If you want to learn MIG welding online because you don’t have the time or money to spend at a welding school, then you’re at the right place.
Anyone can learn MIG welding online, from your own home in a matter of hours. I’m being real with you here.
All it really takes is investing a little money in a decent wire feed welder or a MIG welder and you’ll be completely on your way.
Plus, if you’ve been dreaming of making that first welding project whether it’s a hot rod or a decorative gate you will easily be able to do what you want when you learn MIG welding online.
3 Steps To Learn MIG Welding Online
Step 1: Pick your MIG welder carefully
If you don’t pick the correct MIG welder when you start out then you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Most beginner welding courses instructors would tell you the same thing.
The first thing you need to know is that you can use 2 different welding processes with a wire welder.
The first process is known as flux core, and it uses a roll of wire that is filled with flux. This flux that is inside the wire acts as a shielding agent when the weld puddle is cooling.
Why does it need a shielding agent? Every welding process whether its stick, tig, or mig uses a shielding agent to protect the molten weld puddle from the atmospheric gases.
If oxygen or nitrogen come in contact with the molten weld puddle then it will cause little holes called porosity that will weaken the weld.
What exactly am I getting at here? As I said earlier you have 2 different welding processes to choose from when you use a wire welder. We’ve talked about flux core and what the flux is used for… now let’s talk about MIG (Metal Inert Gas).
How To MIG Weld
MIG is the second wire welding process and it uses gas to shield the weld puddle rather than flux. So this goes without saying but you will need to buy a gas cylinder that hooks up to your wire feed welder. The shielding gas is a mixture of 75% Argon and 25% CO2.
This gas is released and starts flowing out of the MIG welding nozzle as soon as you start the weld, which in turns shields the molten weld puddle.
Now I haven’t exactly talked about what this has to do with buying the correct wire welder. When you go to buy your wire feed welder you need to know that some are just flux core welders, and they don’t have the capability to weld with gas.
This is ok if you just want to weld with flux core wire, but at some point sooner than later you are going to want a welder that doesn’t create slag and produces beautiful welds. So if you do want that then just make sure you look for a wire welder that has the capability to run it as a MIG welder.
Step 2: Buy A decent helmet To Learn Welding Online
I wanted to share with you that my first 2 helmets I bought were made in China. I think I paid $65 for the first one and $60 for the second one.
Those Chinese helmets are cheap crap that you want to stay away from. My first one lasted about a month and the connectors that hold the helmet up when you’re not using it broke.
With my second one a little sweat dripped off my forehead, and since it as an electronic auto darkening helmet it leaked into the darkening sensor and fried it.
So, my third helmet is an American made Miller helmet. I paid a little more for it but it’s an awesome helmet.
Step 3: Practice and you’ll be able to weld anything
One of the mistakes I made was to start my first welding project before I learned how to actually weld a joint. Welding joints are the most important aspect of learning to weld.
You can lay a weld bead all day long, but that doesn’t mean shit unless you can incorporate 2 pieces of metal together and make them one.
The welding joints are by far the most difficult part about learning to weld, but with a little practice you’ll be on your way.
If you can successfully weld a t-joint, butt joint, filet joint, corner joint, and lap joint then you can weld anything you want.
Think about these welding steps, and make sure you learn the welding joints I mentioned.
I have an online MIG welding course which you can check out.
