Stick welding class, taking one finally

Happy Gilmore · Mar 19, 2014

I just signed up for an arc welding class at the local vocational school. The class runs one 3 hour night a week for 8 weeks. I've been wanting to take a basic welding class for many years now and finally decided to give it a shot. I'm really looking forward to it as I've never welded before.

SquirmyPug · Mar 19, 2014

Have fun with the class :thumbsup:
If you need help post pictures and machine settings, lots of guys will try to help you learn.

Reyer Farms · Mar 20, 2014

Good deal! Have fun with it! The book will be just as helpful as the lab. Learn the principle of how and why, then you can do anything.

flusher · Mar 20, 2014

Good idea. Stick? MIG? TIG?

Learn to slow down and watch the puddle, not the arc (first step to becoming a proficient welder). You'll get the hang of it after burning your first 100 pounds of rod :thumbsup:

Good luck.

Arc weld · Mar 20, 2014

Very good idea to take a course. Have fun with it and ask lots of questions. :thumbsup:

Happy Gilmore · Mar 21, 2014

Thanks guys, flusher I'm taking the stick class. They also offer classes in MIG and O/A. A couple guys I spoke to said if I was wanting to start somewhere, stick would be a good start. I'm hoping to pick up a good used stick welder down the road and when I become proficient with it maybe give MIG a shot. I've got plenty of junk in the scrap pile to mess around with to practice when I get a welder.

flusher · Mar 21, 2014

Righto. Stick is the way to go. I learned on a Hobart Stickmate LX AC/DC stick welder ($400 at Tractor Supply). If you plan to weld aluminum, MIG is the hot setup. For really thin metal, go TIG.

Happy Gilmore · Mar 29, 2014

Class starts this coming Tuesday, can't wait. I tried a little experimenting with a friend's Miller MIG machine earlier today, first time trying it, had a blast. Looking forward to learning the basics of stick welding.

Happy Gilmore · Apr 1, 2014

First class tonight. Basic classroom stuff. Very interesting though. I got to try running a couple beads at the very end. Definitely has a learning curve to it. Going to take a lot of practice. I'm lucky in that we have a small group of only five of us. Can't wait til next Tuesday!

smfcpacfp · Apr 2, 2014

I always preferred Miller to Lincoln stick welders as they give you a little amperage boost at the onset to help from sticking the rod when you try to strike the arc. A class is the best way to learn to weld and avoid some frustration. The "just go burn some rod" approach that some non welders advocate is risky, frustrating and wasteful.

Happy Gilmore · Apr 2, 2014

Picked up a pair of gloves today, Tillman 850L elk skin and a helmet, Weldcote KlearView auto darkening.

bajabum · Apr 3, 2014

About 30 years ago, I took every welding class the local JR college had, learned a lot and had a ball!
I saw a lot of kids that took a few classes, bought an expensive fully rigged truck and were going to get rich working the local oilfields...
Then they find out that getting called out at 3 AM in the pouring rain for an hours work won't pay the bills.
Next thing, the truck is sold to the next sucker, and the old owner is flipping burgers!
You can make a living, but you need a shop job.
We also saw a few of the Nuke certified welders, big bucks, but you gotta be better than good, every weld is xrayed.
If you play with tractors, you gotta learn to weld (and cut)...

Happy Gilmore · Apr 3, 2014

I'm just looking to learn some basics in the class and eventually get a machine of my own to practice on scrap etc and hopefully get good enough to put it to use on the farm and try some projects of my own. I've always been fascinated by those who weld and fabricate with metal.

Mark @ Everlast · Apr 3, 2014

If you get a chance, take the OA class...especially if it involves welding and brazing in addition to cutting. That will be the best class you'll take because you'll get all the skills you need for TIG and of course MIG>

Reverser · Apr 3, 2014

Mark @ Everlast said:
If you get a chance, take the OA class...especially if it involves welding and brazing in addition to cutting. That will be the best class you'll take because you'll get all the skills you need for TIG and of course MIG>

+1 What Mark said. :thumbsup:

CAT97 · Apr 3, 2014

Wish we had a local vocational school that taught welding. Doggone local JC don't have any thing of the sort cept art class
and computer stuff. Maybe one of the local high schools has a class. I have a stick welder but don't get to use it very much
also don't know how to make a very good weld.

Happy Gilmore · Apr 4, 2014

I have 2 vocational high schools within 10 minutes of me. One of the schools offers a night continuing education program, the other does not. The course cost me $175 for 7 sessions. Another vocational HS 30 minutes from me is charging $454 for 6 sessions. Two and a half times the cost :thumbdown:

Happy Gilmore · Apr 4, 2014

Mark @ Everlast said:
If you get a chance, take the OA class...especially if it involves welding and brazing in addition to cutting. That will be the best class you'll take because you'll get all the skills you need for TIG and of course MIG>

Mark, I may look into that next time around.

Arc weld · Apr 4, 2014

Hopefully the school will have some different machines so you can really see the difference a better machine makes. It's money well spent taking a course. Have fun!:thumbsup: