Quote:
Originally Posted by JEBalles
I don't think a class is necessary, although I spent months struggling to weld with a crappy stick welder before stepping up and buying a used Lincoln Promig 130 for $300. It's really just point and shoot. I've only used flux core so far and I've welded structural and sheet metal, seems to work fine, although sheet metal is probably easier with gas and produces a better looking weld.
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I'm not sure I agree with you about the "no class necessary" issue. If you are welding sheet metal panels that might be, more or less true, but if you are welding structural things where there are consequences for failing welds you better have a pretty good idea about what is a sound weld and what isn't a sound weld.
Beginners almost always don't use enough heat, their welds tend to be shallow and lack penetration.
There are lots of other things that you will learn in a basic welding class that will make things much easier (fitment, multi-pass welding, out-of-position welding, the 'best' type of welding technique for the job at hand, ect) that are pretty hard to pick-up by trial-and-error.