Funny you should ask,
I just registered today, it starts on the 30th.
I talked to the teacher, who's been teaching it for 25 years
he sounds cool and very excited about it, always a good sign.

The fee is more than previously advertised because they're including
materials and basic equipment, picked by the teacher (who uses it himself)
He said it's stick welding we're going to do.
It sounds like most of the course will be useful and plenty of room for
specific applications.

I got the feeling I'll be able to call him with queries or problems
ex-curriculum, possibly indefinitely. He's gung-ho to get people welding
and excited when someone wants to learn.
I'm pretty excited myself, wheee!

Cool. Keep us posted on your progress.

Hi Tango & friends,
I managed to mess up my back and went straight from the chiropractor
to my first welding class and got to cut steel with fire.

A real waker-upper, that.
Handling burning explosive gasses going through 1/4" steel like cheese.
Crazy if you think about it.

I like the simplicity of the Acetylene-Oxygen outfit: No power source,
just the portable bottles, hoses and torch (and a mad array of confusing valves).
I guess once you get used to it it's no more scary than driving a car,
which is pretty scary if you think about it too.

More when there's more to tell.

Linnea --- Sorry about the back (I can definitely relate)...but congrats on jumping into welding! You'll be cranking out neat metal work in no time. Do keep us posted on your progress and have fun.

Linnea-

I, too, look forward to hearing about how your classes progress. Welding is one of those, "gonna learn one day" skills on my very long list. First, I have to get that pesky degree out of the way, then welding, construction, furniture building, etc. classes will be on my horizon.

I hope your back troubles don't make your class more difficult. Will you have any kind of certification when you finish your class, or just classified "not a danger to herself or others"?

Have fun. It already sounds like a great class.

Jo

Starting to sort out some confusing concepts, lots of AHA! information,
like arc welding (got to try that last night) happening at such low voltage,
the process being a lot like caulking and seeming to be rather tedious except for
anticipating the product,
TIG having to do with stainless steel (not for me), etc.

Now I'm worried about my dog! He'll have to be locked up or wear a helmet too.

According to the teacher Jo, all welders start fires. I can corroborate,
watching them work in my buildings, and "butte welders" on the railroad track outside.
They're as mad as chefs!
I don't think this class ends with any certification, very basic.
I intend to hold on to my fear of explosives so I don't get careless.

Hey Linnea --- Have you "built" anything yet...an armature...a whirlly-gig...a tandem-axle trailer? How's it going?

Post a picture.
Here is my first welding project made when I was just a teenybopper. The head swivels from side to side. I still enjoy it. It was made with stuff used in my first ever job working in a copper mine for the summer.

{{gwi:65965}}

Hi guys,
just did my fourth class out of thirty, so nothing very exciting yet.

I'm working on making something better to wear besides a HUGE denim overall
that was all they had left in the store. Got some small holes in my leg so far.
I want something to throw on over other clothing, like a canvas or leather
apron with long sleeves and cut like a "shrug" at the top, so it covers your shoulders.
Maybe cut to a separate "chaps" type apron for each leg.
Existing "protective" clothing is as retarded as other men's wear, sorry guys,
but this is my business, I know bad design when I see it.

And I will want the helmet you talked about Tango, if I'm going to be doing
this on a regular basis. I've "flashed" myself at least ten times already.

All we did last night was cut ourselves 2 pieces of 1/4" stock and weld
them together at a 90 degree angle. The rod still sticks for me, getting angry helped!

CUTE David! You must have been a beutiful baby!

Hey, he's a SUPERBIRD! :)

I could never make one now. All I have is a little flux core wirefeed welder. I haven't touched anything else in many years.

So sorry David! I should have seen that right away.
What are the balls? (on the bird) Why did you give up welding?

Ah, the balls.
I still have several of those around the house.
The balls are used by the thousands in giant spinning ball mills that grind the ore. Approx 1 1/4 and 2" in diameter.
My job was to keep refilling the mills with balls.

I never welded much but the guys in the machine shop taught me how to make stuff in my spare time. I never welded again after that summer until a couple years ago.