TIG before Stick?

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Did a quick search, but didn't see anything on this topic... so if there is, please feel free to link me to it. Anyhoo... I'm in welding school currently, and have already had several hours under the hood with Stick (and I LOVE it, don't get me wrong) but am having to start at the bottom again in my new class. I was talking to my teacher and half-jokingly asked when he was gonna let me skip ahead to TIG. He told me if I really wanted to, I could go out and buy a torch set and he'd let me have at it- but I'd have to stick with it (through to certs). Fine with me! I've messed with TIG once or twice and love it, and seem to have a decent ability at it for only laying down a handful of beads. My end-goal is to save up money and start my own fabrication business-most likely doing that on the side until I get a good customer base and can support myself on my business alone. I plan to be either pipe welding or doing high-end TIG welding as a means to pocket cash for my future business. So, my question is: Since I already have experience with stick and know how to weld fairly decently, would jumping straight to TIG be a good idea, or should I cert in Stick first? I plan to be certified in at least those two processes, and more than likely will get my wirefeed certs as well.Any input appreciated. "I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:I am biased towards tig. Sounds like you got a solid foundation in stick, so why not take him up on tig? You may not have another chance. Most great weldors can do both anyway. The other benefit is crosstraining just makes you a better weldor.  I say go for it.You can get a cert in stick later.Weld 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 hate to be a buzzkill, but I wouldn't expect any of that anytime soon. You got a long journey of waited experience ahead of you before you will get to any of that. Keep your goals, but baby steps brother. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:The thing about stick is the cost to get the equip and "practice" at home is chump change in comparison to TIG. Take the offer.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Do them both at the same time. Lets you really see how things are different but lets you see how much alike the processes are too.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonI am biased towards tig. Sounds like you got a solid foundation in stick, so why not take him up on tig? You may not have another chance. Most great weldors can do both anyway. The other benefit is crosstraining just makes you a better weldor.  I say go for it.You can get a cert in stick later.
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugDo them both at the same time. Lets you really see how things are different but lets you see how much alike the processes are too.
Reply:Do one at school and one at home Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:I'm of two minds on this issue.One, following the instuctor's course plan will maximise how much you will learn in the class.However, as another rather independently-minded individual, I've found that following my heart in chasing new skills is MUCH more satisfying and enjoyable.So, I'd say, if you can afford it, buy your TIG (GTAW) rig now. Then get as much time as you can get with it. BUT NEVER neglect the basics of the other (less glamorious) welding processes. If you ask anybody here, you'll find that they are all capable of oxy-fuel, stick, MIG and TIG welding. Each person has their favorite. And most will agree that certain processes lend themselves to certain conditions. For example, outdoors with any breeze requires stick or flux cored. Yes, TIG requires the most skill and can yield the prettyest welds, but there are times when the 'brute force' of stick is what is needed.So, good luck, learn the skills. And persue you passion!Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:Go with tig.However don't expect to land a tig pipe or high end tig job out of school. Unless your brother owns the company. Or you get lucky, which can happen. The closest to tig pipe I get is combo welding. So yeah. Go for it. Don't ignore high frequency though. And don't let your stick skills suffer from neglect either.
Reply:You will find that the industrial world for the most part doesn't use expensive high frequency tig welders to tig weld pipe. More often than not, dc stick welding machines are used to tig weld stainless pipe via lift start or scratch start method. If I was you, I'd start out with those methods first.
Reply:I had a teenage hippie kid ask me to teach him tig so he could make a custom bike.  His hair was almost down to his waist.  I really thought nobody should learn tig before basics on other processes, but I told him if he buzzed is hair I would do it, because his hair would get caught in a drill or something.  He showed up the next day with a buzz cut, so I had to finish my end of the deal.  He learned to tig aluminum and is a successful engineer today. So I can't say it's wrong.
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugDo one at school and one at home
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaWish I had that kind of money. Thank you! Unfortunately, I'm in no shape financially to get even a chinese welder, yet alone a GOOD one until some other purchases have been made. I decided to go with TIG, but I will definitely keep up with Stick as I love it!I have a job lined up at Exotic Metals (if you've heard of them, don't know how far their reach is) when I'm out of school. I meant running the pipe line in Stick. And I will definitely keep my stick skills brushed up.I will definitely practice those, if not just to have the skills. Thanks! Too bad I'm already near-bald, so I couldn't make that bet!
