I can see that skills such as metal working would be very useful during a SHTF situation.
Where would be a good place to start in order to gain these skills?
Years ago I taught welding during evenings for our adult community education program at a local high school. The course included both oxyacetylene and stick welding. People enrolled in the class for all sorts of reasons and most, I believe, completed the course being able to do a decent job of welding. Most of the adults were highly motivated, as compared to some of my high school students. Seems that when the adults enrolled they had a particular reason for wanting to learn welding...and worked hard to do get those skills. The course expense was very low as compared to other types of schools available in this area (KC,MO).
If you dont have the time for classes, what I did was picked up a small cheap used 110v buzz box ($200-$500) and 20lbs of rod (or wire depending on welder) and played around in the garage. Its pretty easy to pick up. Just play with the different heat settings and metal thicknesses. Same with gas welding. You can get a small gas kit ( the kind HVAC tecs use) with small tanks for under $500. Check your local pawn shops.
Dale...No doubt you're using either CO2 gas or argon gas for wire shielding. Be sure the pressure regulator is set correct according to your instructions.
For MIG, "tilt the wire direction into the puddle and progress that same direction", rather than pull it as in shielded metal arc welding (stick welding) where you drag the rod forward.
You'll find that a slight pushing motion into the molten puddle works much better than "dragging." Of course, the wire is automatically fed...but you still need a slight puddling motion.
Having the amperage set(heat) correct for the different thicknesses of metal is important, too.
Avoid trying to MIG weld where there's a draft because it blows away the protective gas envelope around the wire and results in splattering too much.
Maybe within some of my suggestions above you may find something that will be of help. Good luck.
This major manufacturer of all types of welding equipment and supplies has written and video material for sales as well as classes you can attend at their company on welding from basic stick to MIG and TIG. Check out their website for the massive amount of educational information they offer.
man i can wield with a stick wield 6013 here i come. i can mig wield i just cant tig wield some thing about aluminum and me dont mix < ---- its been a long time since my high school wielding class
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God doesn't give rights. Men have to fight for them.
knightrider...Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG welding) is almost as simple as oxacetylene gas welding. But...a few differences exit.
1. Before starting to weld, use a wire wheel to clean dirt and oxidation off the welding surface(s) Any dirt remaining there will make it nearly impossible to TIG weld.
2. With gas regulator set properly, and holding the aluminum rod in left, TIG gun in right...strike an electric current.
3. Using a motion similar to oxycetylene welding, make small circles with your TIG gun creating enough heat to melt the existing surface(s)
4. Continue heating and lowering the aluminum rod into the puddle to supply additional material to join the two surfaces.
5. (caution) Make sure there is absolutely no wind current blowing the gas envelope away from the welding puddle or you're wasting your time.
I look forward to hearing your report when you give my suggestions a try.
Ox
Years ago when I was still teaching shop classes, I worked in heavy industry during the summers when I wasn't required to get more college credits because of teacher certification requirements. It was during those summers that I was fortunate enough to land some interesting jobs for 2-3 months each year before going back to my full time teaching job.
My background in industrial education usually got me into the doors of heavy industrial jobs which paid much better than most teachers usually got during summer work.
One such job I was a stick welder for Darby Corporation building railroad hopper cars to haul grain/coal, etc. My job was to use 5/32" Low Hydrogen rods to weld the bolsters of each car. We usually completed 4-5 cars every day on our contract.
Another summer job was working as a "trailer mechanic" for Fruehauf Trailer Company. Doing that required all sorts of metalworking skills and some elecritrcal. We commonly took wrecked truck trailers, disassembled them, and rebuilt them back almost like new. That required plenty of welding including MIG and TIG, along with riveting, and much, much more. I was classified as an "C" mechanic my first summer...but they elevated me to a "Class A" mechanic for the remaining 4-5 summers I worked there, which allowed me to get their top pay category. That was great with me because it really supplemented my teachers salary greatly.
Another summer job I held was working for Hessee Corporation as a MIG welder on aluminum truck bodies. That job requiremed me to do nothing but overhead Alum. MIG welding installing floor stiffners under the bays of the trucks. These trucks were the two axle type which are commonly used to haul beverages, both beer and soft drinks. After 8 hours of overhead MIG welding each day I was one tired guy...and got plenty of brands to show for it.
Those are a few of the more interesting things I've done during my summers when I was a "shop" teacher in the North Kansas City School District.
Later in my career, I got promoted to be their Director of School Operations, which meant that I was in charge of construction and all maintenance for the 29 school and 55 buildings in my district. Of course, I had plenty of help. There were around 35 maintenance men with skills in various trades areas. We hired architects to design biuldings and additions, and I had other subordinates who provided me with plenty of support to get the job done in our department. Fortunately, I was able to retire from all this eventually and the rest is history.
