How hard is it to learn to weld?

[Richard Thompson]

As had been said before, auto dark shield  is a god send.

It frees up an extra hand for work positioning and adjustment.

I've got an inverter welder and my favourite is the short rods in 1.6mm I seem to have better control and better welds but I am looking at picking up a small mig setup 

[Will Heal]

M

[difflock]

As long as one sticks to clean mild steel, easy-peasy, regardless of buzz-box stick welder or inverter welder, or MIG.

Simply suck-it-and-see.

 

Having made that glib statement; 

I am properly in awe of some of the professionals  on Youtube, "walking the cup" TIG welding SS, etc etc.

 

Plus, properly "gunked" at my abject failure to weld "spring" steel or high yield, high carbon? steel.(Turner flail blades)

Seems it was hydrogen embrittlement and needs special rods, at least.

marcus

[Graham w]

1 hour ago, Richard Thompson said:

As had been said before, auto dark shield  is a god send.

It frees up an extra hand for work positioning and adjustment.

I've got an inverter welder and my favourite is the short rods in 1.6mm I seem to have better control and better welds but I am looking at picking up a small mig setup 

if you really want to treat yourself get an optrel panoramaxx welding mask its fab! a little expensive but in the long run works out cheaper than welding gloves 

[difflock]

Welding gloves, did I miss sommat?

[Gray git]

Welding gloves, did I miss sommat?

Crap mask and you spend half your time burning holes in your gloves and in my case through glove finger to bone all because I couldn't see what I was doing properly with a cheap crappy mask.

[difflock]

Ah, I find by not wearing gloves, I react to stray splatter much quicker!

[Ian Leach]

My 3rd time welding, first few times looked like bird shit.

[Aliza29]

It is easier than rocket science I think. Nothing is impossible if you truly want to learn. You now have Youtube and Google.

[peatff]

On 17/01/2018 at 22:35, difflock said:

Ah, I find by not wearing gloves, I react to stray splatter much quicker!

It's spatter, splatter is what cows do on wet concrete 

 

On 18/01/2018 at 13:28, Ian Leach said:

My 3rd time welding, first few times looked like bird shit.

Try resting your other hand against the frame and prop the neck of the torch to keep it steady and your speed constant.