Learning to weld

U

Underdog

New Member
How does the hobbyist bike builder go about learning how to weld? I'm planning my first build and would like to be able to do the frame modifications myself.

Do people tend to do some sort of learn to weld course or just practise on scrap metal until they get the hang of it?
 
I took a 1 day course at a local college. Cost me a couple $100 but well worth it.

That being said - I don't trust myself to weld anything that my life really depends on. If you're modifying your frame, be sure of the engineering of your modifications and have a professional do the welding.

What sorts of modifications are you talking about? I did a full on frame-up cafe racer XS650 6 years back and the only thing I did to the frame was to remove lots of mounting tabs for thinks like seats/battery trays etc. and I had some extra bracing put in based on mods done by racers in the past. I showed up with the diagram and my bare frame and had a professional welder to it up right with proper tubing and TIG welding.
 
The problem with welding is that your work can look great and not be solid. I've been a hobby welder for 40 years, lay good looking beads and never had a weld break, but I wouldn't bet my life on my ability. It' not the first time that a weld is under stress that you need to worry about so much as the hundredth.
 
The local technical college in town has a 3 day course for $80 a day. I plan on taking it myself.
 
Agreed with above. I took a 10 week course at a technical high school (3 hours a week) for about $250. If you don't have a welder, it's the best deal as you get loads of practice and don't have to worry about buying wire or a gas setup.

Getting instruction from a qualified welder is a great help, as you can correct your technique as you go and be sure your welds are structurally sound. And a lot of practice on scrap before you weld something that matters.
 
I bought a cheap Chinese TIG welder about a year ago and had my buddy get me going with his extensive knowledge. With TIG it's a lot harder to make welds that look good but don't have good penetration, because you can see the base material puddle as you go. Like anything else the secret is to practice.
 
Take a class, concentrate on what to do when things don't/aren't welding right. Asked my teacher to let me watch every time she had to fix someones setup. Welding is an art, and it takes practice, setup is science, it can be taught.

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If you can take a course do so. Welding is not that difficult. Remember the two Ps. First P is pretty. and the second P is penetration. The first P doesn't mean shit without the second P. I'm not a welder but I do know the importance of penetration. I welded up my LSR sidecar frame with an ancient Montgomery Ward stick welder. The welds aren't pretty but in seven years of racing it no welds have broken. Think penetration.
 
Watching a lot of youtube videos and practicing on scrap. As stated above, don't weld anything your life may depend on while you're getting good at it.
 
I took a 12 week (2 nights a week) community college welding intro class for about $400. It was worth it for the exposure to the equipment, practice, and people that can answer questions. I picked up my own gas and mig welder setups sometime during the course. Lots of the work to a good weld is just prepping everything. I know I'm not ready to build a frame but perhaps some day after alot more practice.
 
I borrowed a flux core welder from a friend some years back and, after a brief "instruction" from him, took it home and just practiced welding different things at different settings, etc. Took quite a while to get the hang of it (and to be honest I'm not a pro welder) but after a lot of practice I can now confidently weld up pretty much anything I need (in steel).


I might get a TIG one day......but more importantly I have a friend with a steel manufacturing business that has multiple machines and can weld anything I can't do at home, so I'm more than happy to take this sort of stuff to him with a 6 pack of IPA ;)
 
I took a course and learned much more from talking to old farts and practicing. Bought some 1" round and welded and welded and welded.
Lincoln 140 is a great little welder, and runs on 120v meaning you can play with it at home :-)

And keep in mind, we all learn differently.

Cheers,
~T
 
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