Welding class starts, tomorrow!

[nikerret]

Welding class starts, tomorrow, and apparently, I'm super excited.

I worked a twelve, last night, from midnight until noon. Today, I got signed up and bought the last of the required tools. I got home and to bed just before 5:00 PM. Woke up at 8:00 PM; having dreamt about my new welpers (not even kidding).

I go to work in a few hours and the class starts first thing, in the morning.

The class is held at the local Tech College and is their Intro to Welding class. Here's the description:
This course teaches the student welding and cutting safety and the introductory fundamentals of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), oxy-fuel cutting (OFC). This course also provides the student with a technical understanding and practical application SMAW, GMAW and OFC processes. The student will learn arc welding safety, and practice 1/3 lap or surfacing weld in the flat position. They will work on lap, tee and **** joints in the 1F & 2F positions using Fast Freeze electrodes, E6010 & E6011.

The instructor said there would be a little bit of class time, but most of the time is spent in the labs, because that's where people learn.

I paid $190 for six full Fridays. This class isn't part of their Welding Program, it's the class people from other Programs take.

Fortunately, I already had most of the required tools. I did have to buy a pair of welpers (went with Channellock) and a pair of slip-joints (went with Wilde FLush-Fit). Everything else was already in the garage or the on my welding cart.

Due to the fact that I get off 15 minutes before the class starts and have to change clothes and drive 10 minutes, to the school, I didn't think I was going to get to take the class.

I spoke to the instructor and he seemed passionate. Due to my sporadic work schedule, and the general nature, . I didn't want to cause a raucous, knowing I would be at least a little late, every day. He asked me if I wanted to learn to weld. I told him I did and he said that's what they are there for and since there is still room, in the class, he will work with my schedule. He even said I could come in on my days off, if there was a lab station open.

I went in, today, and spoke with him, in person. He gave me his cell number and said to call him if something comes up, so I can make up the missed time.

It's going to be a long day, but I've been wanting to learn this stuff, for years. I've talked to a lot of people who did the Program and have never heard anything bad. We have some specialized custom manufacturing places, here, that hire heavily out of the program and recommend the school.

 

[airrj]

Enjoy. I wish there was a class local to me when I started. And don't forget, we need photos!!!

Good Luck.

 

[TK-421]

I've been tempted to take a welding class, but a lot of them want you to start out with oxy-fuel welding, and I have some issues and I can't deal with the popping that happens when you're just starting out.

I took welding in high school and did okay at the start, but with my issues I stopped halfway through because I couldn't take the loud popping anymore. Would like to pick it up again, just without the oxy-fuel stuff, but I don't think my local community college offers it with just MIG and TIG welding.

Would be nice to learn how to properly fabricate stuff though, I'd like to learn how to make a custom chassis for a special VW Bug dune buggy, and then do the roll cage myself as well.

 

[fourjeepin]

I took a class at my local tech school about ten years ago. It was mostly stick, but also spent one day using the blue wrench. TONS of actual time spent welding. It was well worth the cost and I learned to use the tombstone and oxy-propane torch I inherited from my grandfather.

 

[George58]

Have a blast today...

 

[jimgood]

I envy you. In my area I'd have to drive 45 min to get to a class. And they're way more expensive. Enjoy it!

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

The OP shows that if you talk with the teacher before are might be a little late because of work but have a real want to learn, the teachers will work with you.

Even if a class is full, show up to the first 2-3 classes, with the want to be there and learn. You'll just about always get in the class.

Sounds like a good class to get started.

 

[jhn9840]

Soak up as much of the basics from the O/A. From there you'll have a solid foundation for arc,mig, tig or whatever type of welding you get into. Enjoy your classes and best of luck.

jhn9840
John

 

[DBendr]

Soak up as much of the basics from the O/A. From there you'll have a solid foundation for arc,mig, tig or whatever type of welding you get into. Enjoy your classes and best of luck.

jhn9840
John

EXACTLY. It's all about the puddle and O/A is the way to learn that.It's slow,often aggravating and lets you see and understand EXACTLY what is going on.
Many times on little jobs I'll fire up the torch and leave the MIG on the side. I enjoy it that much and it keeps me on my toes.

