buy the Welding Book from Home Depot/Lowes.  I think it's called the Welders Handbook, and it is purple.  Mig is the easiest to use.  Just grab some scrap metal, and run a few beads.  Depending on how thin/thick the metal is, you'll have to adjust your welder.  But that's a piece of cake too.

If you want to do all the welding, such as arc, tig, etc then a class is best for you.  I payed $150 for a welding course, and I practically blew that money away because all I wanted to do was learned to MIG.  I tried arc and tig and didn't care for it.

If you want to be a welder take a class. If you want to do rust repair on sheet metal then get a mig welder and practice.

[AirborneSilva]

Get yourself a mig welder, go to your local body shop and ask if you can have some boby panels/fenders from their junk pile take em home cut em up then weld em back together.

[Silver R/T]

took me lots of practice

[mopar_madman]

I read on it and had a pro show me how but I learned  the most by just doing it myself, learning how to tune the welder and learning what works and what doesn't. Good luck

[AKcharger]

That sounds like a plan...Thanks guys

I learned all my bondo/body work OJT and did pretty good...made lots of mistakes learning (Like do NOT let bondo harden over night THEN try to sand it)

[six-tee-nine]

Get yourself a welder and an old chevy door an practice a little....

cut out some piece of sheetmetal an weld it back in drill some holes weld up them again....


Then you can start on your car but still i would do a trunk or floorpan first before you start doing fenders or quarter panels anyway, that's the way i learned it an i'm doing fine (in my opinion of course)......


Another important thing..... don't come home from your work at six sayin' "let's quickly weld a quarter panel today"....... nope say "if i can't get it welded today it 'll be tomorrow".......get me?


my first body off resto was a MkI VW golf (called rabbit in the USA) and took me 1.5 year to weld the car up again....

[RogerDodger]

I like that!       Get yourself a Chevy to practice on!

[Supercharged Riot]

take a class at your local college....I did