Want to learn how to weld!

Anyone in Oregon a good welder? I am thinking about going to PCC this summer to take welding classes.. I would rather have someone teach me then go to a school and be taught(mostly would want to be taught by someone else then the school because I would have to pay a tuition).
Anyone local???

 

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My experience welding was greatly enhanced when I started taking a couple night classes, it's worth it. I shadowed a couple welders and got pretty good at sticking steel together and making it look good, but I learned alot more from the classes: fundamentals, metal types, etc. all the from the molecular level to what machine I should use for what job. Plus, you can learn how to do all types of welding in a class, whereas if were to shadow someone at a shop you'd probably only use 1-2 types over and over.

Classes are also an easy way to get your certs if you decide to take a career path in welding. Plus, when I did this 10 years ago, I got to make all sorts of cool stuff for my CJ5 I had at the time, and I'm pretty sure I broke even on tuition with the amount of material I used... and butchered.

It's easy to stick metal together, truely welding metal together is a fine art.

 

I want to learn how to weld for fun. Maybe use the experience on my own rig and other peoples rigs.

 

I also want to learn how to weld. Im trying to decide on what welder I want to get for my first one. Im thinking a miller or lincoln 220v. My plan is to mess around at my house attempting to build little things and then take some classes to get better. I think it would be really nice to be able to fab little stuff for my truck like beefing up my bud builts, making a hoop for my sliders, and building a bed rack. Any advice for a complete noob? Im only 16 btw.

 

I know this is an old thread. BUT. have you advanced at all in your quest of learing to weld? It is something i have been passionate about for a long time, and also a very beneficial hobby to master.

 

Go with Miller or Hobart. Both are basically the same thing, but i have never had problems with the Millers. The fab shop I worked for, my highschool and tech school ran millers. Can't beat em IMO. If you decide to go with the 110/120v outlet route, I'd suggest getting a 135A welder. You can weld up to 1/8 or a 1/4" or more if you heat up thicker metal with a torch you can really go up to 1/2" easily. Migs are awesome though, they're squirt guns