Welding skills
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,625
Likes: 6,386
From: bolton
Welding skills
As a kid we used to go up to Maine to see family.
While there we'd go out in my grandfather's garage and play.
While alive he used to have a repair shop and there was the ever present array of welding rods.
I knew what they were, but my knowledge got pretty thin after that.
As a freshman in high school I played with welding in shop class a little.
But to be honest, the knowledge wasn't much more advanced than when I was 5.
Now here I am almost 60 years later and I'm still curious.
I've played with the cheapie oxi-map torch kits. I got close to buying an oxi-acetylene set up.
Now I've been looking at multi-process machines for stick, MIG TIG swinging both ways, AC and DC.
More importantly, I've actually been reading a 600 page text on the principles of welding.
I don't have any specific projects in mind but it just feels like something I should know.
anybody else got the bug?
While there we'd go out in my grandfather's garage and play.
While alive he used to have a repair shop and there was the ever present array of welding rods.
I knew what they were, but my knowledge got pretty thin after that.
As a freshman in high school I played with welding in shop class a little.
But to be honest, the knowledge wasn't much more advanced than when I was 5.
Now here I am almost 60 years later and I'm still curious.
I've played with the cheapie oxi-map torch kits. I got close to buying an oxi-acetylene set up.
Now I've been looking at multi-process machines for stick, MIG TIG swinging both ways, AC and DC.
More importantly, I've actually been reading a 600 page text on the principles of welding.
I don't have any specific projects in mind but it just feels like something I should know.
anybody else got the bug?
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,919
Likes: 8,390
From: Mish-she-gan
I sold my old style welding tanks and equipment decades ago. I have many friends that are really good welders, some with new equipment, and I never returned to that 'sport'. If I was interested still I would put the 600 page book in the drawer and sign up for a welding class in night school.
Moderator
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,950
Likes: 2,511
Was around it as a kid when dad was having to weld random stuff. Got a job when I was 18 where I had to learn to weld on the fly to repair various pieces of equipment. They had a few good welders there that taught me enough to stick things together and grind until it looked ok 
That was all stick welding. Have not welded though in over 20 years now and only did a bit of it back then. What I have learned from many welders though is that if you can learn stick welding first you will be better off. Stick is all I ever did when I did weld.
But I do plan to buy a welder soon as I have more times that having one would be a good thing
Working on selling current place and getting a place where I can have more shop space and a welder will go in there. I plan to buy a MIG.
That was all stick welding. Have not welded though in over 20 years now and only did a bit of it back then. What I have learned from many welders though is that if you can learn stick welding first you will be better off. Stick is all I ever did when I did weld. But I do plan to buy a welder soon as I have more times that having one would be a good thing
Working on selling current place and getting a place where I can have more shop space and a welder will go in there. I plan to buy a MIG.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,775
Likes: 4,784
From: Medina, OH
I use to love to weld (a long, long time ago). I had a AC/DC stick machine plus a Oxy-Acy setup. After awhile I lost the urge and sold everything. Now I wish I hadn’t but I am not going to buy any new equipment.
Trending Topics
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 1,796
As a kid we used to go up to Maine to see family.
While there we'd go out in my grandfather's garage and play.
While alive he used to have a repair shop and there was the ever present array of welding rods.
I knew what they were, but my knowledge got pretty thin after that.
As a freshman in high school I played with welding in shop class a little.
But to be honest, the knowledge wasn't much more advanced than when I was 5.
Now here I am almost 60 years later and I'm still curious.
I've played with the cheapie oxi-map torch kits. I got close to buying an oxi-acetylene set up.
Now I've been looking at multi-process machines for stick, MIG TIG swinging both ways, AC and DC.
More importantly, I've actually been reading a 600 page text on the principles of welding.
I don't have any specific projects in mind but it just feels like something I should know.
anybody else got the bug?
While there we'd go out in my grandfather's garage and play.
While alive he used to have a repair shop and there was the ever present array of welding rods.
I knew what they were, but my knowledge got pretty thin after that.
As a freshman in high school I played with welding in shop class a little.
But to be honest, the knowledge wasn't much more advanced than when I was 5.
Now here I am almost 60 years later and I'm still curious.
I've played with the cheapie oxi-map torch kits. I got close to buying an oxi-acetylene set up.
Now I've been looking at multi-process machines for stick, MIG TIG swinging both ways, AC and DC.
More importantly, I've actually been reading a 600 page text on the principles of welding.
I don't have any specific projects in mind but it just feels like something I should know.
anybody else got the bug?
That I have and it works!!