Reply:Are you referring to the aerospace Exotic Alloys? If so, you should definitely start working on tig as soon as possible, for as long as possible. Highly critical welds going on there. Lot of high frequency too.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonLearning tig at this stage is a great idea IMO. Just today I was out on site doing-------PIPE. Customer forgot to have a SS bung added to a custom built compressor. No one, and I repeat no one would venture out his way to do the job. Since I build the manifolds I was shanghaied, so I took my apprentice and he did a bang up job.
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnewsAre you referring to the aerospace Exotic Alloys? If so, you should definitely start working on tig as soon as possible, for as long as possible. Highly critical welds going on there. Lot of high frequency too.
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaDo you need another apprentice? LolWeld on!
Reply:In the olden days everybody learned O/A welding first, which is basically TIG without the Magic Smoke. Go for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinIn the olden days everybody learned O/A welding first, which is basically TIG without the Magic Smoke. Go for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinIn the olden days everybody learned O/A welding first, which is basically TIG without the Magic Smoke. Go for it.
Reply:Started TIG today and I just comes naturally Thread with progress pictures: http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-s-TIG-Journey!Weld on!"I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:Tough to tell from the pics, I work in aerospace, on lots of exotics, need better pics to get an idea where your at. There's no reason you can't do tig before stick lots of guys do it
Reply:Pretty much all I use in the shop is TIG.
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnewsGo with tig.However don't expect to land a tig pipe or high end tig job out of school. Unless your brother owns the company. Or you get lucky, which can happen. The closest to tig pipe I get is combo welding. So yeah. Go for it. Don't ignore high frequency though. And don't let your stick skills suffer from neglect either.An exception doesn't change the general consensus. I should have been more specific in my comment. A lot of schools don't certify. Yours apparently did, which already put you ahead of the grads that are not certified. I "certified" to AWS 17.1, ASME B31.1, and B31.3 standards but they were not a recognized certification "agency" or representative. I could have saved space in my folder with a certificate of completion instead. To get my combo job I had to do BS welding for a year, pass up a few good offers, and take a crappy structural job and beg to be allowed to take the pipe test. I still actually have to go take that test, if they let me, since it was just a "promise" from their HR and Training reps.It's not impossible. I am glad it was easier for you, and I hope it becomes easier for more students in the future. BTW, are you working at Ingalls? I see you live in the area down there. A few friends of mine left today to start Orientation and training down there.
Reply:I plan on doing fine TIG work OR stick welding pipe, not TIGing pipe (minus roll cages and the likes). My school is a certified testing facility for WABO (Washington's building standards) so I'm looking to get dual certs for AWS as wellWeld on!"I fully know my place in life, and it's behind a welding helmet...." - Jesse JamesIG: @weldakota
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaI plan on doing fine TIG work OR stick welding pipe, not TIGing pipe (minus roll cages and the likes). My school is a certified testing facility for WABO (Washington's building standards) so I'm looking to get dual certs for AWS as wellWeld on!
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonAwesome!The both can go hand in hand. I have seen many jobs entertain a Tig root and stick cap. Myself I do tig root, tig fill, and tig cap on most metals. As far as stick goes, I myself substitute mig for that at times, topically fill. In another life I could see myself being an innershield operator.   Probably because I was imprisoned in a stick booth for a year and hated it, in order to graduate to inert gas welding, which was my goal. Never picked up a stick rod again even though looking back I was dang good at it. Back in those days inert gas instruction was a rare privilege. Turns out my brother, which had a job tig welding alum got hurt in a motorcycle crash and almost lost his leg. His job was in jeopardy so my instructor gave me a crash course in alum tig, and a week later I was fumbling out alum weldments(yes, even I was surprised).
Reply:Originally Posted by WeldakotaSeem to have impressed everybody with how quickly I'm picking up TIG. Loving it so far!!Weld on!
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonGood to hear it. Be careful what you wish for though. There's a lot you can learn that will transfer back to arc and mig.