Anything welding

All very good points and I can certainly see both sides. Realistically I doubt I’ll take college classes as I view my welds as acceptable for the stuff I’m doing (simple truck mods) but some would definitely benefit from a more advanced class. If I were trying to build a roll cage or something, that’s a different story.

 

Nobody is talking about specialized welding procedures. It's just a matter of making the most of your time and learning the right way to do things, the first time.

The CC up my way does a 12 week class for $500 and by the end most people come out with propper welds. And with that skill set you can now take a harbor frieght welder, build a trailer, and know that it's sound.

It's not for everyone, but it's certainly helpful for those who will be welding frequently

 

When I want to nerd out on welding processes and stuff that I'll never do, I watch Weld.com videos on YouTube. The way I leaned was hanging out with fabricators for a few years and watching them, then cutting the front frame off my truck one night and bought a welder to get it all put back together.

 

LOL. You got off cheap. I had to buy the welders in the shop an extra 12 pack on Friday nights to get "free" welding training.

 

I’ve been using Benchmark jumbo 4.5” flap discs for a couple years now and gone through hundreds of them. Best bang for the buck for sure.
I wish they’d make 6” flap discs.

 

Lol! I also got sick if having my friends weld shit up for me, and had axle swaps in the plans. So I had them teach me, and I started cutting the truck up and the rest is history!

 

I will just put my 3 cents in.

Pros and cons to both methods .

Being used to self taught welders from before the internet and videos and different forums does tend to make me a little dubious of the skill . I have seen so many examples of Cold lap to the point of causing failures in the field at least no one was hurt.

There is something to having hands on teaching .

being able to do bend tests and tensile see the results

I was lucky I had some Great teachers over the years then I know some that got into teaching for the money and benefits

Your welding on your vehicle all well and good all it takes is something failing falling off going down the highway going through the radiator or if your luck sucks the windshield .

I lost a condenser and Radiator from just that .

Maybe getting older makes me think more about things like this when I think about the misguided events of my youth.

We won`t talk about fire safety !!

 

its been a looong time since I posted anything actually about welding ( lol, and I'm still not quite there yet! ), BUT the shop is at an acceptable state of chaos. Its time to start welding up some of that stuff I posted pics of in the fall ( Gutter holder for a house, and tube bender for some DIY sliders )

also used some bonus $$ and Christmas gift cards to buy some goodies the past few weeks.
Plasma cutter
5" rotating pipe vise
10LBS of wire
welding pliers

Pipe notcher and other 5" vice is on loan from a friend.



this is the picture I'd share if I wanted everyone to believe I was the neat and tidy sort



aaaaannnnndddd reality!

 

Picked up a Hobart 140 today, looking forward to learning how to weld with it. Been a while since I last welded but since getting the Tacoma, I've been itching to start doing some of my own work again.

 

Since my machine doesnt have digital readouts I measured wfs for all the settings on my welder. Gonna try to add an led voltmeter too.

 

Put the settings on the side of the machine

 

Very nice

 

Have fun brotha!

 

Thanks! Pretty excited. Still have a bit to do before I’m ready to start cutting stuff but I’m glad it’s all assembled. Langmuirs YouTube videos made its super easy to set it up

 

Shiet

 

Haha price was too good to pass it up!

 

@Shmellmopwho

V nice! What're your plans for that machine? Brackets and whodingies?

 

In for the whodingies!

 

Tons of whodingles!! So many whodingles I won’t know what to do with all the whodingles I’ll have!

I have a few ideas for a few new truck products that I’d like to make among some other things like art pieces and signs and stuff. Hopefully can turn it into an extra money maker. If not, I didn’t spend a ton of money on it haha