Question about some classes I found

admin

Good morning guys,So last night I found some classes, at the local college. They made some changes a few years back. 30 years ago I went to HVAC school through the Public School system. All the trades where taught there. They moved everything to the college and now they call it PSAV. They have a long full time program for welding that I can't attend as a 48 year old man with a family. The only full program offered as part time nights is in Belle Glade, about 30 miles west of me. And the hours conflict with my job. What I found was a series of classes near me, currently they are offering a TIG class. It's Saturday mornings and it works for my schedule. It's a couple months long and costs about $200. So my question is, at my skill level is that a good idea? Is it okay to learn " formally" TIG first? They also have other classes, such as Mig/flux but it's for pipe? I guess this is due to a local need for pipe welders? The class I was going to take starts in October, I was going to take it with my son, who needs to learn a trade. It's the first step in an apprenticeship program. It's 8 months long and gets you a state cert as an apprentice and then you transfer to the college and go to night school while working for 2 years 2 nights a week. Originally I was told that you don't go to work until completing the 8 month program, but the school and several welding shops tell me that the guys in the program are offered jobs while still in the first stage of training, I thought wow, that's great. Really good for my son. I was going to take that class to learn what I could, but I'm not looking to change careers at this point. I had hopes of just welding for myself and for my handyman jobs. I'm looking for the pros and instructors thoughts on this class at the college, and I would take it with my son as well. What sounds like a good plan?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply:Generally people start with oxyacetytlene welding and cutting then stick.  The reasoning behind it is that OAW is slow and the student gets an opportunity to "read" the puddle.  OAW is also two handed like TIG so the skill transfers.  With electric welding things happen a bit faster and you are under a hood.  It makes it difficult for a beginner to react quickly enough as well as read the puddle under a dark lens.   For 200 bucks I would grab it.  Locally for me you are not likely to find anything as cheap.  If two months and four hours a session for 8 X 4 = 32  That works out to around six bucks an instructional hour.  REALLY cheap.  30 to 40 an hour is typical around here.   Simply being exposed to a bit of welding will give your son an idea if he would like to continue.  Also there are a great many trades where a bit of welding knowledge is very useful.  If your son makes a different choice it is likely he has lost nothing.
Reply:I'd agree it's well worth the money. I've done things all 3 ways. I learned the basics originally with OA in Jr high. Years later I learned stick at night where you had to learn stick before you could take any of the other courses. When I help out at, we allow guys to learn which ever process they want 1st. I see advantages/disadvantages to all 3 ways of doing this and I don't think one is "better" than any other. Just different.I've taught plenty of guys tig who have never done any other welding in their life. I don't find their lack of previous skills a huge hindrance. There's just a lot to learn all at once, and it will take a while to absorb it all. I will say that of the guys who picked things up the fastest, most have already been really skilled welders in some other process. No big surprise as they already put their time in learning to read the puddle with that process, so they are not starting out at ground level. They can skip learning to read the puddle at the same time they learn to master the basics and can just concentrate on the basics of how to manipulate the puddle. Having said that, I've also had plenty of guy who can weld that just couldn't wrap their head around tig right away. Previous skills is no guarantee of success or moving ahead faster.As far as learning tig "formally" I think it's the best way to go. Sure you can learn on your own, but I spend a fair bit of time unlearning guys who have developed bad habits teaching themselves to tig. Tig allows you the most control over the weld puddle, so it requires the most control by the operator. Very often basic mistakes students make are super easy to spot just by watching them weld. I don't even have to look at their coupon to tell them where they will have problems. I see them make the errors in their body position, arc length etc just by watching them weld. It's always faster and easier to have someone look over your shoulder and tell you what you are doing wrong. It also is a great help when you can stand there and watch someone do it the "wrong" way, just like you do, and then do it the right way so you can see the difference.As far as your son, I agree it's a chance to see if this is something he might be interested in inexpensively. Looks like  a good way to get him on the road to a skilled job, if this is the direction he wants to go. It's also always a nice skill to have to fall back on if what ever he chooses to do falls apart for what ever reason. It's also nice to have father and son in the same class. It tends to push both to do their best and can give added incentive and help drive interest in the class..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ya that boy says he is better than already. Thanks, it looks like I'm going to try, if he likes it, he will only do better in the apprenticeship program. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanGenerally people start with oxyacetytlene welding and cutting then stick.  The reasoning behind it is that OAW is slow and the student gets an opportunity to "read" the puddle.  OAW is also two handed like TIG so the skill transfers.  With electric welding things happen a bit faster and you are under a hood.  It makes it difficult for a beginner to react quickly enough as well as read the puddle under a dark lens.   For 200 bucks I would grab it.  Locally for me you are not likely to find anything as cheap.  If two months and four hours a session for 8 X 4 = 32  That works out to around six bucks an instructional hour.  REALLY cheap.  30 to 40 an hour is typical around here.   Simply being exposed to a bit of welding will give your son an idea if he would like to continue.  Also there are a great many trades where a bit of welding knowledge is very useful.  If your son makes a different choice it is likely he has lost nothing.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bluehunter40 I have found a welding shop that lets guys that are learning pick the scrap pile, the rule is, if you can carry it with one hand, you can have it.
Reply:$200 to learn TIG?That's Gold right there. Hopefully you only supply a hood & gloves.All the consumables are covered by that 200 bucks?
Reply:Originally Posted by sky hy ironman$200 to learn TIG?That's Gold right there. Hopefully you only supply a hood & gloves.All the consumables are covered by that 200 bucks?
Reply:Bluehunter40> May I please ask how you found those classes? Were they on Craigslist or in a newspaper? If you found them online, what were the words you used as search criteria please. All I keep finding are classes at local colleges that are 2 years in duration leading to certification. --Also too, your expanded steel camp fire grate looks absolutely wonderful. It's along the lines of what I had in mind to use for the bottom of rabbit hutches.
Reply:Equilibrium check with your local high schools or votec centers as well. Many run night classes for working adults or guys who want to either get into welding as a hobby, or improve their job..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan