TIG welding class... worth it?

[hmbemis]

I'm thinking of taking a TIG welding class with a local "maker shop", they're a fairly professional looking outfit (full time staffers, not just volunteer) and the largest in my area.

They've got a (4) session class on TIG welding coming up, it's 2 hours per class. Total cost is $250.

The description is:
This class is designed to introduce students to the process of TIG welding, a precise type of welding most often used in the manufacture of spaceframe structures like bike frames and roll cages. Students will learn how to weld different types of materials, different types of shapes, and different types of joints together, and will learn how to use the large range of supporting equipment (brushes, sanders, grinders, etc.) and processes that come with welding.

I know that without knowing about the class or organization it's impossible to say if there is value to it, but I'm wondering if in general it's worth it to take short classes like this for learning to weld vs. just buying some equipment, a few books and figuring it out yourself?

My goal is just to learn at this point, no specific projects in mind... haven't welded anything since HS shop classes in the mid 90s.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Do they offer cash return if not satisfied? What is the student to instructor ratio? Also, will they let you walk in an ongoing class to see how things work?

$250 sounds pretty fair for 8 hrs of instruction.

 

[Kracin]

for 250 they should not only show you in small groups, but should allow each student a certain amount of time of actual welding of two pieces together, joining in more than 1 way,

your best bet is to find someone who took the course before and ask how they liked it and if it was good or not.


honestly though, you could purchase a very cheap machine, get the things yo uneed to get started, and watch some instructional videos then jump in and probably be just as good as if you paid someone to show you how.

 

[antinym]

The problem with Tig, like Oxy, is that there's a lot of skill involved, and that takes time. So after the the class is up you may be at 10-20% skillful, and where do you go from there? You'll need much more practice and feedback than this class can probably do.

Ideally, buy a tig and a bunch of metal. Youtube a bunch of videos and get your self up to 30-50% skillful. Then take a class or find a mentor that can show you the intermediate and advanced techniques.

 

[zkling]

The problem with Tig, like Oxy, is that there's a lot of skill involved, and that takes time.

This ^

I could give someone the knowledge to tig weld in 30 minutes. It may take 3 years for some to become a good tig welder.

Do you currently have a tig machine? If you don't, do you plan on purchasing a machine? Why the sudden idea to take a welding class?

 

[hmbemis]

Do they offer cash return if not satisfied? What is the student to instructor ratio? Also, will they let you walk in an ongoing class to see how things work?

There's no refunds after the class starts unless they have someone else to fill the seat. I think the student teacher ratio is about 8-10 to 1. I'm guessing I could request to watch the first class of the upcoming session, then sign up for a future one...

for 250 they should not only show you in small groups, but should allow each student a certain amount of time of actual welding of two pieces together, joining in more than 1 way,

This is a hands on class, so I'm guessing the majority of the time is spent observing, then performing it yourself...

honestly though, you could purchase a very cheap machine, get the things yo uneed to get started, and watch some instructional videos then jump in and probably be just as good as if you paid someone to show you how.

You're probably right that I could be as good after this class, but then again I get access to the teacher who is pro/craftsman... there are plenty I've things I've learned from hiring and working with a pro that I would not have learned from watching a video or reading a book.

I could give someone the knowledge to tig weld in 30 minutes. It may take 3 years for some to become a good tig welder.

Do you currently have a tig machine? If you don't, do you plan on purchasing a machine? Why the sudden idea to take a welding class?

The idea of the class is to get started, not get a job... it's a hobby shop type of deal. So this your foot in the door on the subject and it's up to you to go off on your own to become better.

The facility is what they call a maker space, so once you've taken the class they allow you to work with their equipment (you join / pay a fee to use their equipment and facility). I'd have to look into specifics, but for about $50-150/mo you rent workspace, storage and access to their tools. It's in the city so the average customer is an apartment dweller. Or in my case I live outside the city, but saw the flyer while I was at my girlfriend's place which happens to be a few blocks away (tho I'd been reading/following these guys for several years as they built up their business/space)

I've always been interested in learning welding, and there are a dozen+ times per year where I know it would come in handy, but I just have to find an alternative... Anyway, the push is that I decided to take a few of these "always interested, but never had a reason to start" items that are kicking around in my mind and try to knock them out (or at least start them) over this summer... I'm also taking some sailing lessons (small 2-3 per boats) and figured welding was another good one on the list... who knows, might come in handy if I buy a boat & trailer?

 

[SunnyBeach]

About taking a class vs. buying a machine.

I was in the same boat last summer/fall. I took a short welding safety class at our local maker space and decided that I needed to buy a machine myself. The maker space is ~30 minutes away and it would be hard to get over there and 'use' membership at the fullest. Additionally, most of my free time is late at night or in little chunks.

Over the course of several months, I purchased an Eastwood MIG 135, a bottle of gas, a bunch of metal, a cart, grinders, clamps, safety stuff, etc. I have at least $600 in welding tools and supplies at this point.

