There any good summer welding courses out there?
Discussion
My Dad has a some cars which could do with a bit of welding, and though he has a Mig welder he's usually too knackered after working himself to death to get any work done on them, or improve his elds. Being the student bum I currently am, I had the idea of doing a short course in welding during the holidays. Anyone know of any which are half decent and not just money-spinners for cash-strapped colleges?
spikeyhead said:
find a local one man band back street garage, swap some time labouring and doing simple jobs for him in exchange for a little tuition.
Great idea this. The number of times i've tried this! Response every time is "insurance issues". 
The world is a worse place for the claim and blame culture. 
Just get hold of some scrap metal panels and practice. Cleanliness is next to godliness with welding, although make sure if you use brake cleaner its all fully evaporated off, as it produces some nasty gases otherwise.
You might like to try holding a copper mallet behind the weld, not only does it take a lot of heat out of the join, so as to lessen distortion, but also, helps you to not melt holes with the filler wire.
The way I was taught was to start with gas welding, to learn how to control the weld pool, which I still believe was a great way to start. MIG is easy enough to learn though, clean, shiny metal is the key to any good weld. I prefer to tig weld, but wouldn't advise you start with it!
You might like to try holding a copper mallet behind the weld, not only does it take a lot of heat out of the join, so as to lessen distortion, but also, helps you to not melt holes with the filler wire.
The way I was taught was to start with gas welding, to learn how to control the weld pool, which I still believe was a great way to start. MIG is easy enough to learn though, clean, shiny metal is the key to any good weld. I prefer to tig weld, but wouldn't advise you start with it!
Mr.Jimbo said:
Just get hold of some scrap metal panels and practice. Cleanliness is next to godliness with welding, although make sure if you use brake cleaner its all fully evaporated off, as it produces some nasty gases otherwise.
You might like to try holding a copper mallet behind the weld, not only does it take a lot of heat out of the join, so as to lessen distortion, but also, helps you to not melt holes with the filler wire.
The way I was taught was to start with gas welding, to learn how to control the weld pool, which I still believe was a great way to start. MIG is easy enough to learn though, clean, shiny metal is the key to any good weld. I prefer to tig weld, but wouldn't advise you start with it!
Good advice there.You might like to try holding a copper mallet behind the weld, not only does it take a lot of heat out of the join, so as to lessen distortion, but also, helps you to not melt holes with the filler wire.
The way I was taught was to start with gas welding, to learn how to control the weld pool, which I still believe was a great way to start. MIG is easy enough to learn though, clean, shiny metal is the key to any good weld. I prefer to tig weld, but wouldn't advise you start with it!
I was taught using oxy/acet and although it was really hard to get to grips with it, it was a thing of beauty. Brazing as well. Learnt using a stick as well but there is a lot of science to it and not really needed in this day of Mig. I would just read a few articles and a bit of youtube and you will be ready to go. At the end of the day it's about burn it and see.
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