Looking for someone to teach me how to MIG weld

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:03 pm

Ok, I had my initial thread about if a Community College was a good place to learn to weld and everyone said “Yes”.

http://www.thsccforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3541

However I was not able to sign up for the fall 2005 semester at that time as I missed the enrollment cutoff by just a few days. So I decided to wait and take a class this spring. I had been watching the class offerings for local schools for spring 2006 and found a class offered by Durham Tech on Saturdays that was doing MIG welding. I was all set and took off early from work on Thursday to go and register. Problem is the class was full by the time I got there. I then found out I pretty much have zero chance of getting in as these classes are offered to the "degree" students first and everyone else after that. The demand for the classes is high and they don’t offer that many per semester. Wake Tech is not offering a MIG class this semester that I can take and other Community Colleges other than those two are far enough away that evening or weekend classes just is not really doable. I can try again in the summer, but I have a project (the 914) that I need to work on this winter/spring.

So… Anyone interested in teaching me how to MIG weld? While I can no doubt fight through this on my own via trail and error, I am looking to cut down the amount of "learning" time as well as prevent some bad self taught technique. I expect there is a number of "ah ha" moments that someone who knows how to do this could help me out with.

I was initially thinking like maybe a handful of hours over a few weekends or evenings. I am open to ideas. I live in Durham (near RTP). I am looking for someone maybe within a 30-45 minute drive. My place or yours, either works for me. If anyone is interested, we can work out something to make it worth the time spent (Cash, Beer, Welding consumables, Combination of all of the above, etc.)

PM or email me if you are interested.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:05 pm

Someone should do a class so we can have more than one student.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:43 pm

If you find someone post it and I'm sure that there will more than enough people to make a class. I know several welders maybe one might give a class?Who knows??? I'd like to learn!!!!

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:22 pm

This is an interesting proposal, and a way to use the club for our gain.

Jason has a welder, I have a welder, I know I need lessons.

I would also love to take a class, something more laid back than community college is a bonus.

Maybe we can talk Chris Schimmel into something? Last I checked, he knows how to weld.

Scott

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:24 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

Maybe we can talk Chris Schimmel into something? Last I checked, he knows how to weld.

Scott

That's who I had in mind, but I don't know him well enough to volunteer him.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:33 pm

I am all for a group thing if we can make it happen. Just let me know what I can do to make this happen. :thumbsup:

I think the main problem we may run into is that if we host this at someones personal garage, we are most likely have the problem of one (maybe two) MIG welders being available at one time. The limiting factor here being the number of 220v and 110v circuits that can be used at one time This means less hands on time for each person. BUT a group of people could very well be the thing that makes it worth someones time to host. And I think it could still work just fine if we even have to take turns on a single machine.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:42 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

scottjohnson wrote:

Maybe we can talk Chris Schimmel into something? Last I checked, he knows how to weld.

Scott

That's who I had in mind, but I don't know him well enough to volunteer him.

I just sent Chris a PM.

I have no idea if he is intersted, what is schedule is like, etc. But I figured he couldn't say "yes" unless someone asked.

robharvey · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:49 pm

I'm interested.....I've done some welding with MIG, TIG, and stick. I also have interest in welding aluminum (if it's an option).

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:56 pm

I'd be interested as well. If we can pull this together, I may know what to ask Santa for.

Chris Schimmel · **Joined:** Fri Oct 10, 2003 9:34 am **Posts:** 50

Richard and All interested parties,
I'd be happy to lead this group in exploring the exciting world of Mig welding.
It's the easiest of the various types of welding to learn. So you should all be pros in now time.
It depends on how many are interested. The number of machines is a question as is how many can be run at the same time.I know I can't run my Mig and my stick machine at the same time..not enough juice to the garage.So that would leave one person at a time welding.
Also,what are we going to weld?
Normally a lot of 3" x6" pieces of some 1/8 th flat stock is used. You can go through a lot of coupons in the process...something to think about.
If the interest is in welding body panels we can go to thinner material as your skills increase.
Let's see if a suitable site can be located where we can run a couple of machines and have a place to cut our coupons.
If there is an interest in stick or Tig welding, we could add a class depending on the interest.
I'd recommend that we stay with 220 welders. The smaller ones just don't have the adjustabilty and stability . After learning you can put up with them,but from a learning standpoint, they are just easier to learn on.
Home work is to find a suitable place where two machines can be used.
Not ruling out my place if necessary.
Let's see where this goes.
Later,
Chris

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:53 pm

Chris Schimmel wrote:

I'd be happy to lead this group in exploring the exciting world of Mig welding.

Chris,

You Da Man!! :redcool:

Regarding getting this going as well as answering your questions...

#1. I think we can continue to put the word out. I suspect that intrest is going to suprise people, so you may want to figure out how many people you can handle at one time. And as you say this also depends upon #2...

#2. Location and number of machines. I volunteer to haul my 220v machine around if needed. Perfect world is to find some location (shop or something) that has multiple 220v circuts so people could bring their own machines. I personally would be suprised if we could do that, but if anyone has any ideas on this post here. Otherwise I suspect we will have to host at someone's house. At the worst I can volunteer my garage. I have one 220V/50A right now and am in the works of putting in a second one. Down side is that I have a huge amount of crap (misc 914 parts) in the garage as well as the 914 itself. It could be done, but it would be significant effort to get it cleaned up. Lets say my garage is last resort, but available if needed.

#3. What to weld. I personally wanted to get some experience with the basics. Get some good habits going, get some feedback on what I am not doing well. Tips and tricks to make it all come together. I was thinking that we would use various metal thicknesses (start with whatever size you think is best) and ultimatly be able to butt seam weld some thinner material (ie. body panels). I also would be curious about some aluminum welding if we can fit it in.

#4. Material. I think we can figure out what we want to do and build a material list, who is going to attend and then source the stuff. I am pretty much a newbie on this. But I can be a gofer to get the stuff once we know what we need.

#5. Stick and TIG. I can say I would like to eventually learn both.

George Bright · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:52 pm

Bob Kendrick would be interested in providing a place with 220 outlets and saws to cut up materials. He would also like to be a student. Call him at 870-1907.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:49 pm

I have two gen sets with 220 outputs one is 10 kw the other is 13kw it would cause some noise but would allow for two more welders.
BERNIE

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:20 am

I've got an 8000/6600W (peak/continuous) generator with a 240V outlet (30A breaker)- is that enough juice? I'd be happy to volunteer it to the cause if so.

I'd actually love to have an excuse to practice with my little 110V Lincoln unit- I'm sure big MIG units are nicer, but that's not what I've got.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 5:50 pm

Everyone,

I am going to try to go ahead and be the one to organize this. If anyone else has any ideas, resources, etc. Post here or email/PM me. Watch this space for details!!

Richard

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