Signed up for a welding class-excited!

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 05:41 AM

I just happened to notice a book from the local community college and thought 'i wonder if there is a welding course in there'. Sure enough and the price wasn't terrible.

I signed up and got a buddy to do so as well who is interested. It doesn't appear to include Mig welding but i am hoping the transition would not be difficult to figure out for myself once i've learned the basics of welding.

I gotta say i am right excited about this! I have great visions of practicing my new skill on scrap metal and eventually doing my own front pan

URY914 · URY914's Garage

You will soon become very popular with your friends.

Also don't drive the P-car to class. You need to have a old beater truck and you'll need to get a tattoo so you will fit in with your classmates. Maybe get a front tooth taken out.

rothaus · 03-16-2007, 05:57 AM

You should be able to do things like this after a little practis

Suspension pan replanement, front.

More stuff here

Project has finally started '71 911T

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 06:15 AM

Eng. if i ever do something that nice i swear i will have an 8x10 picture of it hanging on my office wall! Hey anybody can get a college diploma, but welding a front pan in a unibody car?!

Ury i will be traveling to class in a pickup with Ducks Unlimited tags on it and my favorite duck/goose calls in the console for practice. Hopefully i will fit in. My buddy is mostly interested in learning for the purpose of maintenance on farm equipment. If anything we will be the rednecks of the class!

Kinda funny just last week a client who saw my truck in front of his house walks in and says 'i never figured you for a redneck!'. Borrowing a concept from Eddie Izzard i told him i'm more of an 'Executive Redneck'.

VincentVega · 03-16-2007, 06:31 AM

Where is this? Last I checked aacc they didnt offer one.

legion · 03-16-2007, 07:10 AM

When my 'S' needed new exhaust I was thinking of signing up for a class. Now that that need has diminished, I haven't looked back into it.

IIRC, the class was something like $90 for six weeks.

Nostril Cheese · 03-16-2007, 07:17 AM

welding isnt all that hard, just takes practice. Invest in a good quality auto-dimming helmet, gloves and wear appropriate clothing.

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 07:22 AM

chris i am on the shore and the class is in Salisbury.

I did consider self-teaching but i need the classroom environment to learn the science.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

The class should be a blast. A bunch of us that worked together took a class at the local jc that covered gas, arc, mig and tig, all in a few short months 2 nights a week.

On the first day of class, the instructor told us that right outside the back door was a real aloe plant/bush. He said when (not if) we burn ourselves to run to the plant, rip off a petal, break it open and rub the aloe immediately on the burn. We all scoffed at the idea of being so careless to cause a burn, especially with our welding gloves, aprons, hoods, etc. At some time during the next 3 months, I think everyone visited the bush. Pure aloe really does seem help the blistering and scarring.

If you are serious about welding or playing the piano, remember, practice makes perfect.

notfarnow · 03-16-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
When my 'S' needed new exhaust I was thinking of signing up for a class. Now that that need has diminished, I haven't looked back into it.

IIRC, the class was something like $90 for six weeks.

WOW, do I ever wish I had access to a course like that. In the meantime, all I can do is goof around making welds that look like someone threw peanut butter, and seeing how fast I can get my boots off to get hot slag out.

gassy · 03-16-2007, 07:40 AM

"I think everyone visited the bush."

Hell, I'm in! Seriously, I've been thinking about taking a class--I think this thread was the tip in. Thanks!
Christian.

VincentVega · 03-16-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

chris i am on the shore and the class is in Salisbury.

I left more than a few brain cells in Salisbury, not sure I'm welcome there.

I'm decent with a MIG, it's not too hard, but would like some 'formal' instruction. That, and I'd like to learn TIG.

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 08:37 AM

Sounds like you attended SSU. I graduated in '96.

VincentVega · 03-16-2007, 08:47 AM

Small world. I was there in 93-94, first stop in my college tour.

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 09:42 AM

No doubt i passed you in the halls at some point.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 03-16-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by berettafan

I signed up and got a buddy to do so as well who is interested. It doesn't appear to include Mig welding but i am hoping the transition would not be difficult to figure out for myself once i've learned the basics of welding.

I'd recommend finding a class that includes MIG as that's probably what you'll be using to do your pan and anything else.

I gotta say i am right excited about this! I have great visions of practicing my new skill on scrap metal and eventually doing my own front pan [/QUOTE]

Best to practice on heavier things first, it's a lot easier to control the heat and flow. It's good to get really familiar with your equipment on angle iron, etc. first. With sheetmetal at first, it's more like burn through, curse, turn down heat, burn through, curse...

My first "good" job after A LOT of practice laying beads on Home Depot stock.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

I took the course at our local CC, and it really puts you on the path to being a good welder. Just having the textbook is a help. Don't worry about the Mig stuff, learning to stick weld well makes Mig a walk in the park. I'm thinking of going back for Tig classes since that is a little tougher to master.

Seahawk · 03-16-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by craigster59
I took the course at our local CC, and it really puts you on the path to being a good welder. Just having the textbook is a help. Don't worry about the Mig stuff, learning to stick weld well makes Mig a walk in the park. I'm thinking of going back for Tig classes since that is a little tougher to master.

Yup...I took the stick weld classes, learned the basics and used a friends rig to get proficient on scrape metal.

I found a good Mig welder and the transition is more like a run in the park

berettafan · 03-16-2007, 02:32 PM

Shaun unfortunately i don't have much to pick from where i live. Del Tech has Mig specific classes but they are 1.5hrs away and twice as expensive.

I do plan to practice on old bed frames as much as possible though.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 03-16-2007, 02:40 PM

bed frames are a great idea and as others noted, stick translates well to MIG. I never actually took a class, just wasted a lot of wire!

BTW, I love my Miller 135, highly recommend one.

Englebert, just went through your post. Wow! that is some seriously beautiful work. What's in store this weekend?