Learning to weld.....how hard is it

I really want to learn to weld but not sure where to start. Mostly want to be able to do things like replace kick panels, shave door handles, etc. Where should I start? Would an arc welder be good enough for that type of stuff? I'd prefer to stay away from gas if possible.

I learned using a gas mig. Had a friend who knows how to weld show me a few things, then its just practice practice practice. I dont consider myself a welder, but I can make a decent bead now. If your just wanting to do thin sheet metal work, I'd go with a mig. But its not a question of how HARD is it. Just time and patience. Helps if you know someone who knows about it, then you can get some input.

Once you learn the process you going to want to learn more than just the shaving thing, so I would just start from the beginning, I would try arc welding first, this is a little harder than MIG welding because you have to not only keep a good rhythem (sp?) but you're basically having to feed it also, once you get a grasp on that I would move to MIG, you're going to want to shave stuff using MIG and gas anyway, so go ahead and jump into it also, its really not that hard, just comes in experience, practice like hell adn you'll get the hang of it, I wouild practice a lot befoer going and building a new frame or anything like that, there a difference between knowing how to lay a good bead and making a good, penetrating weld.

the hard part will be metal working, especially if you want to make rockers and stuff that look factory. Just go to napa and get a cheap set of body hammers and dolly's. The set i got was 20 bucks and it serves me well

I started with oxy and arc welding.I took a class at school to help get all the basics down.

a lot of local community colleges offer welding classes, it's a good way to learn with out having to invest much into the tools, and find out what you like.

it's pretty easy, it's like putting on elmers glue!

I am comfortable with little things, nothing structural. Unlike some clowns out there i know my limits, but i looked into taking classes at the local tech school and all they offer is pipefitting and Arc/stick classes. I was bumbed to say the least.

im fixin to buy me a mack daddy welder and do my own truck. tired of payin people to do my welding by now I could have bought 10 welders.... I dont know how to weld but i will be learning how. with a little help of some friends. then a few months down the road im gonna tare into my new project

Start off with arc and mig will be that much easier. I weld all day at work as an iron worker, so when I play on the weekends with the mig it's so much easier. Nothing like hanging upside down trying to weld over your head while 50 feet in the air. You could try a 110V mig with flux core wire if you wanted to stay away from gas. It won't weld the thick stuff, but it will work for body metal.

I used to work for a custom welding shop that did railings and gates mostly aluminium I was the metal finisher gettin the rails ready for powdercoat I also made the tabs and cut the rails to size I got a quick lesson on tig there did some spot welds with a spool gun. practice make perfect.