I basically know enough to stick two pieces of metal together with a
mig or brazing. I'd like to learn good welding but don't have the time
to go to a school and was wanting a good book.

Any recommendations?

Modat22 wrote:

I basically know enough to stick two pieces of metal together with a
mig or brazing. I'd like to learn good welding but don't have the time
to go to a school and was wanting a good book.

Any recommendations?

I don't think you can learn to weld from a book. - GWE

If you can't make it to a class, then I'd have to go with "Modern
Welding".

Just a suggestion, though... It's worth going to school. Just in the
purely financial sense, it was way cheaper for me because I used up far
more material than I paid for the class. Lets hear it for community
college!

wrote in message
oups.com...
If you can't make it to a class, then I'd have to go with "Modern
Welding".

Just a suggestion, though... It's worth going to school. Just in the
purely financial sense, it was way cheaper for me because I used up far
more material than I paid for the class. Lets hear it for community
college!


You are going to need to pratice welding awhile, even if you got a book....

xman

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 10:55:42 -0700, "xmradio"
wrote:


wrote in message
roups.com...
If you can't make it to a class, then I'd have to go with "Modern
Welding".

Just a suggestion, though... It's worth going to school. Just in the
purely financial sense, it was way cheaper for me because I used up far
more material than I paid for the class. Lets hear it for community
college!


You are going to need to pratice welding awhile, even if you got a book....

xman



Yep I've already been practicing with a MIG quite a bit, I did ruin a
few tips when I got erm... to close to the work. I tend to have a very
ugly weld when I use a stick welder.

Modat22 wrote:

.. I tend to have a very ugly weld when I use a stick welder..

Try 7014 in the horizontal position, 3/32" rod, set to 90A DC+. It's really
easy rod, just strike an arc and let the rod burn, no need to manipulate it
at all. That's why they call it "farmer's rod". It does spatter a bit so if
you don't like dingleberries take a small chisel and a hammer and nip them
off cleanly.

Once you get good at 7014 move up to 7018. Much better stuff. You have to
fuss around keeping the rods dry and warm, but the welds look great and
are really strong and you can weld tool steels without the welds cracking
from hydrogen embrittlement because the rods are low hydrogen.

I still think you'll learn more in an hour watching a welder than you
will in a month of working out of a book. It's also very beneficial to
have an experienced welder watching you -- he can say "lift up your hand
a little - your angle's too steep" which you'd never know because you're
watching the puddle.

GWE

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 08:26:19 -0700, Grant Erwin
wrote:

Modat22 wrote:

I basically know enough to stick two pieces of metal together with a
mig or brazing. I'd like to learn good welding but don't have the time
to go to a school and was wanting a good book.

Any recommendations?

I don't think you can learn to weld from a book. - GWE

I learned with books and practice. I wouldn't call myself a
journeyman welder, but I get sound welds with good appearance. I
know they're sound from having to "unweld" a few misplaced joints
with a grinder. Unwelding is a lot slower than welding!

It's really a matter of practice.

However, I expect it took me a good deal longer to gain proficiency
than it might have if I'd had some good instruction and coaching.

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...

I still think you'll learn more in an hour watching a welder than you
will in a month of working out of a book. It's also very beneficial to
have an experienced welder watching you -- he can say "lift up your hand
a little - your angle's too steep" which you'd never know because you're
watching the puddle.

This is the inevitable "me too" post. I've been doing a couple of weeks of
welding here and there throughout my apprenticeship. I cannot imagine trying
to learn to weld without a capable welder near by. Frequently the problem is
as simple, as Grant said, as an angle or some other issue that is virtually
impossible to diagnose without a lot of experience.

While MIG welding is a start, you basically need a pulse and a functional
hand to make a nice MIG weld, in my experience. Arc welding in any position
other than 1F takes a fair amount of practice and at least some instruction
(although I guess if you have a _lot_ of patience....)

YMMV.

Regards

Robin

Welding is like riding a bicycle or driving a car. You have to do it, not
read about it.

With that said, I would recommend "Modern Welding" if you want to learn
theory, and "The Complete Book of Home Welding" if you want a description of
how it is done. The latter is out of print so you want to check with nearby
libraries.

"Modat22" wrote in message
...
I basically know enough to stick two pieces of metal together with a
mig or brazing. I'd like to learn good welding but don't have the time
to go to a school and was wanting a good book.

Any recommendations?

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:45:47 -0700, Grant Erwin
wrote:


Try 7014 in the horizontal position, 3/32" rod, set to 90A DC+. It's really
easy rod, just strike an arc and let the rod burn, no need to manipulate it
at all. That's why they call it "farmer's rod". It does spatter a bit so if
you don't like dingleberries take a small chisel and a hammer and nip them
off cleanly.

Or spray the area around the weld area with Pam cooking spray.

Or get fancy and buy a case of anti-spatter spray off ebay.

Gunner

Liberals - Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends
of every country save their own. Benjamin Disraeli

--Get several; read 'em all. You'll get to resonating with bits
from each one..

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : For some reason hung up on
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : Mexican Oompah bands...
http://www.nmpproducts.com/intro.htm
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

Just do a search on goole.groups.com for any posting by Ernie
Leimkuhler - print them out ant staple together - best book you can
get!!

Tom
Modat22 wrote:
I basically know enough to stick two pieces of metal together with a
mig or brazing. I'd like to learn good welding but don't have the
time
to go to a school and was wanting a good book.

Any recommendations?

"AL" wrote in message
...
Welding is like riding a bicycle or driving a car. You have to do it, not
read about it.

With that said, I would recommend "Modern Welding" if you want to learn
theory, and "The Complete Book of Home Welding" if you want a description
of
snip

"The Complete Book of Home Welding" is available in very good used condition
on
Amazon for about $20 plus shipping.

- Carl