no experience whatsoever except i used an oxyacetylene torch and a spot welder a couple times in a shop class ages ago. long enough ago that i don’t really remember wtf i was doing.
i don’t have a shop or a welder so i would prefer to read / watch courses and get a decent grasp of the basics before i commit to investing cash monies. and recommends for someone just starting out would be appreciated too… particually how you deal w the heat if you are a big wuss about having a/c like me (mostly its cz i have some bad skin probs that flare up in high heat)
Would certainly recommend weld.com and weldtube on youtube, both pages are fantastic to watch for beginners. The thing that will end up helping the most is honestly just watching people weld. Whether that’s in person or just on a screen, being able to see the puddle and start to identify what’s happening in it is a huge game changer for how quick you catch on to what’s happening.
Heat wise, it just comes down to regulation of yourself. The proper safety gear you have to wear (long sleeves, boots, jeans, safety glasses, and gloves) can certainly get hot in certain conditions, but if you’re looking to regulate that the most I’d recommend checking out tig welding. Requires a bit of finesse and patience, but with the right stuff on you won’t feel the heat at all and can easily change up your attire to suit your needs. If you want to know any more I’d be happy to answer!
For reference and credibility, I’ve done two years of local votech (as well as a year and a half welding on a job within that) and have extended to schooling at HIWT. I certainly don’t know everything, but I’m more than happy to share what I’ve got.