 

[sberry]

This will be a great investment and well worth the time and effort. Makes a guy 2x the mechanic.

 

[dkroth]

...
Here's the description:
This course teaches the student welding and cutting safety and the introductory fundamentals of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), oxy-fuel cutting (OFC). This course also provides the student with a technical understanding and practical application SMAW, GMAW and OFC processes. The student will learn arc welding safety, and practice 1/3 lap or surfacing weld in the flat position. They will work on lap, tee and **** joints in the 1F & 2F positions using Fast Freeze electrodes, E6010 & E6011.

...

I paid $190 for six full Fridays. This class isn't part of their Welding Program, it's the class people from other Programs take.

Sounds like a good introductory syllabus.

And damn, that's a good price for what you're getting.

I took a MIG course last winter. Ten 3-hour sessions was $450.

Enjoy!

 

[Professur]

You never regret learning.

 

[zkling]

Sounds like a good intro class.

 

[Zeke]

I did the same class in '06 and kept going back. Got into TIG (GTAW) later on as a stand alone class as well as SMAW and GMAW. When you do the general course first and then go back and focus on one persuasion, you can get quite good at it.

 

[CoogarXR]

Man, I had no idea classes could be had so cheap! I would go today if I could find one around here!

Learning to weld is on my bucket list. Plus it's a whole 'nother realm of tools to buy

What all did you have to buy?

 

[nikerret]

What all did you have to buy?

There was a bit of a mix up, with that. I signed up, yesterday, late, but early enough. I then drove to the Welding building and spoke with the instructor, about what I needed to bring. I had grabbed a sheet for the Welding Program (which this class isn't part of). He and I went through it and I thought I was in pretty good shape. I thought I only needed welpers and an 8" split-joint pliers. So, I bought them.

When we started class, I was the only one who brought anything. None of the other students had taken it upon themselves to look for a list or ask anyone. We had some guys in tennis shoes-must have steel toes, in the shop.

After the morning tour and safety stuff, we were given an extended lunch, so the other students could get their stuff. I did have to get one thing, a spark lighter. The instructor forgot to tell us about that. I bought a Shurlite, from the welding supply. The Instructor recommended them (turns out it was cheaper than the made in China ones, at the other store).

After lunch, everyone came back with their stuff. Turns out, the school is providing almost everything, but I'm not upset to have the welpers and pliers I bought. When the instructor saw which ones I got, he was impressed and told me they would last me forever.

 

[nikerret]

Day 1: There was some confusion as this is the first time this class is being taught, in this location. The old location only had a few booths, this one has 60.

I am the old geezer, at 29 years old. One other guy has a real job. The rest seem to be 18-22 years old and just there because it's required for their program. There is varied interest, in welding, among them.

After figuring out no one was prepared, we were given an extended lunch, so people could get their stuff.

After lunch, we watched a video on oxy-acetylene and oxy-propane torch cutting. In the lab, we all got around a large table that had several 6"x6" pieces of steel on it. The instructor did a demonstration and we all started trying to get our torches lit and set right. I struggled for quite a while, getting the flame right. After a lot of help, I commenced to cutting. We had been told to cut a line, a triangle, a circle, and a long rectangle. I soaped them on and my first cut was just across the top of my piece. It wasn't pretty. It was terrible... I continued, wondering how I could be so incompetent.

I turned the torch on and off, a few times, trying to get the right flame and replicate it. Then, continued.

Here's a picture of most of that piece. There are some pieces missing that I cut out after the previously mentioned shapes. I had to recut a lot of it and then beat a lot of it out, with the chipping hammer. Some of it, I managed to weld back together, after I cut it, and had to re-re-cut it.



^THAT GUY *****!!!

I grabbed another piece and cut it in half. That went okay. I then worked on control and made a zig-zag pattern, trying to just keep the kerf going and where I wanted.

We took a break and everyone left, but me. The other guy with a real job came back, first. When we saw the instructor, we asked if we could keep cutting. We could.

I fired back up and started on the second half I had made. The instructor showed me that my cuts didn't have a good top edge (90*), they were way too rounded. He helped me dial the flame in and my next several cuts were way better.

