Looking to start welding classes - what order?

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Hi folks,I've been reading this forum for awhile and would like to start taking some classes to learn how to weld. I've managed to get a few pieces of metal to stick together with O/A and Flux Core wire feed but I realized very quickly that it's going to take more than a few YouTube videos for me to make an acceptable weld. The local tech. colleges have welding courses for:Shielded Metal Arc (Stick?)Flux Cored Arc Gas Metal ArcGas Tungsten ArcWhat order do you guys think these should be done? I'm guessing Stick->FC->MIG->TIG. The classes are inexpensive so I plan to eventually take all of them. This is only a hobby so time is not really a concern. One of the other tech schools has O/A starting in fall that I plan to take, also. From my little experience, I really like O/A and find it oddly relaxing to work with. Plus, I tend to work on older cars quite a bit and having a torch around to make rusty fasteners submit to my will is nice.Thanks!
Reply:1.O/A2.Mig3.TigWeld 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:I've have to agree with Shovelon that O/A would give you a good primer on most welding processes, and if you can find someone who can teach it and you like it. That would be my 1st suggestion.Leaving out OA, I'd suggest mig 1st. You can clearly see the puddle and understand how to manipulate it. It will be a help when trying to learn FC and stick where the flux covers the puddle to a limited degree. When all else fails I fall back on using mig to try and get stick students to understand what the puddle is doing, especially with weaves. People tend to pick this up faster than most other processes and this builds confidence as well as getting a good primer on manipulating the puddle.Stick/ FC I'd say is interchangeable as far as order was concerned. I'd suggest you go with what ever you can practice on at home 1st. The biggest issue I find with most new stick /FC welders is that they can't seem to differentiate between the weld puddle and the molten flux. There's really only one person who can do that and that's you. Once they get this down, most of the troubles are over.Tig I'd put last, simply because of how complicated the process can be for some. You have a lot more control, so you have a lot more you can manipulate all at once to complicate things. Maintaining a constant arc, manipulating the puddle with the arc, adding filler, while adjusting travel speed and using a foot pedal can be a bit overwhelming to some. It takes them a while taking small steps to learn to make all these reactions instinctive. With tig I'd suggest starting with steel, then thin material and finally alum.After saying all that, I'd also suggest starting with the process you have available at home 1st. I wouldn't learn mig 1st if you only have a stick machine. Practice ( and lots of it) will make a huge difference. Spend time at home practicing what you learn in class. Bring in some of your better welds as well as your ugly ones and have the instructor look at them at the beginning of class, and make suggestions for you to work on. Spend the class time working on issues, and learning new stuff rather than spending class time doing repetitive welds. Use time at home to refine what you learned in class to maximize your class time..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:Sounds like just waiting for the O/A class in fall would be my best bet considering that is going to be my primary process for some time. I've been checking Craigslist for used setups for reasonable prices but most are just shy of what a LWS would charge for new gear.Thanks for the advice!
Reply:Definitely O/A to start.  This gave me the best base of knowledge/skill to build on.  Learning to manipulate the weld pool with O/A as a baseline starting point is best.
Reply:Hi,what do you have at home currently ??   What are you planning to purchase for a machine. I noticed you are in Wisconsin. I'm at the WIs ILL boarder and  Welders Supply in Wis have had good prices. Here's there site.   http://www.weldersupply.com/ I would choose the course to match the machine you have or plan on getting.
Reply:Right now, I don't have any welding gear. I used to be able to borrow/rent equipment on the rare occasions that I needed it but I've recently moved and no longer have access to anyone's gear. I'd rather have my own, anyway. Thanks for the tip on Welders Supply. I'll give them a shout.
Reply:I would go:O/AstickMIGTIG
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinI would go:O/AstickMIGTIG