Anyone want to make some extra cash? I want to learn how to weld

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 05:00 PM
  #1  
brucelee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Friendly Neighborhood Ogre
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 19,930
From: www.gunatics.com
Car Info: GUNATICS.COM
Anyone want to make some extra cash? I want to learn how to weld

Welding is something I've been wanting to learn for a long time... The reason is to make metal structures for various applications. On top of all the regular type of welding I also want to learn how to weld aluminum.

I'm a really quick learner and have welded before but have never had proper training (someone show me how to do it please ). If you know how to weld and have some time and fit in the above description, I'm all game to learn as soon as possible.

I know we have welders here. I also have some related questions for you.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 05:02 PM
  #2  
OneManArmy's Avatar
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
Sign up for a junior college course dude. Most of them have night courses. One day a week. Way more structured.

I have a few buddies that are great welders but when you're learning from someone like that you have to take in to account their material costs and electrical costs.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 05:25 PM
  #3  
brucelee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Friendly Neighborhood Ogre
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 19,930
From: www.gunatics.com
Car Info: GUNATICS.COM
Originally Posted by OneManArmy
Sign up for a junior college course dude. Most of them have night courses. One day a week. Way more structured.

I have a few buddies that are great welders but when you're learning from someone like that you have to take in to account their material costs and electrical costs.
Yeah, I thought about it but welding isn't THAT hard and I've done very basic stuff before, I just want to learn some better techniques and in a much quicker way than going to a local college.


I would also pay for any kind of materials, etc of course.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 05:30 PM
  #4  
wombatsauce's Avatar
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,441
From: Stockholm
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
Originally Posted by brucelee
Welding is something I've been wanting to learn for a long time... The reason is to make metal structures for various applications. On top of all the regular type of welding I also want to learn how to weld aluminum.

I'm a really quick learner and have welded before but have never had proper training (someone show me how to do it please ). If you know how to weld and have some time and fit in the above description, I'm all game to learn as soon as possible.

I know we have welders here. I also have some related questions for you.
I'm right there with you, and I have wanted to make a move on this for years. I signed up with Tech Shop in Menlo Park and did their TIG and MIG basic safety classes, and I have done a little welding when I was younger with gas. I totally recommend doing the classes at Tech Shop as it's inexpensive and gives you hands-on with welding gear pretty much right away.

At this point I can get started, and make a good bead. I have a buddy who is a pro welder and have watched him weld two Pepsi cans together, so I will hit him up for tips and tricks as well. My next plan is to pick up a used welder and just start welding stuff to other stuff to practice. I have a pile of Impreza parts that I am going to use for practice. Going to get a MIG unit first just because it's cheaper but eventually I want to be able to do TIG and weld aluminum as well, so I think we have similar needs. If end up picking up a welder you would be welcome to practice on it with me.

You will end up hearing lots of opinions and stuff from people about welding and my recommendation is to gravitate towards those that have actually welded stuff and you have seen their work and such. Best way to get good at it though, is to just weld lots of stuff. Here is another area where practice makes perfect, and you need LOTS of it!
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 05:39 PM
  #5  
brucelee's Avatar
Thread Starter
Friendly Neighborhood Ogre
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 19,930
From: www.gunatics.com
Car Info: GUNATICS.COM
^^^

Awesome.


I love industrial art and have been wanting to make my sketches come to life... It's kind of an industrial/steam punk kind of genre of art. I have a particular piece that I sketched a long time ago but have been wanting to bring it to life for some time now.

On top of the art thing, I'd like to be able to weld stuff together when needed... I just like fabrication and making things, I always have and always will, so welding is something I'm interested in naturally.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 06:09 PM
  #6  
DerekB707's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,457
From: 509
Car Info: 07 rs STi swapped Rotated BW S200SX-56
A couple guys at my job are wanting to learn as well, they signed up for a college class at solano. I thought about signing up as well, but just don't want to give up another 4 hours of free time a week for the next quarter. I have a nice mig/gas setup that I use for welding the quarter panels and roof on my chevelle that I am in the slow process of restoring. Really wish I was a better welder thought too.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 06:46 PM
  #7  
crfsti's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,662
From: Sebastopol, CA
Car Info: '04 PSM Sti
Originally Posted by DerekB707
A couple guys at my job are wanting to learn as well, they signed up for a college class at solano. I thought about signing up as well, but just don't want to give up another 4 hours of free time a week for the next quarter. I have a nice mig/gas setup that I use for welding the quarter panels and roof on my chevelle that I am in the slow process of restoring. Really wish I was a better welder thought too.
Derek, I've been welding for over 12yrs now and can help you out if you'd like. I took 3yrs of metal shop in high school and then a year of welding courses(highly recommended to anyone interested) at santa rosa jc about 10yrs ago and have been welding ever since. I've built a ton of stuff like: railings, gates, hitches, lumber racks, car trailers, etc. I enjoy to arc (stick) weld the most and have done a bunch of mig also and a little of tig over the years.
________
MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATES

Last edited by crfsti; Apr 24, 2011 at 07:35 PM.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 07:25 PM
  #8  
SeaOfGreen's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 972
From: Sonoma County
Car Info: 2004 WW Evo RS
What kind of welding Bruce? Mig is easy, stick is only needed for 1/4 plus metal! Tig is the tuff one, takes long time to get good and have nice steady looking welds. I've been welding for over 5 years off and on. I can show you mig in know time. I do alot of Mig and dualsheild witch is a wirefed stick welder. I have done stick long time ago, problem is not many use stick unless you don't have duelsheild or innershield welder's! The shop I work for has alot of newer welder's unlike my last shop I worked at!
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 07:46 PM
  #9  
subymobbin303's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 947
From: North Bay
Car Info: Foz
i was gonna tell him to hit you up tim!
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 08:30 PM
  #10  
apetron's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,016
From: Oakland
Car Info: 07 STI Built/Widebody/E85/Rotated GTX3576 13 Fozz
The Crucible in Oakland has some pretty awesome welding classes from what I've heard. Might want to check them out too.
Old Jan 20, 2011 | 11:17 PM
  #11  
EQ Tuning's Avatar
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,228
From: 631 Railroad Ave. Fairfield, CA
Car Info: A Laptop
I took a welding class back in Davis and enjoyed it quite a bit. Ive been meaning to get some more practice and try out TIG. There's definitely technique to learn, but after that it's all about practice and lots of it.

-- Ed
Old Jan 21, 2011 | 10:00 AM
  #12  
pter's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 357
From: CA
Car Info: '08 SpecB
subscribed!
I've done very very little, maybe an hour tops in a friend's garage. Seems like a fun way to spend time.
Old Jan 21, 2011 | 10:07 AM
  #13  
Unit 91's Avatar
i-Club Sympathizer
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,165
From: Mazda NAO
Car Info: 1969 BMW R75/5 & Work Whip
I used to weld for work, but it's been a while. There is a guy here that wants me to teach him MIG when he picks up his new welder. It isn't that welding is hard (MIG isn't anyhow), but getting good at it takes time.

I used to do sculptures (mainly robots) with junk I found around the shop when I was bored. I actually still have one, the rest were given away. I'd like to get back into it as well.

I've also done aluminum with a spool gun and a MIG welder. Now THAT is a *****. It takes a ton of patience and time to get right. Once you get it right it's nice, but it sure isn't the same as TIG welding. It works, but it's not perfect. Had to do a ~18' tall tower for XM once. That was a PITA.
Old Jan 21, 2011 | 11:44 AM
  #14  
sigma pi's Avatar
9 to 5 mod
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 57,389
From: Chavez Ravine
Car Info: 03 Impreza WRX
You can weld my cage in for practice when you are good
Old Jan 21, 2011 | 08:53 PM
  #15  
kmurphy's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 970
From: roseville, ca
Car Info: 06 obp sti
I only know how to weld a tiny amount so I may not be a big help....



Name:  IMG_4745.jpg
Views: 64
Size:  110.0 KB
Name:  IMG_4739.jpg
Views: 59
Size:  105.6 KB
Name:  IMG_4735.jpg
Views: 58
Size:  122.5 KB



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:01 AM.