I have built a few things and think it is fun to melt metal... but

- it makes a mess and does not get along well with woodworking (is your garage ready for a shower of sparks?)
- metal is expensive
- building serious structural stuff is a long way off for me.
- the more I learn about welding, the more I realize I still ****.

I have no regrets but you should know what you are getting yourself into even if you buy a cheap machine to start with.

In the end, if you just want to "try it out" and you get good reviews on the class, you should go for it. There are a lot of worse ways to spend $250.

 

[bitbycarbug]

Why not try a local Community/Tech college?

I just signed up/had my first class in TIG at the local tech college. 1 night a week/5 hours a night/36 hours total for a little under $200. Supposed to be just mild steel TIG, but the teacher will show us plasma cutting, stainless/aluminum, and a little mig welding if we want too. Hell, we just oxy/acet cut this night just so he doesn't have to get us metal peices for us to weld, so we can do it ourselves. Also have access to a shear for doing coupons.

All we need is proper safety gear and he suggests we bring our own gloves and helmets, but not required.

Edit: I would suggest taking a MIG orientated class first if you don't know Mig. Mig is a cheaper setup, faster, and just as strong. It may take more to make it look pretty, but Mig is much more commonplace for DIY'ers and such.

 

[MarkG]

Hey hmbemis-----Sounds a little pricey for just four classes to me! If possible, I'd look into a community college or junior college. An entire semester of instruction ----including all kinds of 'open lab' time outside of your actual class time, plus loads of practice material of all types, can be had for not much more than that.

Sure, you could probably learn 'on your own', especially with the help of countless videos, forums, etc. available, but you can't beat a real person watching YOU weld (and watching his live demos up close) and helping you improve or break bad habits and you will progress 10X faster or more than if you tried to go it on your own.

I'm glad I did it.

 

[theknurl]

This ^

I could give someone the knowledge to tig weld in 30 minutes. It may take 3 years for some to become a good tig welder.

Do you currently have a tig machine? If you don't, do you plan on purchasing a machine? Why the sudden idea to take a welding class?

hmbemis;
i'm with zkling
have excellent manual dexterity? if not forget it
i've had girlfriends doing a good job on aluminum in as little 10 minutes from the start
but she was very talented

 

[Kracin]

there are plenty I've things I've learned from hiring and working with a pro that I would not have learned from watching a video or reading a book.

this can be said about anything, except that now these days youtube has just as many professionals showing their tips and tricks for free. all it takes is a search, and the ability to listen and learn from them.

just like with mechanics, you will develop your own "style". welding with mig, arc, tig, oxy all requires your own style and feel for things. it cant be taught, has to be learned through practice and use

 

[bobadame]

Buy a tig machine first. Then take the class. If you take the class and then have no machine to use your new found welding skill you will probably forget what you learned in the class pretty quickly.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I loved TIG welding. About 30 years ago I worked for a company that built packaging equipment. I did mainly custom control wiring and finish machine building, taking an original design and actually making it do what the customer wanted it to do.
I had been working there a while when I told my boss that I was thinking about taking a welding class the the local community collage. I had become friends with the company welder and he did a lot of welding for me on projects I was working on. I had my own milling machine there and access to the lathe when I needed it, but he had to do the welding for me, Some time later, the welder hurt his knees and was out of work for a while. One day my boss came to me and ask if I was serious about wanting to learn to weld. I said yes, he said "come with me".
He took me to the welding shop and showed me the big TIG welder. He took his pin and started writing on the plywood partition around the welding area. For cold roll you set this control for this, etc, etc, for stainless you set the controls at this setting.
He brought some scrap pieces of steel over to the welding table and showed me how to hold the torch. After a lot of sparking and spitting I finally got the hang of holding it.
The best advice he gave me was to think about soldering, he said I know you can solder, you need to get a puddle and then work it along, that's TIG welding.
I sat there welding small pieces of steel together, I heard the shop forklift coming up behind me, my boss had picked up the scrap barrel from the cutoff area, he told me to sit there and just weld, I did it for the rest of the week, by the end of the week I could weld.
They must have liked my welding, the old welder never came back to work, that's another story, I continued to do all the welding and most of the control wiring for them for the next year.
The worst thing about it is it burned me up. I'm really hot natured, I couldn't stand to wear the leather welding coat, so I welded in a short sleeve shirt wearing just gloves and a hood. My arms from the top of the gloves to my shirt sleeves and the top of my chest were my shirt was buttoned was burned very dark brown. I looked really odd if I took my shirt off.
But I really enjoyed welding

 

[Panel Dan]

I totally agree with Radio Ron. TIG is not difficult, even though most people make it seem like you have to be a magician to do it.

I did a lot of it during my apprenticeship and then didn't touch it for about 12 years. I purchased a Multi Process welder recently and have returned to TIG welding, and I am now doing it professionally. While I may be biased slightly as I learned it while I was young, if you have an idea about how a weld pool should flow, Radio Ron's comment about it being like solder is 100% on the money, and a hand steady enough to flow filler wire in where needed, you'll be fine.

