My first TIG welds.

[newman]

I'll have to find pics of the fence repair I did. (stock fence for the cows.) It was Oxy/Act, and I was not trying to be pretty, but it worked. Sorry to have spoken. (Father was a welder for 15 years, been around it a bit, thought I could share visual insight.)

I didn't take offense to your comment. But you have to admit that there are tons of WELD EXPERTS online...

[Farbin Kaiber]

I didn't take offense to your comment. But you have to admit that there are tons of WELD EXPERTS online...

No, but I think Freddykins was trying to rile me up. :)

[hoveringuy]

I didn't take offense to your comment. But you have to admit that there are tons of WELD EXPERTS online...

No shit. I posted some pictures where I had fabricated something and everyone flame-sprayed me because the weld wasn't pretty enough.

It was full-penetration and strong as shit, just not pretty enough.

[ZM Blue Devil]

i have no idea how to weld. I'm impressed. This is an awesome skill so you can make your own stuff.

+1

[mattdk318i]

Looks good man! A little more filler Rod and less head on the tank. But after more practice you should have it

Ive been TIG welding Aluminum for the US Gov. Just got laid off after the budget for new vehicles was downsized. The NBC systems in Bradleys and Abrahms was what i mostly welded on.

[imprttuner88]

Looks good man! A little more filler Rod and less head on the tank. But after more practice you should have it

Ive been TIG welding Aluminum for the US Gov. Just got laid off after the budget for new vehicles was downsized. The NBC systems in Bradleys and Abrahms was what i mostly welded on.

sorry to hear that. Hopefully with a marketable skill you can easily find work again, good luck!

[FredK]

No, but I think Freddykins was trying to rile me up. :)

Nevar! :p

[der affe]

don't take my words as crapping on your work either. i have been an ICAR and AWS cert'ed welder for the last 7 years and was welding before that since before HS (6th grade i think).

just thought i share some insite.

Matt, by head flow, are you meaning pre and post flow time/settings?

[noE30]

welding is a great skill to have. My father has been a welder his entire life (its in our family) , I really need to start learning more about it.

[Slangbox]

Well since you welders are already gathered in a thread, I have a question (if you don't mind, OP). What would you say is the cheapest/easiest form of welding to start learning on? Obviously I'm not planning to just teach myself (since everyone and their grandma says you just can't do that), but I'm wondering which kind of welder to look for as a first.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Like said above, start with oxygen acetylene, then move to MIG, and finally to TIG.

[Slangbox]

^^ What about smaw?

[lylefk]

[der affe]

stick welding?

you wont really need it unless you are doing some really heavy/thick shit.

you can do most everything that you need to do with a good mig inlew of getting a stick welder.

i have to admit i CAN NOT stick weld without making big holes in anything thin. there are old timers that can do it though.

even the AWS test for MIG is structural 3/8" plate, i doubt that you will ever be welding anything thicker than that unless you go into construction or HD trailer building

[Slangbox]

Isn't MIG much more expensive though?