I then decided to make a "look at my skills" gift, for the old lady. I did out initials and a modified ampersand, with soap and got after it. Two of the four initials are C's. Those didn't go well. The inner side of the C got welded back together, on both of them, but the rest went well. I had to recut both C's, after they cooled, the top C got a larger portion re-cut. Neither C is very good. The T and the N turned out acceptable, considering who did it. I had to beat the C's out, with the chipping hammer.

Here's her gift, that she'll get when I find a way to grind off all the rough **** on the back.



It would have gone a little better, if there weren't ten other people with torches in such a tight space. The table is only two feet deep and about twelve feet long. It got HOT with all those torches. There were times I couldn't even keep my gloves on it, to steady. The letters were done without bracing myself except a finger here or there.

We will not be doing oxy-welding. The school uses oxy-Starfire (from Praxair, propane) and the instructor said it isn't good, for welding. We will be doing stick welding, next week, then wire feed, then TIG. The last two weeks are unsure. The instructor and some of the students only thought it was four weeks. When I showed him it said six and that is what I thought I was paying for, he said he would look into it, but I may be able to come in and use the lab, those days, to hone some skills. That would be great.

Here's a picture of the tools I bought, just for this class.





After class, I stayed, and spoke with the instructor. He encouraged me to bring my cheap wire feed, to use, so he could help me get it dialed in and get the most out of it. He also gave me some ideas on what to do, for practice.

I'll keep this updated, as the class progresses.

 

[MillerMig760]

Sounds like my story. I took Weld 100 which was Everything except for o/a about 2 years ago (I was 32). Most were between 20-30 so I was one of the elders! Cost was similar to yours at the local college but we had a $50 material fee too. Remember to ask plenty of questions as you go. My instructor wasn't real approachable so I tried to work through some of the things I struggled with before finally asking for help. Long day at work and two classes a week from 6-9pm took a lot of motivation to be there but it sounds like you have the drive. Have fun!

 

[TK-421]

EXACTLY. It's all about the puddle and O/A is the way to learn that.It's slow,often aggravating and lets you see and understand EXACTLY what is going on.
Many times on little jobs I'll fire up the torch and leave the MIG on the side. I enjoy it that much and it keeps me on my toes.

How in the world do you stop the dang popping? I have issues and can't handle loud noises and sudden surprises like that. I can wear ear plugs/muffs for the loud popping, now that I think about it, but still don't know how to stop the surprises that get to me.

 

[DBendr]

Popping what ? You talking about while cutting ? Maintaining eqaual distance from the work and, like the photos of the cutting accidents shown above, not moving steadily and moving way too slow.Torch cutting is a machine like movement. You get the flame set. Move to the corner, watch it almost melt and tap until it blows through and move along like a train on rails.

Video: Imitate this with your body. No popping, no stuck slag.Nice and steady. Elbows on the table,face fairly close to work(not goggles). Use pieces of 1/4 thick steel as a straight edges(yes. it's thick enough--maintain your distance from the work)

 

[sberry]

Pops are caused on occasion from a leak but usually due to the fuel pressure is too low with the flame too low for the tip size. The thing is starving and trying to burn back in the tip. Its made all the worse when it gets too close to work and snuffs out.
A clean tip is everything to a clean cut. They get eroded and the oxygen swirls and tumbles coming out vs nice and smooth stream. Too much Oxy makes for a rough cut, it needs enough to go thru, with a number 1 tip about 25 lbs on a 1/2 plate and a bit less for 1/4. This would be for fine cutting and not junkyard slashing.
Next,,,, many of the tips found in welding classes are well past their prime. When I am on a job that needs good cuts I often carry a tip in my pocket and put back the abused gang one when I am done. I see guys thing its a gouge tool got it right in the puddle and ruin it immediately. The old ones on jobs and schools will never clean, the hole is just too ruff, can even feel it with a tip cleaner. I had one in my own collection a while back I had to toss, I as cutting scrap but it was too rough, slowed it down and used way more material.

 

[nikerret]

sberry, those look great!!!

As far as tips, some looked pretty rough. Mine looked brand new.

 

[dffay]

Popping can also be the tip is too small for the job and it's getting overheated by being too close to the weld site

Anyway, O/A is such a good way to learn. ALL welding, O/A, mig, tig, stick, thermite, underwater, etc is about heat control. Learn well and any type will be much easier to deal with. Shipbuilders of old used gas welding, and race car frames have been torch brazed and silver soldered so if you took the "everything" class and wind up with an economical O/A rig at home, you are miles ahead. Have fun and it will open a whole new world.

