Going back to school (welding)

admin

Well seems like an early christmas present for me was nightly welding school.My question is since I have a limited amount of time and I really only want to weld in a manufacturing shop enviroment.Is stick welding really necessary for me to learn? I don't plan on ever welding outside or on buildings.I would really like to improve my MIG abilities and TIG.Am I missing something here? Just let me know please.MERRY CHRISTMAS ALSO!!
Reply:You can in some places just take mig/tig classes.  Stick welding is used more than just outside, depending on what is being welded.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7bicksYou can in some places just take mig/tig classes.  Stick welding is used more than just outside, depending on what is being welded.
Reply:Originally Posted by pyroracing85Oh, the class lets you learn whatever.I just wanted any input if I was going to miss anything with NOT learning stick.
Reply:Focus on what you plan to use most, of course, but don't pass up the chance to improve your skills. If you ever get caught in a windy environment, mig and tig are toast.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverFocus on what you plan to use most, of course, but don't pass up the chance to improve your skills. If you ever get caught in a windy environment, mig and tig are toast.
Reply:FWIW, Stick is used at my refinery about 99% of the time, even in the shop. Its much more cost effective not having to use shielding gas (especially for purging on pipe). Stick is the bread and butter, learn it!
Reply:A welder who doesn't know how to stick weld is like a licensed driver who doesn't know how to drive a stick shift.   You'll be forever limited on what you can do if you don't know stick.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Yep have to agree with others, learn how to stick as well because I'm in the heart of welders heaven and whether its in the shop or in the yard or on the dock stick reigns as king here and an added benefit is if you can get the control down to do a smooth stick weld keeping it straight then your mig and tig will be even better looking.  Another thing to consider to is that many employers are looking for multifaceted welders who can do all three types now and it means better money and better chances at employment and be sure to get your 6G certification, the few business owners I've talked to recently said that they will hire the 6G over the one who doesnt have it because it shows the certified guy / girl has put forth some effort to be a better welder.
Reply:Depending on the school stick might be a prerequist,it a good thing spelling isn't. You might not see yourself burning rod but in this economy sometimes you have to take whatever is available. Even if you find what your looking there's no telling how long it will last. These are not the days to find yourself pigeon holed into production work unless your into moving to china and  working for 6 cents an hour.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Learn Stick and oxy/acteylene ....I`ve been in plenty of manufacturing shops where people could TIG/MIG all day but when asked to Stick weld or use a cutting torch they could not do it. Stick is great because is is so versatile and can be used in almost any environment or on any material with the most primitive of equipment (IE car batteries hooked in series). Try that with TIG/MIG. Oh wait TIG/MIG wont work with car batteries.Last edited by BrianNye Welding guy; 12-25-2009 at 02:36 PM.
Reply:I work in a industrial forklift factory and we weld everything with mig. no stick whatsoever but as others mentioned it depends on where you are and what your doing. we weld everything with .035 and 1/16 wire.
Reply:A good stick weldor will be able to look at the puddle and know what he has or needs to do to get what he needs to be seeing in order to produce good welds. The things you learn when learning stick will transfer to other types of welding, make you a better weldor and will serve you well, not to mention putting you ahead of the game when you go to learn other stuff. ALSO, when you look for a job and they ask if you can stick weld, you will be able to say "YES" instead of "DUH"......