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)

[fiid]

I read a couple of books, bought a home despot welder - upgraded it to mig, and also did a bit of MAPP/oxy brazing work.

You may want to think twice before buying a welder from home depot, if you are considering that. Those welders have aluminium windings that apparently die quite easily, plus you have to pay more to upgrade the thing to MIG. I would find a local welding store and see what they have on the low end, there are very similar units at similar prices that are a little better built.

You will need gas for MIG. It is illegal to transport gas around in an enclosed vehicle, and the penalty is around $5k (I think). So find your nearest gas place, and drive directly to your house, and drop it off. Also drive with all the windows open and make sure the thing is secured. Rolling around in the trunk is not secure. A friend of mine expienced the removal of the valve from the top of a gas tank. Apparently it flew around the room 5 times, through a brick wall, and they later found it quarter of a mile away. You don't want this happining in your house, or your car.

As far as Oxy-acetylene gas welding goes, I have been advised that it pretty much terminates your fire insurance if it is on a residential property. I do not have evidence to back this up, but check first :-).

As for welding itself - it's not rocket science - there are lots of courses around if you are not happy with the progress you are making on your own. It is a reasonably dangerous sport, but all the risks can be mitigated, and you can fix your own shit when it breaks. It's a very happy, fun endeavor, and I get lots of satisfaction from it.