Support your local community college

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Many times I have noticed in the welding forums that welders recommended taking a community college class. After battling my last project (too much grinding) I decided to follow that advice.I picked up welding from my dad and had been welding for years but never with TIG and little with MIG. I took an arc welding class years ago at a technical college and learned quite a bit from it but was never really happy with my welding ability. Welding projects came up sporadically and I would work through them but I always felt like I was making it harder than it had to be. By the time I finished the project I would be finally getting the feel of it. I got tired of grinding to make my welds look good. I decided to take the plunge and signed up for two CC classes in one term--one in MIG and one in TIG.To complete the course the students (like myself) have to complete welding projects and are expected to do things over and again till they get them right. The class had a workbook written by one of the instructors. Workbook was the right word because that is what we did. We got feedback from qualified instructors and tested our results by performign destructive tests. Many of the students were getting certified in different welding processes and I picked up a lot just watching them go through the processes. The first MIG class had welding 8 hours per week. TIG was 6 hours per week. In addition we had our assignments to be done outside of class. There was also availability of extra welding time which I fully used. Sometimes I would put in a full extra 8 hours during the week.We had to go through a series of exercises in the four welding positions on projects that varied in metal thickness and configuration and complexity. At times it was frustrating but the instructors helped out a great deal. As one instructor stated, "I will guarantee that every one of you will hit a mental brick wall on some type of welding." He was right, mine was overhead but with his help and lots of practice I worked through it.Another thing was the opportunity to use different welding equipment and get more information from instructors about the equipment that they liked. There was a combination of Miller, ESAB, and Lincoln welders that I was able to try out. I also learned more about making an intelligent decision.The instructors were tops. One instructor is currently a professional welder who has been teaching night and evening classes for many years. The other ones have had similar backgrounds. After being in the class I picked up so many tips from instructors and fellow students. These things are not in the books.This was my first exposure to our community college. Perhaps our CC is exceptional but I was really impressed with the quality of students and instructors. With steel prices and everything going up and educational budgets being cut it becomes harder and harder for Community Colleges. Most equipment comes from grants. It is important to support your local CC. I am not a professional welder by trade but the experience was an eye opener. In what seemed at times like a very long term I learned a great deal about both MIG and TIG.
Reply:I'll agree with everything you said Jim. You definitely hit the nail on the head.My experience was with the local Votec school vs a Community College but other than that pretty much the same. I had taken Oxy/Acet back in shop more years ago than I wish to remember, and picked up mig along the way. Mostly fixing small stuff at work or building small jigs or projects. Played a bit with stick but not all that much. I had the opportunity to pick up more side work if I could stick weld proficiently so I signed up for the 1st class.1 night a week for 10 weeks, 4hours of class time per week. My instructor was fabulous. A semi retired teacher who has also welded for more than 30 years on various different jobs, AWS local president I believe. Always ready to help if you need it but willing to let you try and make mistakes on your own. He was more than happy to have you bring in stuff that you did between classes to show him before his other night of class. Point out what you were doing right or wrong and make suggestions. Lots of different machines to try out and see what the differences were. Later when I went back and took my Tig clas he helped me pick out my tig machine and then suggested I switch machines in class with another student so that I was practicing in class with a similar machine.The one thing that I took advantage of was the availability of different materials and rods to try. I must have burned at least 5-10 lb of stick each week minimum. This more than covered what I paid for the class. 6010, 6011, 6013, 7014, 7018, 7024 each in 2-3 different diameters plus at least 4-5 other rods that I didn't have the opportunity to try out. In tig in a variety of diameters, standard rod for mild steel, SS (2 different types avail), alum (4043, 5356). Oxy rods and a variety of silver soldering rods and brazing rod. Mig , a small 110v machine all the way thru pulsed spray, solid wire and FC, Spool gun for alum. The list goes on.I think both Jim and I had exceptional classes. Unfortunately I have had college courses on other subjects in the past that the instructor really knew very little about his subject. So I know its all about what you get locally. On average, I think a good class is a great value for your money.I plan on going back in the fall for another class, even though my old instructor will most likely not be returning due to health issues. I am planning to take the mig class just to polish my mig skills and get to play with a few of the more advanced machines with an eye towards a new mig in the future. I just wish that I had taken the advise of others years ago when I started out with mig and taken the time to take the class back then.
