by "OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
Published 03/07/2017 at 21:28
by "OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
Published 03/07/2017 at 21:28
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STARS: 1
how hard is it to weld / learn to weld. Say I wanted to cut a hole in a shipping container and maybe weld in couple square sections of tubing for support?
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
03/07/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 1
I like the sound of this project. Go for it.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
03/07/2017 at 21:36, STARS: 0
Not hard at all. Plasma cutting is easy (and fun!). It’s literally as easy as pointing the tip where you want to cut, drawing a line and watching it happen before your eyes.
And MIG welding probably has the easiest learning curve, but there’s a certain amazing sense of satisfaction you get when you lay down a perfect bead with a gas torch (oxy-acetylene).
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/07/2017 at 21:41, STARS: 1
Im hoping not too hard. Im just getting started myself. Check youtube channels to get started
"lone_liberal" (token-liberal)
03/07/2017 at 21:41, STARS: 1
Speaking as the current Worst Welder in the World I’d say it’s easy to start but hard to completely master.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
03/07/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 1
Honestly, I’d say it varies on the person. Also, material/ method. I’m guessing shipping containers are made of steel? I don’t really know for sure, but that shouldn’t be too bad if such is the case. It would be helpful to find a friend who knows a thing or two, especially if that tubing will be supporting a good bit of weight. Many novices will think they’re welding but in fact are just melting rod.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
03/07/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 2
It’s not too hard to learn, but like any technical skill, it’s a challenge to master. There are lots of resources on the ‘net and I find myself watching all sorts of videos on the subject just for the heck of it; mind you, I haven’t done any welding in years, but if I get a place with a garage I want to give it another go. I’d recommend basic stick welding to start with as the machine is cheaper than a MIG and you don’t have to worry about an inert gas tank. And spend the money for an auto-dimming helmet - it makes life so much easier.
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
03/07/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 1
well we’d be learning specifically to weld the containers. I’ve done a lot of carpentry, I can (kinda) paint (art) so that plus using lots of tools, i think I’d pick up welding fairly quickly.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
03/07/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 2
You may not have to worry about the inert gas tank if you’re doing oxy-acetylene, but I feel like the learning curve is a LOT sharper with gas welding. It’s so easy to blow out the bead or get uneven puddles when you’re first starting out. That’s harder to do with a MIG welder, and easier to correct if you do, IMO. Plus, with MIG, you can get one of those cheapie machines from a hardware store for just a few hundred bucks that use flux shielded line, so no need for the inert gas at all. Granted, you kinda get what you pay for there. The one time I used one of those hardware store welders, it was not so great.
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
03/07/2017 at 21:58, STARS: 0
I did it. It’s not that hard, but you do need decent equipment and it’s helpful to have a good instructor as you get started or watch a lot of youtube. ;) It’s basically using a tiny blob of liquid hot steel to melt other steel together - it’s sort of like using glue to hold things together, only you have to wear a face shield and watch out for sparks, and it cures much faster than glue!
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
03/07/2017 at 22:00, STARS: 5
It’s not that hard. I bought a MIG recently and taught my 12 year old daughter how to weld when I was putting it together. Not that she’s a master welder or anything, but she was excited to write her name on a piece of sheetmetal after we joined a couple of corners together. She stopped blowing holes through after the 3rd or 4th try, then buzzed around happily welding stuff together ;)
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
03/07/2017 at 22:20, STARS: 1
sounds kinda fun
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
03/07/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 1
Have you tried TIG? So satisfying! One of my instructors at tech back in the day TIG welded the sharp edges of two razor blades together, with a perfect bead and no blow outs. And then two soda cans, end to end. He used to weld for NASA.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
03/07/2017 at 22:26, STARS: 1
Pretty easy to become functional with MIG or stick. Not that I suggest building a roll cage after welding for a week, but your project should be feasible after practicing for a few hours/days. MIG is my recommendation to start with.
"BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
03/07/2017 at 22:27, STARS: 0
Structural welding carbon steel is easy, and anybody can learn to use a MIG welder in a day. For the first few tries, a Metabo is going to be your best friend, but after a while you’ll get a good looking weld.
"sn4cktimes" (snacktimes)
03/07/2017 at 22:30, STARS: 1
For most people stick welding on the thinner metal of a shipping container will go VERY poorly. Use a MIG welder. It’s the ideal hobby-level welder. If you want to use cheaper shielding gas use can use flux-core wire, but I personally prefer solid wires with a 95% or higher argon gas.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
03/07/2017 at 22:30, STARS: 1
No. Never learned TIG. I learned gas and MIG welding to make sculptures. Heh. But my professor was a stickler for good technique. His philosophy was that a project that accomplished all its objectives with technical and artistic skill earned you a C. If you wanted a better grade than that, you had to do better than good. You had to impress him.
"sn4cktimes" (snacktimes)
03/07/2017 at 22:30, STARS: 0
Awesomeness!
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
03/07/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 0
You should! If you can oxy-acetylene weld, you can learn TIG. Aluminum is a challenge for sure, but steel isn’t bad.
He sounds tough. How did you do? Our classes were pretty strict on welding too. Had to be perfect beads with perfectly consistent penetration to pass (it was pass/fail for each weld, the class was geared towards building race cars and roll cages so a good weld keeps you alive and a bad weld might not).
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
03/07/2017 at 22:50, STARS: 0
We had to do four projects. I got a B+ on ONE of them. The very last one. It was the best B+ I’ve ever gotten.
Luckily, our welds weren’t life or death, heh. But I really liked the projects we did. I still have two of them.
I wish I could get back into a studio again. I REALLY miss that characteristic smell of hot metal. Welding and ceramics are probably the two things I miss the most. So much exploring left to do! Maybe someday...
"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4)
03/07/2017 at 23:27, STARS: 1
Easy, I became a certified welder with less than a month of experience.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
03/08/2017 at 02:07, STARS: 0
This seems like the ideal solution.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
03/08/2017 at 03:55, STARS: 0
Still have one of mine too. Just a mail box built from scratch, TIG welded, and nicely painted. Not too complicated, but I’m proud of it.
I know what you mean about the smell. Something something smells and memories.
Have you considered night classes at a local community college? Not the kind for a degree or anything just the ones open to the community. They’re usually not too expensive. Don’t know if they do metal shop type stuff, but most offer classes like that. My wife took a ten week French course, multiple schedule options, and easily affordable for most people.
"random001" (random001)
03/08/2017 at 07:15, STARS: 0
Welding is really easy. Making an attractive weld is the hard part that takes practice. But just structural and looks like the remnants of an alien chestburster? Not bad.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
03/08/2017 at 09:46, STARS: 0
Sounds awesome. Have photos of any of your work that you can share?