Hi! New member looking for recommendations

[weldingnewbie]

Hi,

Just joined the forum as I saw a few posts on Google and I thought I'd join to get more tips on how I can start and get better at welding.

I'm currently working FT and I live in NW London. I want to ask, how I can learn welding? I want to learn as I have a classic car on my driveway that needs welding done and I thought this would be a good time for me to take up welding as a skill.

Because I work FT, I'm having a hard time finding any courses that are near London. The only classes that I can find that allow me to come to the classes when I like are mostly up North, too far to drive.

On the flipside, I've looked at courses at colleges and most need me to come in 7 days a week, something that I can't do.

Is there any way that I can learn to weld on my own or can people recommend me any classes that I can go to? The furthest I'd travel is Birmingham. Thanks,

 

[zzr1200]

The first place to start is open the (green) Mig, Tig, Arc tabs above and read the advice, plus tell us which type of welding you wish to master.
I presume Mig will be the first...

Oh and welcome to the forum...

 

[Nick DV]

HI & welcome

As @zzr1200 says above. You'll find a wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum - and the odd bit of humour of course , so don't be afraid to ask anything as we all had to start somewhere.

 

[Munkul]

Hi

For welding on cars, MIG is generally the easiest, you can make it easy or hard depending on how cheap your welder is though.

 

[MetalMonkey]

In a word. Practice.

Get some material, make some welds - you can always post pictures up on here and people will advise you what you need to do.
There are some good tutorials on here and on youtube, but once you have an idea of what you should be doing there isn't really any substitute for hood time.

I'd suggest stating with some scrap and perhaps a couple of small projects first before you dive in to welding on your car.
It's also worth being realistic about what needs welding on the car. If it is body work, crack on - but if it is something significant and structural, you'd really want a lot more experience before tackling it.

 

[philphil]

As a fellow newbie, please don't make the mistake i made and buy a cheap welder. You'll never master it, believe you are crap then give it up as a bad job. I've just had a go on a really good Lincoln electric mig welder and i now realise my problem wasn't me, it was my garbage equipment!

 

[cortinamatt]

As a fellow newbie, please don't make the mistake i made and buy a cheap welder. You'll never master it, believe you are crap then give it up as a bad job. I've just had a go on a really good Lincoln electric mig welder and i now realise my problem wasn't me, it was my garbage equipment!

This is what worries me. I'm a new member here and just read your comment. I often wonder If it's me or my machine that's no good, part of the reason I always get someone else to do my welding jobs. If I could just have a go on a decent machine...

 

[Barking Mat]

This is what worries me. I'm a new member here and just read your comment. I often wonder If it's me or my machine that's no good, part of the reason I always get someone else to do my welding jobs. If I could just have a go on a decent machine...

Welcome.

Not flux core !

Gas Mig, best you can afford, if it's not for you, sell it on.

 

[winchman]

As above really look at tutorials, have you room to set up at home to practice? Then make a few bits and bobs then once you are good enough try the car

 

[8ob]

This is what worries me. I'm a new member here and just read your comment. I often wonder If it's me or my machine that's no good, part of the reason I always get someone else to do my welding jobs. If I could just have a go on a decent machine...

So many new to welding are trying to learn on car repairs or thin metal rather than a pile of scrap, my advice would be to raid a scrap bin and make a start on thicker material and work your way down to thinner materials.

Bob

 

[Barking Mat]

So many new to welding are trying to learn on car repairs or thin metal rather than a pile of scrap, my advice would be to raid a scrap bin and make a start on thicker material and work your way down to thinner materials.

Bob

Good advice, nothing beats practice, and refining your technique and skills, thin métal can bé challenging.

 

[tom2207]

General fabrication and car restoration / repair really are two sides of the same coin.
Get some scrap , and play about , dont expect to be great for a while , after all its an apprenticeship not an evening class sort of trade . but enjoy it and dont beat your self up over burn through s and things that dont stick .
Practice and Patience are the key , but enjoy the whole learning experience ,,, I always tell folks , keep a few of your early goes , you will look back at them in years to come and chuckle .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Welcome to the forum @weldingnewbie , sound advice from the lads above ^^.

I'd describe myself as 'a hobbiest' (my angle grinder is sometimes my best friend ). Will you have to be welding on the drive or do you have anywhere indoors to practice the dark art? If the latter, you'll find the weather can restrict your activities in terms of rain/snow, or wind blowing away your expensive shielding gas .

Also, remember to budget for PPE (personal protection equipment) and things like grinders.

What work does your classic need? You'll discover that lying under a car with hot metal dropping on you is no fun..... Do loads or reading here to see what others like least about working on cars.....

Good luck and enjoy your new skill

 

[philphil]

This is what worries me. I'm a new member here and just read your comment. I often wonder If it's me or my machine that's no good, part of the reason I always get someone else to do my welding jobs. If I could just have a go on a decent machine...

It was on an evening city and guilds course that i had a chance to go on a top machine. It made a HUGE difference. Try and find one to have a go on, you won't look back.

 

[Nick DV]

Looks like this chap isn't interested in any responses, it looks like he has only been on the forum on the day he made his one and only post!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

?

 

[8ob]

He may just have a life to lead

Bob

 

[cortinamatt]

Looks like this chap isn't interested in any responses, it looks like he has only been on the forum on the day he made his one and only post!

I've had a brilliant response on my introduction post. I was quite surprised as some other forums I'm a member of have fell victim to the Facebook groups sadly. It doesn't seem the case with this one

 

[Nick DV]

Glad to hear it @cortinamatt