Back to school

[My Old Tools]

Welding school that is. Next Saturday morning I start an intro to welding course at Eastfield campus of the Dallas County Community College system. It runs 7 weeks, about 6 hours on Saturday, covering safety and equipment, theory, OA welding, stick, MiG, TIG, and cutting with OA and plasma. I can stick stuff together with my MIG, but no real knowledge. Anybody else going?

Next semester I'm going to hit their machine shop series with basic machine shop, basic lathe, and basic mill.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Only on a Saturday and runs 7 weeks? I'm a bit jealous of that. The only schools offering it locally all have classes in the middle of the day during the week, when those of that want to learn are working. Then they don't get enough students to sign up and cancel.

Geez. I'd love to do a local course.

What was the cost of the course?

 

[My Old Tools]

Cost is $225 plus your personal gear, goggles, helmet, safety glasses, gloves.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Good for you! Welding classes are a "Someday" thing for me.

I go back to school tomorrow, in a way, too. I'm starting a new job as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for Wayne Township Public Schools. I"m REALLY looking forward to a going back to a Public School job. I was only with Toys R Us World Headquarters for 10 months, but it was long enough. I loved the place and the people, the pay scale and workload were fine. Making phone calls instead of just "fixing" things got old real quick for me...

Tommy

 

[My Old Tools]

This part of my "I'm not retired yet but I'm going to act like it" phase. The day job just isn't what it used to be. I'm probably 18 months from the end unless they piss me off sooner.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Good for you! Welding classes are a "Someday" thing for me.

I go back to school tomorrow, in a way, too. I'm starting a new job as the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for Wayne Township Public Schools. I"m REALLY looking forward to a going back to a Public School job. I was only with Toys R Us World Headquarters for 10 months, but it was long enough. I loved the place and the people, the pay scale and workload were fine. Making phone calls instead of just "fixing" things got old real quick for me...

Tommy

Good luck, Tommy. Civil service is the way to go!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Thanks, Poncho. I liked the Toys gig a lot, but the new offer fell in my lap. Considering I already had 14 years into the PERS and I'll be going back into the same exact setup, I had to make the move for my family and my future. It was a no-brainer.

Tommy

 

[WWShop]

I actually am taking a semester of welding night classes. Something I've always wanted to learn how to do. I've never welded before but it has been awesome so far. I'm taking a GMAW and GTAW class. I've been having a great time in the last two weeks that we have started. There is a lot to know. Still trying to figure out exactly what DCEN and DCEP is exactly. Along with Constant Current and Constant Voltage.

 

[justanengineer]

Glad to hear you're making the effort and continuing to learn, the more the better. I really enjoyed the classes I took on both welding and machine work, DEFINTELY improved my skills 10x over and taught me quite a bit I'd have never learned otherwise. I'm hoping the next location jump in my career allows me to take either a couple bodywork/metal forming classes or gunsmithing as I've got a ton of interest in both for hobby reasons.

 

[AndyA]

Quinlan?? You can't be too far from me. I'm southwest of Greenville.

From your profile, I'm guessing I know you. Or at least we know a lot of the same people. I work in Bldg113 Rm130.

I'm setup for stick, mig, tig and O/A. If you're willing to provide material and consumables, I'll try to teach you what I know and give you some practice time on the machines.

 

[plow]

I would love to , however, in my AO that dept. of votech is all but shut down. I wouldn't do it for a living as the service industry is where it's at right now. But I would like to be better at it.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

....unless they piss me off sooner.

Man, me too! I'll be 61 in a few weeks. Could have taken an earlier but "full" retirement at 60. But if I wait til 63 I get maximum credit for each of my then-31 years years of service, so I'm waiting....probably

It means about an extra 18-19% per year FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE otherwise I'd be gone now!

 

[nadogail]

Enjoy the learning in good health.

 

[My Old Tools]

Quinlan?? You can't be too far from me. I'm southwest of Greenville.

From your profile, I'm guessing I know you. Or at least we know a lot of the same people. I work in Bldg113 Rm130.

I'm setup for stick, mig, tig and O/A. If you're willing to provide material and consumables, I'll try to teach you what I know and give you some practice time on the machines.

136A behind the Kitty Hawk Conf. Rm. I'd like to talk with you. x76656
Currently live in Union Valley.

 

[WWShop]

Man, me too! I'll be 61 in a few weeks. Could have taken an earlier but "full" retirement at 60. But if I wait til 63 I get maximum credit for each of my then-31 years years of service, so I'm waiting....probably

It means about an extra 18-19% per year FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE otherwise I'd be gone now!

Retire now. My dad took an earlier retirement and lost out in money but he said it was the best decision he has ever made.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Ditto on going back to school... it always helps to understand what you're doing especially in the welding environment.. It will make a huge difference in the quality of your welds.. Good luck in class OP!!

 

[dcmus]

Good luck, Tommy. Civil service is the way to go!

I really admire what you're doing. I'm 69 and hope to do the same thing next year. We'll see if I make that happen. Please keep us updated on what we're missing!