33 year old newby looking for career change

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Hi there everybodyI'm Brad 33 years old from Newcastle Australia and I'm a total newby to welding. I thought this would be the ideal site to help me learn the ropes and get plenty of helpful advice and criticism on my new journey. My older brother has been a Boilermaker for 25 years and would give me any help I need, but the problem is he has more work than he can handle and wouldn't have the time to spare.I have been employed in my current job for 9 years and will have long service leave in a years time. I work in the hospitality industry and I'm fed up with dealing with drunks and the like, so I will be looking for a career change. This gives me a year to get prepared and I will try and to get as many qualifications as possible to help me gain an apprenticeship in metal fabrication. I left school in year 10 and didn't get out of first gear that year and the results show on my school certificate. It will be an uphill battle competing against current school leavers especially with their HSC ( not sure what the US term is for Higher School Certificate)I will be going for my Heavy Rigid truck licence this Thursday to get the ball rolling. Also at the start of 2009 I will be doing some sort of welding course ( not sure which one yet) and I will also do a HSC maths equivalent course. This should at least make me more attractive to to prospective employers hopefully. I have never been out of work since I left school and the 3 jobs I have had have been for 4 years, 4years and 9 years respectively and also the last 9 years I have worked have been almost exclusively working graveyard shifts, so I'm not afraid to work odd hours. I'm thinking surely employers would see this as a bonus and it proves that I can stick to the one job for a long period of time.Before I start a welding course I would like to buy myself a good Arc Stick welder to practice with. I have a fair idea from reading a lot of posts on this site what I need,but it is still a bit daunting for a newby making the final decision. I don't want to spend a fortune on my first machine, but I also don't wan't to buy a piece of crap either. If anybody can give me ideas on machines to look out for and also machines to avoid it would be a great help. I would probably be looking at spending around $500 AUS, but willing to pay around $1000 if I have to. I have 240 volt 15 amp power points in my garage by the way. I know some of you would say to do the welding course first before I purchase a welder, but this is not what I wan't to do. I think if I receive enough advice off members along with pics I post I should get an idea if I'm doing things correctly. I will also show my brother pieces of my work when I get around to seeing him and he can give me some hands on advice.Any advice from Australians on this site would be appreciated as well.Thanks for taking your time to read this.Man on a mission
Reply:good for you, give it hell..240 v/15 amps sounds light...
Reply:BUY the welder.  If you got stick to it, and are successful, you will be buying a lot of welders.I'm 48 and was a mechanic all my life.  I am on and off a weldor.  Right now its on, every day of the week.  I am self employed.  This job is hard on the body.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadgood for you, give it hell..240 v/15 amps sounds light...
Reply:Originally Posted by David RBUY the welder.  If you got stick to it, and are successful, you will be buying a lot of welders.I'm 48 and was a mechanic all my life.  I am on and off a weldor.  Right now its on, every day of the week.  I am self employed.  This job is hard on the body.David
Reply:G'day perfect isolation, Good on you fro trying something different, better than sticking with your present job and hating it.On the welder side of things I would recommend any Cigweld or WIA machines There are a heap of others out there but these are two brands I have sold and used over the years and they seem extremely reliable. I have also owned, used and sold Unimig and essetti(WGA) welders I have known of a few problems with both the machines and the company, But I still own one, use it all the time and have had no trouble with it.Have you looked at an inverter stick welder I have an essetti 140 inverter and it welds great, it light to carry and it can be used as a scratch start DC tig.Check out some welders hereDo you have any idea of what sort of welding you want to do?Mines are always looking for welders.SimonLabel EverythingMetal Fabrication - Welding Repairs - Wrought Iron - Sign Writing - Custom Decals.
Reply:Originally Posted by welder.manG'day perfect isolation, Good on you fro trying something different, better than sticking with your present job and hating it.On the welder side of things I would recommend any Cigweld or WIA machines There are a heap of others out there but these are two brands I have sold and used over the years and they seem extremely reliable. I have also owned, used and sold Unimig and essetti(WGA) welders I have known of a few problems with both the machines and the company, But I still own one, use it all the time and have had no trouble with it.Have you looked at an inverter stick welder I have an essetti 140 inverter and it welds great, it light to carry and it can be used as a scratch start DC tig.Check out some welders hereDo you have any idea of what sort of welding you want to do?Mines are always looking for welders.
Reply:I don't sell welders anymore I have worked for a few places that sold welding supplies but now I run my own welding and sign writing business. I think most 240v stick welders will run of your 15amp plug. peerless do a 180amp 240v machine check out you local AIS store your closest would be SLE industrial supplies.Have you checked out EBay I have just sold a few old welders there and still have a few more to go.SimonLabel EverythingMetal Fabrication - Welding Repairs - Wrought Iron - Sign Writing - Custom Decals.