first day of welding class

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I'm off to my first day of welding class in a couple of hrs. I,m so excited . Any advice or some suggestion before engaging into SMAW? Hope to get back in one piece
Reply:Have fun. Avoid the sparks.UA Local 598
Reply:...... How was class?Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:The instructor didn't turn up, what an *** . Class starts by this coming Wednesday. Well, got a plenty reading this forum n learning from u guys. This site's very informativeTy
Reply:Sorry to hear your class didn't go off as planned. As far as suggestions, don't cheap out on your safety gear. Most important is to get gear that fits well and is comfortable. If it's not, you won't wear it then regret it when you get hurt. here's the usual listHeavy pair of gauntlet style gloves.Good safety glasses (Glases not just a face shield)Hearing protection (plugs or muffs)Welding jacket (for SMAW I'd get a leather one or one of the cloth jackets with leather sleaves)Decent hood (good fixed shade Jacksons are inexpensive as starters, or you can get one of the lower end name brand AD units)Good pair of leather boots (hot slag and tennis shoes don't play well together)Other than that, have fun and take advantage of the opertunity. I see too many in some classes who just want to BS and mark time. Those that take advantage of the instruction and burn all the rod they can usually come out ahead..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:For a newbie welder one of the most common mistakes is not watching the puddle. Focus on the puddle of molten metal and you will begin to get a sense of the speed required to maintain the puddle and you will also see that you are tying in the 2 parts.Good luck & have fun!!!!!ScottFab ManagerWelders360New guy.
Reply:Thnks for some advice there DWS. I did bought a pair of leather steel toed shoes, a very cheap welding mask (don't even know the no./rate of the lens), utilizing my cotton jacket as well as my safety glasses (not full face mask). Still looking for a good gloves for stick welding and a will buy an ear muffs.I have something like 5 reading materials and some vids about welding. Definitely onto welding, just hoping i wont burn my eyes n skin. I couldn't get better safety protection here in Philippines.
Reply:Yes yes puddle it is, then trying to maintain the arc gap which i think the greatest challenge for newbies like me. Thnks Scott
Reply:take the lens out, it will most likely be 9, 10, 11, or 12. To start arc and mig I would start with an 11 and see if that works for you. They are inexpensive and you instructor should have a good supply of them if you need a different shade.UA Local 598
Reply:I'm almost done with welding school...next week, biggest thing I wish I would have done is ask the instructors more questions...Ask every question that you think of and show them every bead you run  so you learn as much as you can while you are there..They are ussually busy and dont go in the booth a whole lot..make sure you go to them..and gold shade lenses and brand new clear cover lenses as soon as they start to get dirty are great , especially for overheadLast edited by ak4130; 06-23-2010 at 11:54 PM.
Reply:and a 5 gallon bucket is great to carry all your tools in, i tried a toolbag but it got all burned up
Reply:Wish I had the digi cam n show u my bead. My weaves are fairly good with 6013 rod running on AC. Then i got into 1G with 6011 for root pass. I couldn't get the penetration shoot up on the other side. 1/4 plate, 6011 at AC. IDK with amp coz the machine aint digital. Bevel less than 30 degrees though.