 

[ford33]

Enjoy the class. I took a similar class on Saturday mornings at the local community college. I was the second oldest guy in the class. I loved it. I would get there early and make sure I was prepared and did the assignments to the best of my ability.

I learned the importance of clean materials, proper fitting joints and to safely weld stick, MIG and TIG and cut metals with a gas torch. I was most amazed at how it was possible to cut 3/4 inch thick steel as easily as a hot knife through butter using a torch. I spent most of that class time cutting and smiling the whole time. It was fun.

I left that class with confidence that I could weld correctly as a hobby and not be worried about getting hurt or burning down my home. I also learned to appreciate the work of professional welders working on pipelines and under bridges and on tall buildings. It is not easy work to do it well.

 

[nikerret]

I had another class, yesterday. We did stick welding.

After some safety stuff and a how-to video, we hit the lab. We were given 6010 rod and a booth. I used a Miller booth, which is nicer than the Lincoln Electric booth, in that the controls are adjustable, from the booth, in the Miller booths. The Lincoln Electric controls are not in the booths.

I was able to try Lincoln Electric rod and Hobart rod. I found the Hobart was much better. I had a heck of a time getting and keeping an arc with the Lincoln 6010. The Hobart was infinitely easier.

I used my Metal Man automatic helmet, from Tractor Supply, and it worked great. The rest of the students used the school's high end helmets. For $50, I'm happy.

After I welded on both sides of two of the coupons, I welded them together. That turned out good. I didn't do any crazy destructive testing, but they are stuck together.

After lunch, we were supplied with all the 6010 rod and coupons we cared to weld on. I found I was getting fatigued and had to take a couple of extra breaks. An expected byproduct of going to class after working all night.

In the end, I got pretty comfortable with it. My limited experience with wire welding makes me think the wire is easier and cleaner. Next week we are doing Mig or Tig, the instructor wasn't sure.

I'll get some pictures up, later, if anyone's interested.

 

[sberry]

Yes, post pics.It's well worth some learnin on 6010. You can learn others later but this much of the basis for a professional welder. You master this The rest is easy and a guy really can't fake it, it's obvious as daylight when a guy "can".

 

[My Old Tools]

I did this last fall at community college. 7 weeks of all types. We were encouraged to try all types, then pick the one we wanted to practice and build something. I had some AL parts that needed repair so I got on the TIG and really learned it pretty well. I have MIG at home so I didn't worry about it too much. A few of us were in our 50s and 60s, others were early 20s. Everyone had a different story and a different reason they wanted to learn. They also offer a 15 week manual machine shop course taught by the guy that ran Texas Instruments model shop for 40 years. He's in his 70's and a hoot to talk to. I'm really tempted to take that one.

 

[brownbagg]

wait till you hit a 7018 with a good dc machine, it be like pudding to that 6010 rod

 

[sberry]

If a guy wants to build stuff a mig is the tool. If he wants to be a career welder then learn stick well. You can do it other ways but it is obvious when a guy has learned right.

 

[nikerret]

Here's some pictures.

Left to right, top to bottom, was the order:










Back sides. Top to bottom, left to right, just like reading a book.









The instructor did two of the lines, but I did the rest, and welded the steel together.

 

[fury9]

Practice, Practice, Practice, I have 90 hours and still didn't pass the certification test, in fact no one in the entire class did, 3G/4G. Keep practicing and don't pick up bad habits

 

[Zartan]

Loving the passion in this thread. Good for you OP.
I did the same thing when I started out. I wanted to learn MIG SO BAD. I learned it at school, bought a machine for home and did full time fabrication for 4 years. I thought TIG was too hard, but figured I'd try it anyway, ended up pretty good at it and got a job fabricating HI-Vacuum chambers and got REALLY good at weld layout, long continuous, cosmetic hand fusion welds and pre heated thick Aluminum TIG welding with straight Helium as well as everything else that comes with it. I eventually bought a TIG machine and a Plasma cutter for home.
Welding is now a home hobby for me since I took another turn and have been CNC Programming and machining for the last 13years. So never stop, keep moving forward and enjoy it!