Rather than a $250 course, I would recommend purchasing a cheap DC Scratch TIG welder, a decent Automatic Welding Helmet, some Argo52 shielding gas and a 4'x8' sheet of 1/16" mild steel.
Start by making runs along the panel without filler wire. Once you can get pool control and a weld pattern that looks like stacked coins, add more heat and add filler wire. Once you can get the same appearance of stacked coins with filler wire, try cutting the sheet, tacking it back together and welding between the tacks both with and without filler wire until you can get the stacked coins effect.

8 hours of hearing someone baffle you with BS is going to give you considerably less joy than buying a welder and some steel and going at it, and I will say with confidence that if you can MIG, Stick, or Oxy-Acetylene Weld, braze or silver solder, then you will pick it up pretty quickly.

Down the road a bit further, once you have gotten into it, if you are planning on welding aluminum you will need an ACDC TIG unit and a whole different approach to electrode shape, torch angles and weld pool behaviour, and you'd do well to do a specific course on setting your pulses, and getting your head around aluminum, but it's worth remembering that Aluminum and Alloy is advanced welding. Stainless steel is the most fun to TIG weld as it gives the most visual feedback to the heat you are putting into it, it cleans up beautifully, and is fairly difficult to melt holes in.

I should also point out that bitbycarbug is not quite right in saying that a MIG set up is cheaper than a TIG. I've been using a scratch TIG/MMA 140A (Aussie 240V) set up that has more than enough power to do 1/4" Steel, and is a portable professional unit that you can purchase for under $200 and weld all day. To get a MIG with a duty cycle worth using over here, you're looking at $700. I can only assume that the prices of Miller and Lincoln welders in USA is far below what they are here in Australia.
Brief jargon explanation is required too...
Stainless and Mild Steel need different shielding gasses, but both operate DC TIG, and both behave fairly similarly. The weld should be very quiet and shouldn't be popping or spitting at all. Stainless typically uses straight Argon for its shielding gas, whereas Mild Steel requires a mixture of Argon and Carbon Dioxide which in Australia is Argoshield 52. I worked in Canada for a while and I am pretty sure that the gas numbers were the same. In order to weld aluminum (which also uses straight Argon), you need AC TIG as a DC current blows holes straight through Aluminum. AC TIG crackles, and requires a different type of tungsten electrode and a different shape on the electrode.
In summary, I think that getting onto aluminum welding before knowing how to weld steel and stainless steel is putting the cart in front of the horse a little bit, but using a TIG/MMA machine with the right gas, wire and helmet, you'll pick up the basics and know whether or not you want to go further into the wormhole of welding.

 

[justanengineer]

Ive been to one "maker space" and wont bother again, they were amateur hacks pretending to be knowledgeable.

$250/8 hrs = expensive, look into the local CC as others have suggested. Not only will you get much more for less, in a decent program you may walk away with a free certification, and you can also usuall attend "open lab" times outside of class should you want more time there. You also get an instructor and proper weld testing equipment, which should be considered a requirement if you want to ever weld anything beyond lawn art.

Regarding taking a class vs being self-taught, I cant say Ive ever met a really good weldor who was self taught. I have met plenty of folks who were mediocre at best that were self taught tho. Realistically, a good instructor is worth his/her (yes, I know a her) weight in gold simply bc they will prevent you from getting into bad habits which are difficult to break. They also will have the equipment and knowledge to properly test your welds and give you feedback on what youre doing wrong. Think you can test your welds simply by cutting and/or breaking? Yea right, thanks for the giggle.

 

[JJThrasher]

Something you can look at is local colleges and tech school. My college offer's a High Performance Welding class. Its 90% Tig with some oxy-fuel welding and cutting and some plasma. Its a $1400 class at my school, but you get 6 weeks of class, 4 days a week, 5 hours a day. Plus if you pass the test at the end, they'll give you a roll cage welding certification. iirc the test only has a 5% or so pass rate, because most people in the class aren't interested in that part and its a hard test.

I know thats expensive for an at home DIYer, but you get probably about 80 hours of time in the booth doing tig welding.

I don't know if anyone near you offers something similar, but if are serious about learning it and want to get good that's the way to go imo.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gte718p]

I don't think $250 is that expensive for a class. Unfortunately we don't have maker spaces or a good CC system around here, wish we did. I'm a self taught welder also. I learned TIG and MIG in college by watching some folks do it, and then practicing on ever piece of scrap I can find.

Here is my take. Welding is like golf. Most anyone can join two pieces of metal just as most people can hit a golf ball. Doing it well takes practice and skill. If you get into bad habits early they can be hard to break. It is easy to have welds that look go but have no strength or look crappy but are strong. Bad habits you get away with on thick steel can be killers trying to do thin sheet metal or aluminum. Bringing the entire package together is not easy.

Steel is expensive, tungsten is expensive, argon has gotten crazy expensive, and time is valuable. Having someone get you set up on the right track is definitely worth money.

 

[bullnerd]

Yes.

 

[sberry]

250 with me would be worth it if there were enough machines to go around but thats another story. If this is plain interest then tig may be for you,, if you really want to build any general stuff then a 200A class feeder is being built as we type with you in mind.