1st Welding Project - Bucket hooks

[Henro]

Hi GSS,

It was a community college continuing education class at CCAC.

Yes, highly worthwhile. 3 hours, one day per week, for ten weeks. Try to take a class. basic welding is a nice skill to learn.

I should have done it before I was your age... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GSS]

Thanks Bill. I'll look into it.

- Gerald

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I took mine through the adult education section of the local community schools. The same classes (ARC & MIG) were offered through the local vocational technical college as well. In a lot of areas of the country there are what are called 'community colleges' that offer such classes. I took ARC last fall and MIG last spring. Both good classes. I'll do mostly MIG welding but taking the ARC was a prerequisite and, after my first hour in the MIG class I understood why. Even if you're only intending to do MIG welding, I'd strongly recommend that you take an ARC class first. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
I've looked into the adult evening classes here, along with the community colleges. The cheapest I can find is at the adult evening class. $600 for a course that runs from Sept. to May /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Hard to justify just for "wanting to learn".
BTW Gary, I ordered some hooks from AW Direct and got them today. Y'all may see some posts from me this weekend if things go OK for me.

 

[Skeptic]

Wow that is a really steep price for the welding class.
Sounds like it is for a certificate program. At the technical college I took mine at it was an evening class (they also have Saturday) that had an "Introduction to Welding" class. This class teaches oxy-fuel, arc, MIG, TIG, etc. This class can be repeated as much as you want.
You should check and see if they have a community or continuing education class that falls outside of a certificate program. Or an evening class that compliments the certificate program.
I am thinking about taking the class again already (I am having a GREAT time), they will have 80 hours (5 credit hours) of instruction for $251 (price went up from this summer, it was $228). All materials but tungsten are provided. This will go from September through December two nights per week (5:30 to 9:30).
You could try to see if they will offer an "independent study option" for a reduced rate. -- could be up to the instructor and you on shaping the "program"
Good luck, it is worth the effort.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I am thinking about taking the class again already (I am having a GREAT time), they will have 80 hours (5 credit hours) of instruction for $251 (price went up from this summer, it was $228). All materials but tungsten are provided. </font>

Skeptic,

You got a deal there! I had to pay $180 for the arc welding class...and it was just 30 hours! Still worth it though...

There is just no placing a value on having an experience eye look at your work and giving you guidance...I don't regret spending that money even if I felt it was kind of steep...

Looking at it another way...a good auto darkening helmet will cost over $250...or maybe I should rephrase that as a good auto darkening helmet...

 

[gsganzer]

I've been using an "auto darkening helmet" for a couple of years. They're great for indoors. Outdoors, you tend to lose the advantage. With mine, the sun will trip the "auto" feature, negating that convenience. I resorted to buying a regular helmet with a large flip up lense. That way I can weld and then flip the lense up and grind or chip slag. I use both helmets equally, depending on what I'm doing. The better "auto" helmets may have a sensitivity adjustment, mine doesn't.

When you start doing a lot of welding projects, you quickly learn that you need a lot of different style clamps (I guess it's the same with woodworking). If you buy any C-clamps, make sure they have copper plated threads. This prevents splatter from sticking and ruining them. I use a magnet clamp quite a bit, you can find them at the welding shop or NH Tool. These are great for holding pieces together with the proper weld gap, so you can get a full penetration weld. I also highly recommend some welding leathers that cover your arms and chest. I just welded up an overhead hoist in my shop and they kept the majority of the splatter and slag from burning holes in my chest and sleeves.

 

[5030]

Since when does TSC sell Kubota orange? You sure you aren't looking at AC orange?

Another thing to remember is Kubota sells 2 orange colors, Orange I and Orange II

 

[dmartin88]

I bought a can of Kubota Orange paint at TSC and it definitely didn't match my BX22, it was orange but the tractor seems to have a bit more "red" so will have to try again!

 

[botaman2]

EXCELLENT JOB!! Nice looking weld's,placement of hooks,overall layout. Your bucket teeth also look very manacing. GOOD LUCK! using your new bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif