Welding is certainly an interesting hobby to take up. Picking up a welder can be rather hard though, because of the extensive amount of basic guidelines you need to know beforehand.
Here’s where our simplified and detailed guide comes to play! We’ll teach you how to learn welding by covering the three basic steps we took to become the great weldors we are today.
As a plus, we also answer a few frequently asked questions about welding that many newcomers are concerned with.
Step One: Educate Yourself
When deciding to take up any hobby, it’s essential to have a rough idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Whether by reading or experimenting with it firsthand, educate yourself in order to determine which kind of welding technique is for you.
There are multiple welding types and each one varies in terms of difficulty and method. As a beginner, we recommend going with MIG, stick, or TIG welding as they’re the most simple ones.
MIG Welding
MIG is the best welding technique for novice welders because all your parameters are preset and it also uses shielding gas. Another MIG advantage is that it yields cleaner welds without any slag.
Stick Welding
On the other hand, stick welding is a flux-based process. Its primary benefit is that it’s more forgiving than other welding methods when dealing with rusty metal. Stick welding may not result in as clean welds as MIG, but it’s just as relatively easy to learn.
TIG Welding
TIG welding isn’t a complicated process to learn, but it does require a lot of time and practice to
fully control. The results are worth it, though, as TIG produces high-quality, precise welds that are aesthetically pleasing as well.
Step Two: Work Towards Your Purpose
An important question to ask yourself is why you’re picking up welding in the first place.
Determining factors that’ll help you figure it out include the kind of equipment you’re going to work on and the environment you plan to work in.
MIG welding, for instance, is better suited for people that’ll work indoors more often. This welding technique also works with many metals, regardless of their thickness. However, MIG best welds steel, aluminum, and stainless steel alloys.
Go for TIG welding if you’ll be working with thinner metals and automotive parts. TIG is for other parts too, including HVAC and frame-outs. Wherever your workstation may be, TIG is tolerant of both indoor and outdoor conditions.
Stick welding is perhaps the ideal method for working in windy environments as it isn’t affected much by the surrounding elements as the aforementioned techniques. Additionally, stick welders mainly work with dirty metals, particularly those found in farm equipment and gates.
Step Three: Take the Proper Precautions
The simplest definition of welding is the use of heat to manipulate or liquefy metal and fuse it back together. As such, this process requires working with dangerously hot temperatures and continuously being exposed to harmful vapor, gas, and spatter.
In other words, beginner welders will do well to remember the following safety guidelines to keep them safe while practicing their new hobby.
Work in a Ventilated Area
As we’ve mentioned, welding releases many noxious fumes that are unsafe to inhale.
While you weld, you don’t have the luxury to stand away from these gasses. That’s why we recommend working in a ventilated area to circulate the hazardous vapors away from you.
Purchase the Necessary Safety Gear
Needless to say that welders are sticklers to dressing appropriately for the job—and they have every right to be. Many injuries at the workstation are preventable if welders simply knew what safety gear they needed to wear.
To make it easier for you, here’s our quick list of what you should get and why each of these items is important to have:
Insulated, heat-resistant welding gloves to protect your hands and wrists as you weld
A helmet with eye protection to shield your face from blinding light and hot slag
A leather or flame-retardant jacket to avoid sparks and heat from damaging your skin
Cuffless, fire-resistant pants to cover any exposed skin so the hot slag won’t harm you
A welding respirator that’ll prevent dangerous fumes from entering your lungs
Fireproof ear muffs to protect your ears from possible flying debris and sparks
Sturdy, flame-retardant, rubber-soled welding boots to cover your ankles and feet
FAQs
How Hard Is It to Learn Welding?
Since welding is a hands-on activity, it can be hard to learn. There are many safety guides you should know first, too. Not only that, but perfecting your hand’s position will also take a lot of practice.
Note as well, that some welding techniques are more difficult to master than others.
What Is the Easiest Welding to Learn?
Similar to how driving an automatic car is easier than operating a manual one, the simplest welding to learn is MIG welding. That’s mainly because the process can be semi or fully automatic, thus making it more manageable for beginners to learn MIG.
Arguably, Tig welding or Tungsten Inert Gas welding is said to be just as basic as MIG welding.
How Long Does Welding Take To Learn?
Your typical welding program could last anywhere from six weeks to two years. Some courses, however, are only six to seven months long. Regardless though, what matters is your constant practice so you can continue to hone your skills.
Once you’ve gotten the welding basics down, mastering the craft will simply be a matter of time.
Final Say
We hope our guide helped you figure out how to learn welding and what basic, essential steps you should follow first. After all, welding is nothing like hiking, for example. It’s quite a dangerous hobby that needs you to invest time, money, and effort in.
We have discussed the differences between welding and soldering here.
With that in mind, remember to pick the welding technique that’s best suited to your level of skill and the purpose you have in mind. Other factors to consider are what metals you’ll be working with and where your workplace is stationed.
Learn more about the differences between braze welding and brazing here.
