How did you learn to Weld.

[Brian C.]

I learned to braze as a kid helping in Dad's orthopaedic shop. Learned to Mig from a friend when I started smithing.

The friend I mention is an excellent weldor. I asked him where he learned one time & he said "I was working at a farm equipment operation that had a big silo type storage tank. It had a hole in it & the boss told me to patch it. I been welding ever since".

[Finnr]

I first learned stick and O/A from my Dad. Later in HS I had a welding class in ag. shop. Since I have been learning all I can from anyone I can find that welds and is willing to take time to show me something new.
Finnr

[Glenn]

Hammerkid
Weird is still remembering what the welds "should" look like and trying to slow down enough to make each weld as strong as possible. It is like opening a present when you chip off the slag to see if the weld is pretty enough not to require a grinder to dress it up.

Ox/ac is a beautiful weld when done correctly. But Ox/ac is still a bit of a challenge as mig has taken over for welding thin metal.

For me, forge welding is still magic, even today.

[Covforge]

I first learned to stick in Junior High. I started work in a body shop when I was 18. All any of the shops used then was gas. We welded many a car together with gas. Then went to mig. Now I.m a full time welder using stick, mig and tig. At home I have all but I prefer to use gas or forge weld.
Travis

[Ten Hammers]

Well Junior, I suspect I was about the same age as you were but different situation. My great uncle ( Dads uncle ) had a welder. Dad never welded or did any machine work. Took everything to town. Uncle Leo had a small shop but we didn't visit him that often. His welder is the same one I have in the shop now and it needs to be donated to a museum near here. It ( Allmond Bros brand ) sat on a wall shelf in a dirt floor shop. This welder was involved in the first time I was ever shocked ( bare hand on a rod into rod holder). Uncle Leo showed me a few basics. Later in High School I was taught in General Metals class ( stick and acetelyne ). Some were assigned different areas ( stick, acetelyne, lathe, foundry, forge ) and were told to write up some instructions to be used to coincide with pictures ( slide presentation ) taken by the instructor. I was very proud to have my presentation ( fusion welding with acetelyne) used in years to come. I had a SMALL amount of welding training in the Navy but not a lot. For a very large part these skills lay dormant for 20 years until I was in a friends shop one time. Smithing started shortly afterward and I started collecting tools. I wire weld for a living now and smith and weld at home. I still enjoy gas welding a lot. I might also add that there are places that I have worked that I could not make the grade to their wants but I have absolutely learned a lot.

[sstreckfuss]

I started playing with the MIG at work on breaks and such and eventually bought a millermatic 180 because I liked it so much, it is what got me interested in blacksmithing to be honest. That and a life long love affair with all things old....

[Pault17]

Being a carpenter before becoming a home inspector, I have never had the "need" to learn to weld. But, the desire was always there. I used to watch my dad fix his old rust-bucket of a van brazing with the little oxy-mapp set.

My wife gave me a "learn how to stick weld" class at the local community college, for Christmas.

the learning continues...

[hammerkid]

Originally Posted by Glenn

Hammerkid
Weird is still remembering what the welds "should" look like and trying to slow down enough to make each weld as strong as possible. It is like opening a present when you chip off the slag to see if the weld is pretty enough not to require a grinder to dress it up.

Ox/ac is a beautiful weld when done correctly. But Ox/ac is still a bit of a challenge as mig has taken over for welding thin metal.

For me, forge welding is still magic, even today.

Yeah its like Christmas every time you start chipping slag off a stick bead!

[keithh999]

I took 6 months off of a normal life and went to welding school in order to pay child support,(welders made alot more than a mechanic back then). went out on the road and built power plants and factories and bridges and all sorts of things....taught several people how to weld....passed xray weld tests....built more big projects....and the funny thing was i knew how to forge weld before i could weld weld.
still building things and still forge welding... welding school was the best thing i ever did for myself.

[larrynjr]

I still haven't ever learned to weld. After I finally get myself a mig unit, I'll learn myself and try to make a treadle hammer, it will certainly be an experience!