 

[nikerret]

We did wire welding, on Friday. The machine I've been using, for everything except the cutting, thus far, is the Miller PipeWorx 350 FiledPro. Each booth has the remote controller and the wire feed box. We are welding on a custom metal table that sits in a fume extractor.

Here's the Miller welder, I forgot to take a picture of the booth:



We did wire welding with Lincoln Electric 0.035 wire and 80/20 gas mix. I believe I had it at 17.3 volts, 221 wire speed. The instructions, again, were to make the first bead, then lap each successive bead over half the preceding bead. The goal was to make it as flat as possible, when finished.

As the day went on, I got really tired. *****, but that's the reality. I took a longer break and came back doing pretty good, where I had three or four runs that were very flat, as the instructor told us to do. We were instructed to push with the gas and to pull with the flux.

At the end of the day, I got to try some 110v gasless flux-cored (again Lincoln Electric) wire, out of a cheap Campbell Hausfeld 115A Farmhand welder.

Here's a picture of that welder (not the actual one, I found this online):


Here's some pictures:

#1 and #2:


#3 and #4 (The label "4" came out very good):


#5, #7, and #9:


#6, #8, and #10:


#11:


#12; the bottom section is the 110v gasless flux:


Here's the last bit I did. The instructor held it, while I tacked the sides. The 110v CH Farmhand was used here.

This was the first bead, the instructors used it to get the machine set up. Another issue was my helmet was set for the big Miller and I didn't think to adjust for the much smaller arc, until this side was finished:


Here's the last weld of the day, the back side of the T, with the 110v Farmhand and flux wire:


At the end of the day, I felt pretty tired, but saw pretty good improvements, with the machine and results. I found out we are doing TIG, Friday, and the last class is the week after that. We will do our paperwork tests and the instructor told me to bring in my welder (Forney 130FI with Forney 0.035 flux), if I wanted, and he would help me get it running properly and give me some tips on using it, while I practice, on their steel. This will be a great opportunity, though, I was disappointed, in that, as I thought it was six weeks. The instructor apologized and said it was a mess up. Yesterday, I received a check, from the college, for $30, which brings the cost down to $160, for five seven hour days. I would have still be pleased at $190, but I appreciate the refund for the mix up. It really speaks to the institution.

For some reason, the pictures are correct, on Photobucket, but on their side, here, sorry.

 

[saceone]

that's a lot of welding! awesome and keep it up!

 

[jrp458]

I've been trying to find something similar to this in my area. There is a tech school with a welding program, but they don't offer a smaller class like this one. I would have to pay the full price for the certification type class, which I don't care much about, and the local community college doesn't offer this.

Hate to hijack the thread, but does anyone know of anywhere else that I could look to take a small class like this?

 

[nikerret]

I've been trying to find something similar to this in my area. There is a tech school with a welding program, but they don't offer a smaller class like this one. I would have to pay the full price for the certification type class, which I don't care much about, and the local community college doesn't offer this.

Hate to hijack the thread, but does anyone know of anywhere else that I could look to take a small class like this?

Start here:
https://schools.aws.org/search_results?state=TN&browse=1

 

[jrp458]

Start here:
https://schools.aws.org/search_results?state=TN&browse=1

Oh wow. Thank you. That is actually a huge help!

 

[bry@n]

You're doing great. I did the same kind of class but was forced to drop out due to work requirements. I knew the requirements ahead of time but gambled on me being able to make the courses.

That being said, I didn't learn a lot as a result of the heavy work load. They have now doubled the cost of the class and i am hoping to be anle to set up time to go again.

 

[MarkG]

I think community college classes are a great value, considering the amount of 'under the hood time' you get and the access to practice materials and machines! I was even thinking of going back just to stay in practice (on good machines) and to take another TIG class, possibly.

No real reason too, though, so I've been putting it off. I don't think too many companies are anxious to hire a almost-50-year-old 'newbie'! :S It would just be 'for fun'.

 

[fergus]

I LOVED the TIG class I took about 10 years back. Nothing with night time hours around me is offered anymore...I'm kinda busy anyways.

For anybody that can't get to a class: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

Super helpful. Lots of close up camera work.