Oxy/Acetylene Torch Primers?

[kythri]

Was looking at the logistics of learning how to liquefy metal this coming winter, and it seemed like the local community college's "Welding I" class would be a nice way to do so, with the potential of continuing in progressively more advanced welding classes.

My dad and another friend are likewise interested, and they have a night program that jives with our work schedule, so, looking good!

Then I got smacked with the tuition costs. Holy hell, I haven't taken classes there for over twenty years, but, the breakdown goes something like this (per person):

$226.92 - Tuition (2 credit class)
$ 15.76 - "Mandatory Student Fees"
$ 4.30 - "Student Governance Fee"
$ 49.02 - "Additional Tuition" (applied to "Carreer Technical Education" courses
$ 36.00 - "Additional Fee" (undescribed)

Total, $332/person for a 12-week class (once a night, 1800-2150)

I was looking at paying for my dad and my friend, but I really don't have an extra $1000 to drop on this at this time.

So, what is there online that would provide a basic education (safety and practice) in Oxy/Acetylene cutting?

 

[L.Cheapo]

Those numbers sound cheap to me. Consumables alone are probably half that amount.

Anyway, Weld.com recently did a good video on Oxy/Acetylene. I don't think there was much welding, but they did a good job explaining set up, safety, and cutting.

 

[kythri]

Thanks, I'll give those a shot!

As for the community college class cost - if it was only me, I'd probably do it, but I want to take the class with my friend and my father, and they don't want to spend $300+ on it right now (and I don't want to spend $1000 right now to get all of us in).

The last time I took classes out there (around 1995), it was $32/credit. Sticker shock, and all that.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Just learning how to cut stuff with a torch? Acquire torch, melt stuff with it. If you just want to take something and make it two pieces, that can be taught in about 15min, fathomed out via youtube in about 30min.

 

[The Cobbler]

I would do it, if I wanted to learn about oxy/acet . I was lucky & learned it and other things in metal shop in secondary school

 

[sberry]

Wish you were closer. I would trade training for computer setup ****.

 

[2oolhound]

^^^^ Nice work on the cutting sberry! It looks like you could even start a nut on that piece of all thread.

I use a torch to cut steel a lot of the time too. It's efficient.

 

[PartsGuy]

Holy hell, that's cheap..... I was looking at my local CC, and it's more like $600 each for these courses..... and they only offer them as part of a certificate program. Can't just take "welding 101" a la carte... they want you signed up for the whole curriculum!

 

[dr_clyde]

That’s a very reasonable price for what that class is. I want to say my classes were at least double that.

I agree on the weld.com video. They did an outstanding job explaining basic oxy-acetylene setup and safety for cutting.

 

[SteveCh]

I did this, took an evening class at a junior college. It covered both acetylene and stick welding. I knew zero and came out at least knowing how to set up and adjust the equipment and be safe. Different techniques for various metals and thicknesses.

We had to purhase some personal stuff as in gloves, goggles, etc. The tuition covered the materials cost.

This was maybe 20 years ago, so prices have changed. I think I paid no more than $100 not counting my personal equipment, but you'll need that stuff anyway at home.

Good, basic knowledge and glad I did it. No YouTube back then, but I like some in-person, hands-on learning anyway. Very much worth the money.

 

[dr_clyde]

Just so you guys know, $100 in 1990 is worth about $200 in today's money according to the CPI inflation calculator.

Make sure you're factoring for inflation when you recall prices from 20-30 years ago.