First Time Welder

[Tassien]

I have bought old trailer and it needs welding. Have a borrowed stick welder and need advice how to start welding.

[thingy]

If you've never ever welded before its going to be pretty hard for you to fix a trailer[something that goes down the road in front of others at speed],thats not where to start at,learning to weld is not like learning to first use a pressure washer.
You need somebody [who can weld],show you personnely,,either a school or a friend,,,,or,,,start on pieces of scrap,take some pictures of your work and send them in here,people can than give you some dos and don't and you will be able to at least ask some questions that will be able to help you.

What kinda stick welder you got? What is it,ac/dc or just ac,,you've never welded? What kinda stick rods you got? You got any other tools you might need,[grinder/brushes torch,,]? thingy

[Blacksmith]

Gotta agree. This is like teaching yourself to fly with a 737. We do not mean to discourage you, but you need some friendly instruction and practice on scrap pieces first. AND, this has nothing to do with your abilities, if the trailer needs some repair, chances are its got cracked welds or rust/rot that would challenge even an experienced weldor with miles of rod burning under his belt.

[vicegrip]

Simulate the welding situation you need to take on with scraps of similar cross-section.

Get your digital camera , relax and interact with these fellows.

Start by doing searches , by topic "which rod to weld thru (less than clean conditions)"

6011 ? 6013 ? etc.

VG

[MushingJeeper]

Don't want you to get discouraged....welding can be a fun and rewarding activity....but I've gotta agree with them, a trailer has the risk of injurying others while driving down the road.....check around your area and if you have a local community college check there, many of them offer beginner welding classes and are quite affordable. Welcome to the club....soon borrowing a welder won't be good enough :D

[k.a.m]

welcome to the board tassien you might want to untie our hands a little with more info like do you know how to weld and just want to know how to fix the trailer? or do you really not know how to weld and need help with that? if that is the case then please let us know.:)

[hankj]

I have bought old trailer and it needs welding. Have a borrowed stick welder and need advice how to start welding.

Welcome aboard.

Spend your first $30 or so on a decent welding text. I like "Welding Essentials". It will answer most of your questions.

Next, acquire a collection of scrap steel of the same thicknesses you will be working with. Learn to weld on these, and cut and acid etch cross-sections of your test welds (we call 'em "coupons") to see ihow well you are doing.

Before you tackle any critcal welds (a critical weld is one where failure could injure or kill someone, or damage property) be certain that your competence is at the level needed.

Hank

[Rocky D]

What I tell people is: If you KNOW you can fix it, then do....if you're not sure, then don't...Welding takes two things..knowledge AND skill....this type of knowledge doesn't come from books, it comes from example...watching someone that KNOWS what he is doing...the skill, comes from practice....so if you have BOTH knowledge and skill in welding, we can tell you how to fix your trailer...if not, have someone else fix it for you. Welding is a skill that, if it not done correctly, people die. Never forget that!