Stick welding class, taking one finally

[Happy Gilmore]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Happy Gilmore]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.