Where to learn to weld near NYC+quickest way to achieve my goals

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Hi guys!I'm new to the forum, i'm a 20yr. old student at fordham univ. unfortunately majoring in finance in the bronx. i've always been interested in welding and fabrication but never got out there and tried to learn. so my first question is does anybody know any good programs in the NYC area that i can participate in to learn the trade? i looked into some of the community colleges but they only seem to have a full time enrollment whereas i'd be looking for a 1 or 2 day a week, or weekend hobbyists type class. if not that, does anyone have a shop in the area in need of an apprentice?secondly,i want to learn to custom fab exhausts, piping, headers, roll cages, all types of mounts and bracketry, etc. materials would be various types of stainless steel, aluminum, chromo, dom, etc.i'm thinking i'd need to pick up tig and mig for sure, anything else?thanks,Mike
Reply:I don't know about learning to weld in NYC, but I would look into getting a nice O/A setup.  Everyone gets caught up on MIG and TIG (I did, I own both and love them)...  It wasn't until later that I really understood how important a good O/A setup is, and how much can be done with one.  Take a little time and read up on using a torch to cut, weld, braze, and heat.  You'll be amazed at how good of a job it does!!  Also, if you're going to weld aluminum using a tig (for fuel tanks, etc..), read up on using Oxy/fuel to weld it vs. tig.  Also, if you're going to weld up chromoly tubing with a tig (roll cages, etc..), read up on tempering the metal after words so that it will "give a bit" in the event of a crash.  Not saying that TIG and MIG aren't to be used, I love using mine, just consider adding a nice O/A torch to your list...Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:Good advice from PilotDan. Get the practice and learning anyway you can. I used to go to the library to read up on the theory; it can be a bit dry, but comes alive when you are doing it. A reference library, where the books are not lent out is a good place. I think you should, since you are so keen, make an appointment to speak to the local boilermakers union, and pursue an apprenticeship. Another thing you can do is join the navy, and learn the trade there. Read, read, read and read some more. If you are going to buy equipment, get the very best you can afford. Wear as dark a shade as you possibly can, and keep the cover lens pristine clean. Use a respirator when it gets smokey, and when you are grinding.
Reply:Originally Posted by mrmthreeHi guys!I'm new to the forum, i'm a 20yr. old student at fordham univ. unfortunately majoring in finance in the bronx. i've always been interested in welding and fabrication but never got out there and tried to learn. so my first question is does anybody know any good programs in the NYC area that i can participate in to learn the trade? i looked into some of the community colleges but they only seem to have a full time enrollment whereas i'd be looking for a 1 or 2 day a week, or weekend hobbyists type class. if not that, does anyone have a shop in the area in need of an apprentice?secondly,i want to learn to custom fab exhausts, piping, headers, roll cages, all types of mounts and bracketry, etc. materials would be various types of stainless steel, aluminum, chromo, dom, etc.i'm thinking i'd need to pick up tig and mig for sure, anything else?thanks,Mike
Reply:im shocked and dismayed that no one has mentioned stick. any tig machine will stick weld.....
Reply:You're right WeldBead, there is stick too; the venerable, deceivingly simple appearing stick.
Reply:Originally Posted by PilotDanI don't know about learning to weld in NYC, but I would look into getting a nice O/A setup.  Everyone gets caught up on MIG and TIG (I did, I own both and love them)...  It wasn't until later that I really understood how important a good O/A setup is, and how much can be done with one.  Take a little time and read up on using a torch to cut, weld, braze, and heat.  You'll be amazed at how good of a job it does!!  Also, if you're going to weld aluminum using a tig (for fuel tanks, etc..), read up on using Oxy/fuel to weld it vs. tig.  Also, if you're going to weld up chromoly tubing with a tig (roll cages, etc..), read up on tempering the metal after words so that it will "give a bit" in the event of a crash.  Not saying that TIG and MIG aren't to be used, I love using mine, just consider adding a nice O/A torch to your list...
Reply:mrmthree,    O/A is 6000 degree's F.    And it is really friggin cool!!  You don't really need a machine for O/A..  Its just an Oxygen tank and an Acetylene tank, regulators to reduce the gas pressures to the amount needed for use, flashback arrestors (keeps the tanks from blowing up from a flame going back through the hose, sometimes built into the regulators), hoses to carry the gases, a torch (allows the gases to be adjusted near the flame, and allows the gases to be mixed), and different tips for the torch (welding, heating, cutting).  Cost of an O/A setup varies...  If you lease a set of tanks (thats what I do), and buy a setup brand new... You could probably do it for 500 to 600 $$.. You could find used equipment too.  Don't buy any of the chinese junk though.. Stick to Esab, Smith, Victor, Harris, or any other big name company.    Ok, tempering the metal..  If you tig weld 4130 (for your roll cages maybe), the intense quick heat up and cool down of the metal will make the metal brittle around the weld.  In the event of a bad wreck, the tubing will probably crack near the welds; hence making the roll cage fail.  This doesn't mean that you shouldn't tig weld it, but you should use an O/A torch to temper the metal after you have finished welding.  Basically you heat the metal around the weld (moving the flame around) until it gets to a dull red (about 1200 degrees).  Keep it hot with the flame for a little while (30 to 45 seconds for the aircraft tubing I work with, probably a little longer for a roll cage), then pull the flame away and let it cool in still air (DO NOT rapid cool it with water or something like that).  By doing this, you are giving the metal some ductility again.  There are people on this forum that know a lot more about this subject than I do, and they will probably give you some guidance when you get down the road..  So if you look at it that way, you need to have to O/A torch anyways to do what you want to do..  Why not just start with an O/A rig and learn to weld with that, then move into tig once you've got gas welding down...  Just a thought..    That diversion you are looking at is a nice entry level machine.. But if you plan to do a lot of welding, it won't have a duty cycle (how long you can weld vs how long the machine needs to cool down, in a 10 minute cycle) high enough to really do some serious work.  The O/A setup doesn't have a duty cycle (provided you don't pull more than 1/7th the volume of you acetylene per hour from the tank..    Pick up a few books and spend a lot of time reading about the various welding processes before you spend your hard earned money...  Then you will be able to make the best purchases with the funds you can devote to welding.Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:Just one more thing to throw out there..  You are going in the right direction (seeking advice and knowledge about welding).  Remember that there is a right tool for the job..  You wouldn't use a sledge hammer to put up trim, and you wouldn't use a small hammer to drive large stakes into the ground, even though both tools would do the job.  There is a place for every different welding process and there is considerable overlap.  In the beginning, you want to find the process that will fulfill the most of your needs with the least amount of money spent.  You can then add equipment as you go..  Also, remember that welding is a lot of knowledge.  Yes, there is a physical technique as well as an art to it, but you want to really understand what you are doing and why.  School will be good for this, but you can get the books from a local library and learn sooo much in an evening reading.Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:There are some great places to learn to weld in NYC without going to trade school. Here are a few that will let you jump right in and get your hands dirty and welding right away.http://metalshopfantasycamp.comhttp://www.michaeldanielmetal.com/we...new-york-city/http://www.madagascarinstitute.com/http://www.she-weld.com/classes/