I wanna learn how to weld.  Nothing big.  Nothing much.   Just want to widen my horizons a little before I die.  Someday.  Long off.  I hope.

I don't really want to do major stuff, maybe enough to weld a tab on the bike, braze jewelry, artsy stuff.

What do any of you that weld think about a very light duty MAPP gas welder like this:
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=98894-000000717-OX2550
Is that enough to actually DO anything, at least on a light duty, learning level?  I don't want to sink a lot of $$ into it at this point, but just want mess around. For now.

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FWIW:
My Grandad was a master welder.  This guy had several welding kits including one that was powered by a generator turned by a 56 Chevy 6 cyl engine on a trailer.  He could weld anything.  He worked for Mack Truck.  I met some  of his coworkers in the 70's. They all said he was the best welder ever.  So he must have impressed somebody.

I doubt if there's a welding gene, but I want to give it a go.  GPop's old welding stuff was scattered to cousins an brothers who by now, 25 years sold it for beer money or forgot where it came from and gave it all away.

I've been using a oxy-acetlyne setup for close to 20 years in my workshop. Have been able to weld new perches onto rears all the way down to thin metal repairs. The biggest problem with any type of gas welding is getting the tanks refilled. I'm using a 40 acetlyne and a 60 oxygen that I get refilled at AirGas. I bought the tanks orignially(expensive startup cost) and trade them in when they need to be refilled and pay for the contents. Before buying any set from Home Depot I would be sure that the tanks can be refilled either at Home Depot or a local welding supply company. Mapps gas is simular to propane so I would expect a little less heat from it when compaired to acetlyne  but I've never had a chance to really test it. The set you are looking at would be a good starter set bit you might outgrow it quickly. You should be able to find a oxy-acetlyne set at a welding supply store simular to the Mapp gas stuff that is sold at Home Depot. I guess my advice would be to see if there are any welding supply stores in your area and go in and talk to them, most of the time they will steer you straight. They should also have Mapps gas setups, at least the Airgas store I use does. One other thought, buy something bigger than you think you need, you will grow into it. Luck on whatever you decide to get.

Several years ago the wife got me a Sears gas welding outfit.  Went and got a couple of rather large tanks (4' tall oxygen, 3' tall acetylene.)  No worry about not having enough power for the job, nor running out of gas in the middle of a job.  So far I've done a little practice, welded the crank back on the wife's exercise bike, welded four bolts to a frame for setting in concrete to mount a 1.5 hp pool pump.   Will be welding/brazing my VW floor pans sometime in the future.   It is far more than I need; thus it will never be less then I need.  Also useful incomputer data security.

Something to consider, when I retired I wanted to learn wire feed welding. I had had oxy/acet classes and stick classes year ago, (HS and College), but wire feed takes a diffferent technique. I opted for a class at the local CC, I used up alot of wire and gas unlearning old skills and learning new ones. Well worth the $ to have a coach there for each different welding procedure. Also got to try an air arc cutter, cutting and welding stainless and aluminum, plus spray weld (wire feed process with the power cranked up and the wire rolling out the end of the handle) used on overhead and vertical for heavy thick metal, I was on 3/4 " sample plates. smoked a pair of new gloves with the heat. I know I saved money over doing it myself as I probably burned up the dollars the class cost in materials and electricity had I spend that many hours in my shop. 2 hrs day, 4 days week for 11 weeks. Also learned welding with bi/tri focals doesn't work for me, I got plain safety glasses and used them so the focus didn't change, also spurgled and got a auto dimming helmet at the student discount price. They are much cheaper now but were at $250. then, student price was about $75 off. Really nice to have be able to see your set up and then start welding w/o having to roll/tip the helmet down.  But whatever works for you is great, I have a MAPP gas set in the garage sale box as I inherited my dad's oxy/acetylene jewelry/art set up that is much better. I have a ocy/acet set in the box still, haven't got the bottle yet as my BIL has a set I can use and the wire feed he bought us stays at my house. it will weld thin stuff, tubing lots better than gas. Lots less warpage. It is a great skill to have and I'd encourage you to learn it. Max

A couple of years ago I took a welding class at a local tech, not the full semester, just an intro class...two nights a week for 10 weeks.  It was a lot of fun and I learned a few basics, enough to get by and do a few little jobs.  Look around for an intro class.

I did a basic gas welding course, enough to do battery boxes mudgaurds light mounts etc on chops.
A friend of mine who welds as part of his job says get TIG if you can afford it if not get gas but dont bother with MIG or stick.

Clive W  

man, i just scared the shi t out of myself.

went out to the shop  dusted off the oxy/act tanks.
opened them up, lit the torch. thing was leaking had fire coming out all the connections threw it to the floor, it lands on some rags. starts them on fire. i run back to the tanks shut em off then went and stomped out the rags.  that was about 15 minutes ago and my heart is still pounding.

One of the very best pieces of eqipment for your shop should be a good fire extinguisher. Don't wait untill you are involved in a serious fire to learn this the hard way. take it from me and dont make the same mistake I did. They only cost about $25 and are availble almost anywhere.