Looking to learn MIG - self teaching?

admin

Hey everyone. I’m looking to self teach myself MIG welding. A few years ago I bought a cheap harbor freight flux core welder to repair rocker rust on my Miata (talk about diving in head first). Over the years, I’ve used it for some projects here and there, and have gotten pretty decent with it. However, I’m finding myself start to get into bigger and bigger projects, which is making me look into investing in a good MIG welder and some self taught practice.For a hobbyist who works on cars for fun, does this sound like its possible to get pretty decent at welding, or is professional training truly necessary to MIG weld?  When I talk to some people about it, they seem to think professional training is the only way. What are some good self teaching sources to start, as well as some good hands-on practice material? I appreciate any help!
Reply:I’d say it really depends how deep you get into welding. Me personally, I am self-taught just through practice and YouTube videos. I learned off of my neighbors little 90 amp flux machine and now I have my own (same model). I can lay down a good bead if I do say so myself, at least it’s enough to get the job done, sometimes with a nice pretty stack of dimes. I am yet to do an actual work on cars with my welder, but I make go kart frames out of steel tubing and from what I’ve seen they hold up nicely. If you were to get more into pipeline welding/ structural steel welds then I’d recommend (in fact you would probably have to) take some course and be certified. It certainly isn’t a bad idea to take a class, as you can learn more about settings/ gas flow/ welding positions etc. That’s my take at least from a similar level of welding as you.Century FC-90Primeweld TIG 200D
Reply:There is No Place to learn "wrongly", better than with the Wire-fed Caulk Gun

It's just So Easy to misinterpret what you're seeing, you make what you think looks like a pretty good weld, only to find that you have barely attached these two pieces of metal. So take anything you think you've properly welded and break it apart to see how you actually did...The "art" in welding is in the puddle, you have to learn to Read that puddle, Mig allows you to deposit Bad weld easier than anything else available (learn to Tig or Gas Weld and then take up Mig). Barring that, WeldingTipsAndTricks has the very best online instructions, spend some Hours there, pay attention to the puddle, and maybe you can teach yourself to do it right.
Reply:It's possible to get pretty good being mostly self-taught but you do have to put in quite a bit of effort.  Read, watch videos and be careful where you take advice, or at least look at both sides before deciding, and when it doubt....test to see what happens.I will say that an hour with someone who knows what they're doing will save you a ton of time in the beginning.Check out my bench vise website:  http://mivise.comMiller Syncrowave 250DXMillermatic 350P with XR AlumaProMiller Regency 200 with 22A feeder and Spoolmatic 3Hobart Champion EliteEverlast PowerTig 210EXT
Reply:

Originally Posted by GoK4rtFanatic

I can lay down a good bead if I do say so myself, at least it’s enough to get the job done, sometimes with a nice pretty stack of dimes.
Reply:

Originally Posted by G-ManBart

In most cases a MIG bead that looks like a stack of dimes is weaker than a normal bead.  This is the danger of learning on the internet.
Reply:Due to the nature of the way a mig welder works it's quite possible to lay a very nice looking bead that has almost NO penetration, almost just laying on top of the material, you can largely tell by the sound and make sure the toes fuse into the material.IMPEACH BIDEN!NRA LIFE MEMBERUNITWELD 175 AMP 3 IN1 DCMIDSTATES 300 AMP AC MACHINEGOD HELP AMERICA!"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Reply:even an hour or so of direction from someone who knows their stuff would do wonders for you and save lots of time and money vs learning as you go.  Hardest part of that will be finding someone who actually knows what they are doing.  We all know people who have been welding for years and can't tell you what MIG stands for.  If you're near Erie PA hit me up and we'll get you a demo
Reply:Can you self teach and learn? I say no. Can you wing it and figure it out? Sure. You can go the synergistic mig machine route and trust it. Or get old school and make sure there is an idiot chart under the door. Any mig machine should have that idiot chart whether it be synergistic or traditional. If not get your money back. I fought with Harbor Freight on the MigMax and they broke down and put it inside the door. So there are also some little things you stumble upon during the process. The voltage is your coarse adjustment, and wire speed it your fine adjustment. Also traditionally you pull the gun just like you would pull an arc stinger. Except for alum where you push the gun so the arc can lift out the smut. Alum is a different animal anyway.Then there is the gas and wire combinations. I like C25 myself with 70-s6 for structural work, and EasyGrind for sheet metal.Mig is fun and can be addicting once you fall into it.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR"

MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks everyone! I will have to see if I can find someone who is good at MIG welding near me, maybe a local car club might have someone who knows their stuff or does it professionally that can maybe give me a quick lesson. And to answer the question on what I would like to do with welding, I wouldn't be doing anything crazy like building cages or anything, I would just be doing some body work, minor fabrication, and maybe some exhaust work. I have a hard time reading the puddle with the flux core welder, so will need to definitely practice that more.

Originally Posted by IronPeakWelds

even an hour or so of direction from someone who knows their stuff would do wonders for you and save lots of time and money vs learning as you go.  Hardest part of that will be finding someone who actually knows what they are doing.  We all know people who have been welding for years and can't tell you what MIG stands for.  If you're near Erie PA hit me up and we'll get you a demo
Reply:I agree Some codes/spec. ban solid wire from building work.Dave PS the first time I had a welder welding a beam that happened. Switch to E71T-1 with CO2 best weld ever and could see the good and bad welds

Originally Posted by CAVEMANN

Due to the nature of the way a mig welder works it's quite possible to lay a very nice looking bead that has almost NO penetration, almost just laying on top of the material, you can largely tell by the sound and make sure the toes fuse into the material.
Reply:

Originally Posted by shovelon

Also traditionally you pull the gun just like you would pull an arc stinger.