time welding, torching, and fabricating came yesterday, and I didn't know who to tell (girlfriend doesn't care) so I had to tell you guys. This might just have been the greatest experience in my life - it was awesome. I spent Saturday partying with my friend Beefy and playing poker all night, and then Sunday I got to help out with his dad's flatbed project. By the end of the day (around 6, left at 6:30) Joe said I was welding about 80% of what he does. Got personal with the disc grinder, and got to find out how wonderful a Plasma cutter is - I know what I want for Christmas now.

Anyways, I just had to share.

Now to make this tech: What technique do you all use on the MIG? These were 220's, so they had all the power they needed. I was favoring stitches and C's in a pull method, but he said that pushing it keeps more heat and makes a better weld. So, any pointers?

Sorry if this is the wrong place, forgive a guy at least =).

Welcome to the manhood club brother....you now need to crush three to four beer cans against your skull, puff out your chest and beat it like an ape.

Just kidding.

I notice anytime i do anything to my Bronco, i tell everyone i know, and usually the females reply with "what does that mean?" or "tell me why i should care about this?".....it is rather degrading.

As far as welding, i mostly stick to mig and stick....TIG welders are very expensive, but are great for cosmetic welds, it's usually what you see the OCC guys, or the hot rod builders use.

Get good at all three of them, and if you are young, it's a pretty good $$$$ living.

I'm gonna be a teacher, not a welder. I do definately plan on getting good with the MIG, and learning to use the stick for sure. Stick's are everywhere, can't always get lucky and have a MIG around to use.

Yeah, and not to make my welding sound good by that 80% or his bad. That was just standing there welding it. Not having to get upside down and laying perfect beads like he was.

Either way, it was great. Makes me want to get my SAS done NOW, nothing is really stopping me except cold. And a few more months of gathering money.

congrats.........

have fun with that, your just started a new hobby......

An expensive one.

An expensive one.

But a welder will pay for itself.....make mention to your neighbors that you bought one and the 20-30 dollar jobs roll in.

You know you are pretty good at stick welding when you find yourself in a ten foot deep hole, welding the bottom side of a water pipe, with a mirror to see what your doing. That was a MAJOR pain.