elevated water tank welding

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Hey everyone. I am pretty much a novice welder. Had a bit in high school shop (many moons ago..lol)and played around with some stick welding a bit. I have been offered a job welding elevated water tanks. The boss said I would be using a MIG outfit welding downhill with 60/40 (which i assume is argon/carbon dioxide).Am i nuts assuming that the stock will be really thick and have a double bevel to be welded on both sides? Would stick welding be better for such thick stock?Exactly what is "downhill".  I think it is vertical welding where one begins the weld at the bottom. Am i correct. The boss also said he could teach me to weld  but it is most important that I am not afraid of heights; which I am not. I am a retired firefighter and have had a chimney repair business on the side for 20 yrs so I am used to working at height..doesn't't bother me in the least. Is anyone familiar with tank welding? If so any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lucky
Reply:Am i nuts assuming that the stock will be really thick and have a double bevel to be welded on both sides? Would stick welding be better for such thick stock?
Reply:Lucky, I have no experience in that field of welding, but a few new towers have been  put up in the neighboring county, and I always stop and talk to the crew doing the welding on the job.  Gets my business's name out there and its always good to get to know the guys in the business.  Most of them were using an LN-25 feeder on portable machines running flux core.  A downhill weld means you start at the top and you weld in a downward progression (Top to Bottom) I personally have never seen any of the outfits I have been around use mig, It was either fluxcore or stick, and I would imagine that mig would be tough on that type of project for the wind blowing your shielding gas away.   I guess every company has there own procedures.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Thanks guys for the replys.  Since my post this morning I have found  that the company uses LN-25's  with either flux core or stick. Don't  know why the foreman told me MIG.  After a bit of research I learned most of the work is with 1/4- 3/8ths . And that every inch is x-rayed .Yes Sandy elevated means municipal tanks(for the most part).  Ironically the fire station I worked at had such a tower as you described in the yard and we did shoot it with a 30-o6 several times and didn't penetrate it as well as race each other up and down the damn thing (don't tell the city... but I am retired so what the heck..lol)  . I don't think that the newer towers are quite so invincible. Any tips or tricks for using the LN-25 that any of you know of?Thanks againLucky
Reply:Lucky,  the LN25 is just a feeder. What matters is the wire you will be using. I would use NR 211. 1/4 - 3/8  is right in specs for 211. They might let you run down passes on that but I wouldn't bet on it.