Welding

[SavannahLion]

Exactly what the title says. I want to learn how to weld, but the variety of techniques is head spinning. TIG, MIG, Stick, AC, DC, reverse flow.  Every time I start reading about something, I find references to another technique. Then I get all mixed up. Jesus, it's like studying how to fly an airplane and having to learn every aspect of the airplane all at the same time. Where do I start. 

It's easier to learn about plastics than it is to try and start with welding metals. Probably cheaper too. Welders on Craigs aren't any lower than Grover's face. Ultimately I would like to end up welding aluminum. But I'll start where I need to start.

I know there's at least one welder here. Maybe a couple of others. Any advice on where to start and with what metals? I'm guessing steel. Any suggested reading?

[HaRuMaN]

I've done stick welding on steel, it's probably the easiest to learn.

[Malenko]

WHAT do you want to weld? that'll narrow down what you need to learn

[Ed_McCarron]

MIG is easier than stick IMHO.  Think of it as a glue gun for steel.  Set the heat and speed right and you just start sticking chunks of steel together.

EDit:  My little $600 MIG setup can weld Al, but it's a pain.  Steel turns red when it's hot.  It's easy to tell when you're about to melt it into oblivion.  Al, not so much.  It just goes from silver to silver and then falls apart.  You'll need straight Argon instead of the mixed gas you'd use for steel, and a separate liner for the feed, or a spool gun.  I think adding the aluminum capability cost me about $300.

[Kevin Mullins]

Aluminum is probably one of the hardest to learn how to weld. (next to something like say Magnesium)
As Ed mentioned you'll need a rig that has gas capabilities, either TIG or MIG for aluminum. (I prefer TIG)

Every method has it's own pros, cons, techniques, etc.
Your best bet is to pick ONE method and start there. Base your decision on buying equipment or using some elsewhere. Cheap MIG and ARC units can be had easy enough for home use. But they will NOT have gas capabilities unless you spend much more.
Take a class.... lots of Technology schools offer them.

Patience.... lots of patience and the ability to understand what is happening when welding in order to "watch your weld".

[Ed_McCarron]

Oh, and invest in an automatic shade for your hood.  Makes it SO much easier to start the weld its silly.

[SavannahLion]

WHAT do you want to weld? that'll narrow down what you need to learn

Ultimately, aluminum. Most likely the thinner gauges. Tubes and the like.

MIG is easier than stick IMHO.  Think of it as a glue gun for steel.  Set the heat and speed right and you just start sticking chunks of steel together.

And both are easier (and/or cheaper) than TIG?

But they will NOT have gas capabilities unless you spend much more.
Take a class.... lots of Technology schools offer them.

I've considered that, but I'd like to be a little bit more educated about what direction I want to learn with. I've made a few mistakes taking classes that swamped my time unnecessarily when I could've better applied that time elsewhere. The time I spent learning VB probably could've been better applied towards C. Oh well, live and learn.

EDit:  My little $600 MIG setup can weld Al, but it's a pain.  Steel turns red when it's hot.  It's easy to tell when you're about to melt it into oblivion.  Al, not so much.  It just goes from silver to silver and then falls apart.  You'll need straight Argon instead of the mixed gas you'd use for steel, and a separate liner for the feed, or a spool gun.  I think adding the aluminum capability cost me about $300.

So is TIG really not necessary if you've got a MIG machine? Everything I read seems to indicate TIG is the preferred method for welding aluminum and welding al with a MIG seems to be some kind of hack or something. I'm OK with hacks, I just don't want to complicate things unnecessarily in the long run.

[Kevin Mullins]

If I personally had to recommend ONE method to encompass what you are describing that you want to do then it would be TIG.

But.... a decent TIG unit can be spendy.

An inexpensive ARC and MIG unit can be had easy enough for fartin' around the house. (steel mostly)
Think of ARC as for doing the big badass stuff, MIG for the smaller stuff...... thin, detailed, complex alloys, etc.... TIG.

If you plan on doing tubing, find a course that teaches towards 6G certification.

Don't let any of it intimidate you, it's an art form. 

[SavannahLion]

Don't let any of it intimidate you, it's an art form. 

I failed art.

[Ed_McCarron]

TIG is definitely the preferred method for anything 'exotic' -- and by that I mean not steel.

The more you weld, the better you get.  I still can't do sheet metal without burning a hole in it, yet my buddy with a tig can damn near weld soda cans together.

[trendyscotsman12]

a would suggest learning to welding using oxyacetylene welding first, It alot easier and safer than tig welding.Once you learn oxyacetylene welding then a would learn tig wielding.

[Kevin Mullins]

To me oxyacetylene was a technique all it's own, but definitely well worth learning.

I still can't do sheet metal without burning a hole in it, yet my buddy with a tig can damn near weld soda cans together.

Sheet metals can be a pain due to heat buildup for sure. (both blowing holes and warpage) I still spread my weld out from point to point to keep from getting carried away on thinner sheet metals.
We used to TIG up all kinds of random dumb stuff "just because". Helped develop attention to details and patience. We'd grab tig rod, cans, tubing, whatever and just start wittling stuff up.