Wanting to learn the art of welding

[Johnsknutson]

Hello, I am a back yard boat builder. Up to now I have just built in wood, but I would like to make a larger boat using steel. The last time I welded was shop class in high school, longer back then I care to remember. Looking for guidance on a welder and some training videos or online training of some kind to get the ball rolling...I live in Alaska, and that tends to limit my options on occasion. Thanks!

[H80N]

Hello, I am a back yard boat builder. Up to now I have just built in wood, but I would like to make a larger boat using steel. The last time I welded was shop class in high school, longer back then I care to remember. Looking for guidance on a welder and some training videos or online training of some kind to get the ball rolling...I live in Alaska, and that tends to limit my options on occasion. Thanks!

A lot of great free info in the RESOURCES section

https://www.millerwelds.com/resources/welding-resources

ALSO... YouTube has a lot of great videos

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=welding

[ryanjones2150]

Lots of guys willing to give you all sorts of guidance, mostly good....but you have to be a little more specific as to what you're looking to do. <br />
<br />
If you're looking for advice on what welding machine to get, that's going to be a personal preference fueled discussion, but it'll certainly steer you in the right direction. <br />
<br />
How big of a steel boat you looking to build?

[Aeronca41]

Welcome! As Ryan says, specific questions are good. Is there any sort of welding store anywhere near where you live? How about sources for steel? Welding gases? And look at the links H80N posted-lots of good stuff. One of my favorites is weldingtipsandtricks.com. Jody is ver capable and great at explaining things.

[Johnsknutson]

Lots of guys willing to give you all sorts of guidance, mostly good....but you have to be a little more specific as to what you're looking to do. <br />
<br />
If you're looking for advice on what welding machine to get, that's going to be a personal preference fueled discussion, but it'll certainly steer you in the right direction. <br />
<br />
How big of a steel boat you looking to build?

Thanks for your reply. The boat I want to build is a 41 feet length with a 13 foot beam, ocean cruiser. Most of the construction is 3/16" and 1/4" cold rolled steel. The research I have done so far leads me to believe I should go with a stick weld set-up. I believe one of the challenges with steel construction is distortion from heat build up. I'm not sure what I should be asking, but I hope this helps define things better.

[H80N]

Thanks for your reply. The boat I want to build is a 41 feet length with a 13 foot beam, ocean cruiser. Most of the construction is 3/16" and 1/4" cold rolled steel. The research I have done so far leads me to believe I should go with a stick weld set-up. I believe one of the challenges with steel construction is distortion from heat build up. I'm not sure what I should be asking, but I hope this helps define things better.

For the amount of metal you will need to lay down in sound watertight beads....

AND.... warpage/distortion control....

I would suggest MIG welding it

Here are some videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebG7gaj5PpI

[Aeronca41]

MIG welding would certainly speed up the process dramatically and seems like a good plan. The only thing in my mind that would lead to stick welding this much material would be if you are building outdoors and you would have the wind blowing away your shielding gas. Seems it might be worth trying to make some sort of shelter if you can.

This project raises another question in my mind-can someone add some information on the impact of welding on cold rolled steel? It seems the HAZ would impact the toughness added to the material by cold working. What is the potential impact to strength near the welds? A boat is a pretty critical application.

[aametalmaster]

When i worked on river barges everything on the outside was 7018...Bob

[ryanjones2150]

Dual shield .045, that's my vote.

[aametalmaster]

Dual shield .045, that's my vote.

That will work well also. We had to do Coast Guard certs with 7018 and .045 gas flux core at the Marina i was at. The plant mgr took the .045 flux core as gasless and ordered a boatload of it and we weren't able to use it with our certs...Bob

[H80N]

Dual shield .045, that's my vote.

+1 one more on dual shield mig wire

BTW....This is worth reading

http://www.submarineboat.com/welding_steel.htm