How to start a career in welding.

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I am currently a sophomore in my local public high school where there are no hands on shop classes. I am enrolling in arch. And mech. Design classes for next year. I am possibly interested in a career in welding fabrication, pipefitting, or other... Just exploring my options. I have been watching tons of youtube videos by Fieldres, chucke2009, and Jody, reading websites like weldingtipsandtricks.com, and looking at some of the larger welding trade schools like Tulsa, Hobart, Loncoln, and GTS. What I would like to know is what I can do to further prepare myself for a future in welding regarding reading material, practice, and references. I am looking for someone to point me towards some resources and/or literature that can further educate me about such a career path. I have been interested in such a field for a few years, and would like solidify this decision.Thank you all in advance for any help you can provide. P.s. I have an arc welder with a TIG rig, plasma cutter, flux core arc welders (120/220), metal lathe, and metal bandsaw. Just some of my inventory."I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country, I cherish even the right to burn the flag, but I'll tell you what, we've also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag I'll shoot you"-Johnny Cash
Reply:Well for starters I would recommend against the expensive welding schools.  Not sure if that opinion is shared with others on this forum, but the last thing you want to do first getting out of high school is to rack up debt (even student loan debt).  Pay in cash to enroll in a community college course in welding and you can do this while attending high school. Lots of these welding classes are taught at night.  I also recommend taking a machine shop course as time is on your side right now and this will be invaluable to yourself after joining the real world and having to get a job to support yourself.    Machining and welding go hand and hand and you have a lathe at home to have some fun with.   Narrow down what you want to do with welding and practice practice practice. Then go get certified from the aws for whatever you want to get into.   Ex: 6g certification. You practiced in your garage with pipe cupons before this test.    Dont be afraid of starting a side business welding right now. It can build slowly and then maybe you will have a steady flow of supplemental income when your out of high school.   This can also fund welding supplys so you can get more practice.   Good luck. Get as much of this **** done as you can while your in high school, you don't want to be living with your parents forever and living on your own is more expensive than you think.Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450
Reply:Thanks Outdoort."I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country, I cherish even the right to burn the flag, but I'll tell you what, we've also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag I'll shoot you"-Johnny Cash
Reply:"I am currently a sophomore in my local public high school where there are no hands on shop classes." And now you know what is going to be the death of this country, or the opportunity of a life time for a young visionary.Are you proficient with the equipment that you now own? Do you know any one that may be able to coach you if needed? Good luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by SprockmonsterI am currently a sophomore in my local public high school where there are no hands on shop classes. I am enrolling in arch. And mech. Design classes for next year.
Reply:Does your school offer dual enrollment classes, where you take classes at your local college/university and they count as High school credits. My boys were able to do this and by the time they graduated High School they had earned about 30 college credit hrs. Some of the other local schools have dual credit programs with colleges that offer welding.
Reply:Start buying books from Lincoln. They offer great books at a real good price.http://www.jflfoundation.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=24One thing that might help. Run an ad in your local Craigs list to see if an experienced welder would be willing to give you one on one instruction. There is a guy in my area doing that.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by guajilloweld03Does your school offer dual enrollment classes, where you take classes at your local college/university and they count as High school credits. My boys were able to do this and by the time they graduated High School they had earned about 30 college credit hrs. Some of the other local schools have dual credit programs with colleges that offer welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by kidtigger24So I take it Abbott Tech is out of the question? I was lucky in that I was one of the last classes to have the shop classes. Sadly they went bye bye around 1994.kidtigger24
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPStart buying books from Lincoln. They offer great books at a real good price.http://www.jflfoundation.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=24One thing that might help. Run an ad in your local Craigs list to see if an experienced welder would be willing to give you one on one instruction. There is a guy in my area doing that.
Reply:What about your local community/junior college? Mine charges almost nothing compared to the scuzzy for-profit schools.
Reply:Originally Posted by SprockmonsterAny favorites or suggestions CEP?
Reply:To add to CEP's list;Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Community College is your best bang for the buck and will give you a good taste for the field. Tech schools are ok as long as you have a razor sharp focus. What I am trying to say is it take years to develope your skills, and filling the gaps with technical knowledge will round out those skills.I used this document alot. It is simple to understand and you can download a PDF version I believe if you google it.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOh yeah, lots of them! That should keep you busy over the weekend.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOh yeah, lots of them! That should keep you busy over the weekend.