Paul (Notts)
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:18 PM |
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welding course - any advice?
Finally got round to enrolling on a welding course ( 15 evening sessions ) at the local college. Any one got any good advice for a total novice..
Paul
Ps – also got my set of plans for my Terrapin (single seater ) with a good luck message from Alan Staniforth and his book. So this time next year I
start building again.
[Edited on 19/2/09 by Paul (Notts)]
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stevebubs
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:29 PM |
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buy yourself an automatic mask
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jacko
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:47 PM |
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Dont look at bright light with out a mask
get your self some welding gauntlets
and have fun
Graham
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handyandy
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:50 PM |
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hi,
i,m into my fifth week of a welding course at my local tech college, really enjoying it.
my tips are
make sure you have overalls & safety boots when you turn up on first night, at my college they sent 9 people home cos they didn,t have said items,
even tho it was on the instructions about the course, they all came back the following week with correct safetywear.
2nd tip
enjoy yourself, don,t worry how much metal you use, thats what its there for.
3rd tip.
you will i promise you, take home your first decent weld, to show the mrs/family, cos i did
best of luck.
andy
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:55 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
buy yourself an automatic mask
Seconded, got my youngest lad to buy me one for XMAS and wondered how the heck I managed without it.
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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MikeR
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 07:59 PM |
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We didn't need safety boots - but we all wore boots so i guess it didn't come up.
They gave us welding overalls and gloves.
For at home i'd go to welding shop, buy some gloves from there and wear them around the house a little to soften them up.
Looking back, i now wish i'd bought a solar powered welding helmet. It would have made life soooo much easier.
Good luck - if you do the same course as me, don't worry, the first 10 weeks are just messing around.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 08:00 PM |
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Heavy cotton overalls, decent gloves (don't buy expensive ones, just make sure they're comfortable), good boots that lace up above the
ankle (weld splashes hurt when they go down your boot!). None of this need be expensive if you shop carefully (e.g. army surplus boots - don't
need to be toe-cap jobbies)). Also, a leather apron is good - Draper ones are very cheap - and is very useful when you're using a wire brush in
an angle grinder (the flying wires are evil!).
Apart from that, get the best auto helmet you can afford - if you have a BOC depot nearby, look out for their special offers. Otherwise there are
plenty of decent ones on-line. I'm sure you'll get some recommendations here.
[Edited on 19/2/09 by David Jenkins]
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 08:23 PM |
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Don't pick up the piece you have just welded! Have seen it done more than once. All the other suggestions are good
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scootz
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 08:25 PM |
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Seen it done more than once?
I've done it... yep... more than once!
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omega0684
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 08:33 PM |
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can i ask how much it cost you to enrol?
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 08:36 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Don't pick up the piece you have just welded! Have seen it done more than once. All the other suggestions are good
Painfull memories 
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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thunderace
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:00 PM |
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E N J O Y Y O U S E L F
get an autodark helmet and flame retardent overalls read the washing instructions on them most are hand wash only or 30deg only.
seen flame retardent overalls go an fire before after the guy boiled washed them a few times .
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iank
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Don't pick up the piece you have just welded! Have seen it done more than once. All the other suggestions are good
Painfull memories
Flashbacks to catching a dropped soldering iron, by the hot end, though I only did it once 
Tip: for MIG listen to the noise (frying bacon) it makes when the instructor is demonstrating. When your welder is making the same noise it's
likely to be a good weld.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:03 PM |
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I disagree with lace up boots, if you are welding with any real amps, the spatter will burn through the laces in no time. Rigger boots are designed
for the job, get a leather apron while you are at it.
Auto masks are great if welding alone, but in company the darken when someone else flashes up - very inconvenient.
I would get a conventional mask with gold plate lenses 9EW to 13EW - the gold reflects the light back onto the workpiece which is very useful.
Screwfix do great gloves, get a heavy pair and some of the kidskin TIG gloves, they are great for light stuff.
I used to teach these courses at Cornwall College years ago - really good fun!
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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snapper
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:26 PM |
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Practice, practice, practice
Try welding up some stuff for the car, take projects in, act dumb and get the instructor to do some of the fancy stuff for you, I did.
Arc is OK, Mig/Mag is relatively easy once you get the hang of it, gas is fantastic gives superb welds but takes forever to master and i blew loads of
holes in the metal
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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martyn_16v
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:29 PM |
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Get comfy! No point in trying to put down a weld if you're in an odd position. Use both hands, rest your elbows/lower arm on something, and do a
'dry run' before each weld to make sure you can do it end to end without your elbow falling off the edge of the table. And get your head
down so you can see the weld pool properly 
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JEPY
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 09:55 PM |
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Definitely recommend the auto darkening mask for Mig/Tig/Arc.
I used the standard ones on the course I did and really struggled to see the workpiece properly until the arc formed. I've now got an auto
darkening one - it's brilliant.
Decent gauntlets are a worthwhile investment - the more flexible they are, the more feel you have.
Finally, make sure you make use of the instructor. Mither and make sure you get a decent level of tuition. All too easy for them to leave you be and
deal with everyone else if you struggle quietly!
J
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handyandy
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| posted on 19/2/09 at 10:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
can i ask how much it cost you to enrol?
my course was free, they do a few free courses per year hoping pupils will sign up for doing the "next level" course or going for nvq
qualifications which then cost, how much they cost , no idea.
andy
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Paul (Notts)
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| posted on 20/2/09 at 08:35 AM |
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Mines just set me back £95 for 15 2hr sessions.
Paul
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l0rd
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| posted on 20/2/09 at 11:19 AM |
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As i am doing a welding course as well.
You need
Fire resistant overalls. (Machine Mart have for £25)
Safety Boots
welding gauntlets
Auto Dimming welding mask (Important) Otherwise you will get dissapointed quickly.
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