Started my TIG class last week
 

I finally had time to take a TIG welding class. Today was my first day learning to TIG and I was pretty happy with my first results. I made 3 test passes without the rod and the instructor said your ready for rod. He said I did better the first time then most over the 25 years he had been teaching. That made me feel pretty good about it.

They asked me if it was harder then I thought it would be and I said no, it's easier then I thought it would be. I guess my machining and blacksmithing/knife making skills made the process more understandable then coming in green.

I have a lot to learn but really enjoyed the first day of hands on TIG welding. I need this skill to build that custom aluminum speedster hardtop. Working with Porsche's its always a good skill to know.

I'm sure some of you do this for a profession. Have any of you other guys take this class at a technical school?

I learned through experience, no class. I can competently weld most steels, and thicker aluminum. I am still working on my thin wall aluminum welding. Most of my dealing is with welding up pieces of CroMo spaceframe. TIG welding is easier than most think I believe.

The quality of the device varies so much from machine to machine you will find. The type of wave and quality of the wave the machine puts out really does effect how nice your welds can be.Of course, nothing substitutes just plain practice.

I used to use a welding shop where the owner was FAA certified and his TIG work was like art.

I knew a guy when I was on the USS Princeton that could vertical weld a coke can to a piece of aluminum foil. I was amazed. BTW he had NUC certifications and was an instructor before he reported aboard.

Good stuff, carguy. I hope you have really good vision or glasses because the instructor will keep finding ways for you to "improve." ;) Like, push that little crater inside the horseshoe. Oh, and the horseshoe must touch the edges of your weld perfectly at all times. :sheesh: