Welding, How did you learn? Options

[sgomes]

I've always wanted to learn how to weld -- even before I bought a 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I see a lot of you on here weld and I'm just wondering how you learned. Community college? work? Just bought a welder and went for it? I've searched the local community colleges and couldn't find any classes. I'm in the bay area so if any locals know of a particular place to go I'd love to hear it.

I'm thinking mostly towards MIG. I'd love to learn TIG (mainly to do aluminum) but I've heard over and over that it's pretty hard.

Shannon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[Martin Baker]

Bought a book, and a wire feed welder and started reading/doing, my Dad has been a welder for 30 years, he gave me some tips as well. Pratice was his main advice, on scrap, just making basic welds, learning to puddle and backfill the bead ( small circles), in rows. This was all after I called and found out the rates were $100.00 an hour for a welder here. The book was OK, but I never found it to be as helpful to me as watching how the metal reacts while you are actually welding. To see how the metals flow together, and how the different feed and power setting make the process change. I used metal the same thickness of the metal I was going to actually weld on the 914. When my Dad looked at the metal thickness of the 914 battery tray area, he told me it was going to be a difficult process with the welder I bought. I used a thin guage wire, and low settings and a medium feed speed, with short spot type welds, that were spaced out to allow cooling of the surrounding area. It turned out great. I was very proud of my accomplishment after I was finished. Good Luck.