Any welders here? I want to learn.

[jerseyrugger76]

Return that Flashdance video you watched last night. And, forget about it.

The hits just keep on coming this morning, huh, ATW? LOLOLOL

 

[billfred]

That's just what I thought as well. I don't know anyone who is an experienced welder, so there's no one I could call on to inspect my work, so how could I be sure I'm developing any skills. I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to tell by the look of my weld and compare to a video?

No I don't have a welder, but I've seen some small setups on Ebay stores for under $300. The biggest reason I wanted to go the DIY route first was actually not the money, but the classes would mean not getting home until almost 11pm every Mon to Thurs night for 9 months.

Most of those classes are set up for people trying to become certified welders to make a living. Maybe you can find a class that is more for the recreational route.

You can always "watch and learn". They is an old welder joke as you will burn the shit out of your eyes trying to watch what a welder does.

 

[RottenWillow]

I have friends who just went on a crash course w/ Flour, used to be Flour/ Daniels, the rig workers probably know the company. He's been welding for years, he owns a muffler shop, but had no certification.

They have 3 big projects going on in the area and need welders badly. To get them, they held classes at the local tech school, the classes were free, lasted 6 weeks or so depending on how quickly you learned. He is doing mig, but his gf (who is a RN) wanted to learn tig. The tig welders are making about 40/ hr, mig about 30. You may see about something like that, they're located at the tech schools but aren't "in the school", just held there. Or I'd ask at the company office, they may can give you some more info.

Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple of weeks here in TX........ LOL

Wow that'd be awesome to find a company sponsoring free classes. Where would you suggest I look to find offers like that? Classifieds in the newspaper? (I'm in Atlanta)

 

[mwm5]

That's just what I thought as well. I don't know anyone who is an experienced welder, so there's no one I could call on to inspect my work, so how could I be sure I'm developing any skills. I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to tell by the look of my weld and compare to a video?

No I don't have a welder, but I've seen some small setups on Ebay stores for under $300. The biggest reason I wanted to go the DIY route first was actually not the money, but the classes would mean not getting home until almost 11pm every Mon to Thurs night for 9 months.

buy a cheap setup and just play around with it in the garage on some scrap. UNLESS you are looking at possibly doing this as a future job. if you do your research online looking at welds/bad welds you could possible get good enough to just be a "garage welder"

i know that home depot sells decent starter to intermediate setups plus everything else you would need to get started.

 

[RottenWillow]

Most of those classes are set up for people trying to become certified welders to make a living. Maybe you can find a class that is more for the recreational route.

All of them, that I could find. Some are intense 5 week courses, some evening 9 month courses, but all for job training, not recreational/personal interest stuff.

 

[billfred]

All of them, that I could find. Some are intense 5 week courses, some evening 9 month courses, but all for job training, not recreational/personal interest stuff.

Try some arts and craft class that has welding. Just a thought.

I am not sure they exist but I know even at the international school my kids went to, they taught that in the arts and craft class.

 

[Raptorex]

I've written a paper on welding safety lots of nasty eye burns.

 

[billfred]

I've written a paper on welding safety lots of nasty eye burns.

I could have been a poster child for your book. Watched my brother weld one day, was the worst night of my life. Felt like I had 20 lbs of sand in my eyes.

 

[txbondsman]

Wow that'd be awesome to find a company sponsoring free classes. Where would you suggest I look to find offers like that? Classifieds in the newspaper? (I'm in Atlanta)

they advertised it in the local papers here. I'm not sure how you'll find out otherwise other than asking at the job sites of the larger companies. It was a sweet deal for a single person. All they had to bring was a welding hood and gloves, all the rest was provided. They didn't even have to sign any agreement to go work for the company, they just hoped that you did, and most did to try and repay the debt, it cost the company estimated 6 grand per person. My buddy has worked a couple of local jobs, his paychecks varied form 21/ week to 2800/wk, and he said he actually only worked about 2 hours a day, the sitting around was the worst part he said.

The company will fly you wherever they have jobs, Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, Africa several locations, all they have to do is promise to stay 30 days at that job. Pretty sweet if your able to travel....

 

[Raptorex]

I could have been a poster child for your book. Watched my brother weld one day, was the worst night of my life. Felt like I had 20 lbs of sand in my eyes.

It is not uncommon at all, the other issue is hot slag in the eye - even when wearing a hood, they lift it up and it falls down into the eye.

I hope you had some vodka.