Welders!!

[CRCRFT78]

Where have some of you welders mastered your skills at? Did you go to school, weld at home, or just practice when you had the chance? Going to school for welding is starting to bore me although I like welding. I just feel if I was at home in my garage practicing on a car instead of those little samples I would enjoy it a little more. How did you guys know you were good enough to trust your welding?

[race-rodz]

i really "learned" how to weld(mig) on dump trucks.... i worked for a guy who was 3 days older than dirt, been doin it his whole life. the day i started he told me to forget EVERYTHING that i was tought.... he basically showed me how he wanted it, and explained why he wanted it that way. i worked for that guy for a few years on/off and never stopped learning new tricks, not just in welding, but in all aspects of fab work and repair. as for how/when did i know i was good enough to trust my work..... when the old man said it was good 'nuff... it was. i still have a few things floating around that i built prior to really "learning" and wonder how the stuff hasnt fallen apart yet.

i transitioned from the dump trucks and heavy equipment into a street rod shop, then went sideways into hard core trail trucks..... now i do a lil bit of everything, the only downfall is that i tend to "over build" everything....... but with 12 years professionally i have only had 1 weld failure(it was on my own 4x4...and technically it was just tacked)

hope that helps a lil.

[bucks69]

I learned on the farm. It was out of necessity, you cant always hire someone to come from 50 miles away for a 5 minute job. The biggest problem I have is I am familiar with welding on metal that ranges from 3/8" up to 1/2" thick. This I have found is not the least bit helpful when working on thin sheetmetal....lol I started out with a generator fired stick welder and then went to the wire welder. We now have a wire welder that is portable that also runs off a generator. I am also going to enroll in a basic metal fabrication class at local community college in the spring. I wished I could understand engines and how they are put together. That is the next step I want to learn..

[Gordz32]

I learned from wyotech and then learned from matt at lateral dynamics

[rich-allen]

Originally Posted by CRCRFT78

Where have some of you welders mastered your skills at? Did you go to school, weld at home, or just practice when you had the chance? Going to school for welding is starting to bore me although I like welding. I just feel if I was at home in my garage practicing on a car instead of those little samples I would enjoy it a little more. How did you guys know you were good enough to trust your welding?

Your post reminds me of myself 26 years ago. Are you going to welding school for a hobby or profession?
I own a structural steel shop in the bay area, if your looking for a profession please give me a call. Welders today make more money than most white collar jobs. If there's anything I can do to help just let me know.


Rich

[EFI]

Originally Posted by CRCRFT78

Where have some of you welders mastered your skills at? Did you go to school, weld at home, or just practice when you had the chance? Going to school for welding is starting to bore me although I like welding. I just feel if I was at home in my garage practicing on a car instead of those little samples I would enjoy it a little more. How did you guys know you were good enough to trust your welding?

I took a class, but I learned most of what I know from welding equipment at a landscape Co. and from welding projects at my own place.

I would do as much welding as you can in your own garage. Start with non-critical items. If you have doubts, have a pro take a look at your welds.


_____________________
- Dan

[COYBILT]

I really need to get out there and learn to weld, my buddy who is much older has a degree in welding and it shows. He TIGs stainless,titanium,aluminum, to welding 1/2 plate with a mig all day long.