So whoever coined the Phrase "These Trucks Are Onions" couldn't have been more right. As I delve farther into my truck and become more enamored with restoring her, it is becoming blatantly obvious that I am going to need to learn how to weld.


The scope of my welding skills will need to include fixing body panels, the exhaust, and motor mounts, since a plan for a 390, 5 speed and potentially new rear end are starting to form in my mind. (390's are a sentimental favorite in my family: 63 T-Bird, 70 LTD Brougham.)


I have learned other skills through books, the internet, you guys and high school shop way back when. It just seem when it comes to skills involving high temperature, voltage and amperage that professional instruction is probably in order. (read: I'm a chicken ).


There are community colleges that offer programs out here. Question is what type: TIG MIG ARC??? I am not even sure what the right acronyms are. Could I outsource the welding? Sure, but what fun is that??


Any and all thoughts and feedback are, as always, most appreciated.


Mark

 

That would be Mr. Gary Lewis.

 

Mig with gas would be the most versatile. TIG is difficult to master, but once you do, you will be able to accomplish anything. I would start with MIG as long as it is with Gas.

 

I also think about taking a class at a local community college because I don't know how to weld, either. I have a 220V arc welder I inherited but 1) I don't yet have electricity in the garage for it, and 2) I have no idea how to use it.

 

I don't like 390's in these trucks; It was never offered in these trucks so a lot of stuff doesn't fit.

 

I will second the anti-390 sentiment... IIRC somebody around here did it several years ago and it was painful because, as Dave says, nothing fits.

 

MIG definitely, if you are going to be doing bodywork.

SMAW (stick) if you are welding frames.

 

Sure, on paper, a class sounds good, but for us guys, seeking help like this is on par with asking for directions when lost.

I second the recommendation for MIG with gas. The versatility is unmatched and is probably the easiest type to learn. I have a Lincoln SP-135 and love it. It has plenty of power for my needs and runs on a standard 110V outlet, so no special wiring is needed. Both the voltage and wire speed are infinitely adjustable, unlike other units in the price range.

Spring for a name brand auto-dimming welding helmet. Compared to a fixed lens, this saves a lot of aggravation when starting a bead.

The biggest hurdle is learning how to start and maintain a proper puddle while running a bead. There are many variables other than the machine settings, such as the angle of the gun, speed, and the size of the circles you form. Distance from the workpiece is another factor. To help eliminate that variable, I made the equivalent of training wheels: A protruding copper finger sticking out about 3/8", soldered to the side of the gun's nozzle. This was a HUGE help during my self-education process. All I can say is after months of lousy results, one day everything just clicked.

It's funny how I can look back at my projects over the years and know what skills and tools I had at the time. I had a bolt-together phase, which I think we've all had. After getting a metal lathe, I went through a phase where all answers were round and threaded. Once I became comfortable with welding, that became my new go-to.

You will also learn about an invariable rule, properly known as Karl's Rule of Welding Visibility. To wit: Any weld not readily visible, such as custom clutch linkage never to be seen by another living soul, will be a vision to behold. Any weld in public view, such as on a fender or roll bar, will look like bird droppings.

 

I like to think I got past that mindset a long time ago; IMO there is no better way to feel like a complete & useless idiot than to work in IT (where I've been since the 1980s) as you will necessarily come across something you know absolutely nothing about and need to ask your cow-orkers... you get used to it and asking for help becomes a common occurrence, no shame involved at all.

 

The reason idiots need to ask for directions in the first place is cuz they were too lazy to learn how to read a map. Nowadays they don't even bother with a paper map, they depend solely on GPS or the like and will probably drive right off a cliff when told to do so.

 

I forgot the little winking emoticon to indicate my "asking for help" comments were offered in jest.

At one time, I had looked into classes at my local community college. Unfortunately, there was no realistic way to make the schedule work, between a full-time job on rotating shifts and an unknown but ever-growing number of small children under our roof at the time.

Free time for a class just wasn't in the cards. That's why I had to teach myself. I did plenty of reading. I did have some previous oxy-acetylene training (just enough to be dangerous) so was able to transfer some of those basics.

Now if you REALLY want to feel like a man, do some OA hammerwelding. I got pretty good at that, but that's a dying art. I could make a nice, smooth seam in the thick sheet metal of older cars. Unfortunately, the process is of no use on our trucks, as the metal is much thinner and of a different grade.

 

welding is a visual think that requires eye hand coronation and lots of practice
mig with a gas shield is your best choice as others have already stated
maybe watch Welding tips and tricks on YouTube he's a really good teacher
then practice practice practice

 

So as a fellow IT Guy I share your sentiments about asking directions. I got over that hump a while back as well. The class schedules aren't going to work for me, so it is back to the internet I go. I have seen the Lincoln unit mentioned in many videos - looks like a solid unit. I have 220 power in the garage - the PO of the house restored an old Corvette here, but sounds like the 110V will meet the needs with less of an investment. The auto dimming helmet seems like a must for me. Sounds like I am just going to have to jump in and try it - and buy lots scrap metal and practice.

 

I teach welding for a living. Whatever welding process you use and regardless of whatever welder you buy, practice, practice, practice! Get lots of scrap metal (thick, thin, different shapes, old car body pieces, old frame chunks...anything similar to what you'll be welding and practice on those first. YouTube videos are actually a great place to self-teach believe it or not. Some are better than others but they often give lots of great tips and give great examples of how to do it. I agree with most who say learn wire feed welding or mig. It is the easiest to learn but it's also the easiest to do correctly and the most versatile....just remember to practice!

 

Practice, practice, practice...

I got to thinking. Don't worry, it's just social thinking and I can stop anytime I want

Practice is good, of course, but nobody really wants to do too much of it, other than the first few days of playing with a new toy. After that, it's boring, boring, boring.

I have a different tactic that may help and seems much more realistic: Weld away but know your limitations. Have fun! Obviously don't weld on your truck's frame or anything critical. But do weld up shop projects that would only cause embarrassment if a weld fails.

For example, a welding cart is a great project to get you going and build some confidence. I still have mine from almost 20 years ago. Still works great, and when I look at some of the damage I did back then, it's a great reminder how far I've come. I highly recommend non-critical projects like that to anybody itching to learn.