Reply:I was just trying to find a welding class around me.  I searched the web and the only thing I could find was a certificate program that took 1 1/2 years and cost about $3000.  Anybody know of the proper wording to use when trying to find a welding class?http://johnson64.com
Reply:The proper wording? Jim, I am glad you found a good local program! I only have one question, why not take more classes? I finished my spring semester yesterday, 2 weeks until summer classes start! 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 jay64I was just trying to find a welding class around me.  I searched the web and the only thing I could find was a certificate program that took 1 1/2 years and cost about $3000.  Anybody know of the proper wording to use when trying to find a welding class?
Reply:I agree that CC and voc schools provide excellent instruction.  Learn the basics.Jay64 I just googled St. Petersburg, FL welding programs check it out  http://www.myptec.org/catalog/program_view.asp?id=2955
Reply:Chris, thanks.  I just found them also.  I called and they put me in touch with a counselor.  He told me that they have a certification program that is m-f until about 12:30 pm, for a whole semester.  I guess the program is about 1170 hours.  Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time.  I already went to college and got a degree, I don't need to go through all of that again.  I am a hobyist, but I would like to learn how to make some proper mig welds.  He stated that they have some night classes, but those are for experienced welders that just need to learn some new techniques etc for work.  Basically told me that I wouldn't be able to take those classes.  I got the number of one of the welding instructors, but he won't be in until tomorrow.  I think I will give him a call and find out exactly what I might be able to take without getting the whole program.  All the people I talked to there kinda didn't seem to know what they were talking about.  The first person told me that they could help me, but I would have to call back after 5pm.  When I called back, they told me that I was calling the wrong campus.  The last guy I talked to said he really didn't know what he was talking about, he was just reading something.I had a welder friend when I lived in Cali and he said he would teach me to weld, for $100/hr.  seemed kinda high.  He also taught at the cc, but I was in the middle of my racing career and was travelling around the country too much to actually take any classes.http://johnson64.com
Reply:Jay, perhaps a personal visit to see an instructor would help. In the first class I took, semi-automatic welding, our teacher would gladly teach anybody who wanted to learn. Although, to be fair, that class was meant to add that skill to an accomplished arc weldor. So, a lot depends on the individual teaching the class. That was my point.Good luck!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:Here's something I found in the Tampa area. might or might not be close enough to look into.http://erwin.edu/CourseDetail.aspx?CourseId=30Even if the instructor you are trying to get a hold of doesn't teach on the side, be sure and ask him if he knows of any places to try for night classes.
Reply:DSW, that is exactly the type of class I was looking for.  It is a little far away, given today's gas prices and all, but I will definately bookmark that and look into it.  I have to see what these other guys say tomorrow, they aren't that far from my work.  Maybe I can get my job to schedule me early on those days so I can make it to class.  Thanks to all of you for actively helping me to find classes.  I bought a book today that seems to have a lot more information then I was finding on the DIY websites I have been looking at.  Maybe that will give me just enough skill to actually take the classes.http://johnson64.com
Reply:Tanglediver, I agree about taking more.  There is not much in the summer but I plan to go back in the fall.  The instructor said they are changing the course layout next year but he would be glad to work something out.  I look forward to continuing more supervised training.Jim
Reply:I don't know if Florida has them, but here in upstate NY there are votech schools that are funded from all the county's high schools, known as BOCES. They also offer night adult classes, which I took. It was 3 hours a night, 2 nights a week for 5 weeks, $300 for the class. Pretty good deal, comes out to $10 an hour. Then you could go on to Welding 2 and Welding 3. All consumables were supplied, along with basic safety gear, even grinders.
Reply:These classes are the greatest things going for a wide range of welders either professional or novice.  There is a millwright class held to certify millrights.  There are welder certification programs.  There are now cooperative mechanics courses where the employer pays half of the tuition if the employee stays with the company after graduating.  The only way to win at this game is to improve our workforce and protect it through fair competition.It was really nice to see a lot of people concerned about improving their situation whether it was welders or mechanics or others.  We all need to work smarter and harder.  If we don't other workers will.