[rorykoehler]

Thanks for the descriptions. I’d read up on them previously but your reply gave way more context. I’d like to build bicycles and things with wheels in general but i’ll take your advice re injury/death potential. If I understood correctly I should do a class and that’s pretty much the only way to learn besides doing it on the job with a mentor?

[MrLeap]

The most important thing a class will teach you is a critical eye for weld quality. An oft repeated standard for pro-welders is that when your work piece is stressed to failure, it fails someplace different than where you weldeded it - the point being that your welds are stronger than the materials you combined.

A real high octane class might teach you how to read a phase diagram for different kinds of steels, how to normalize / quench harden / anneal and temper your work to achieve desired properties after you take off your hood. There's a lot decisions and knowledge that go into being safe at industry standards.

From a practical standpoint, I'm not a professional welder. If I can wack the workpieces as hard as I can against my driveway with no visible changes in my welds, I'll risk my nuts on a bike of my construct. The unforgivable sin is making that choice for _other_ people. So, until the Grand Vizier at the Local 10' gives you your welder's badge and gun, don't donate your bespoke, all natural, cage free bikes to the local ride-share.

Youtube, concentration, and a bit of perseverance can totally learn you enough to safely endanger yourself though!