Learning to weld

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Tom,

Yes, it's IVY Tech State College here in Fort Wayne. This semester begins August 26 and ends December 21. The class with the "consumables fee" is just under $245, which didn't sound too bad to me. It's listed here as a three credit hour class that meets once a week either from 8:00 AM-12:50 PM or 5:00-9:50 PM

I'm going to try to call someone in the department there and make sure this MIG class is the best one for me to take for what I want to do.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>If I recall correctly, Shielded Metal Arc uses granular pellets (can't remember the compound) as the shielding media.</font color=blue>

What you're referring to is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/consumableseries.asp?browse=104|2275|Submerged%20Arc%20Consumables>submerged arc</A>. That's where there is a bare consumable rod or wire and the weld is protected by poured granules over the weld. I've never done it but I've heard it referred to by industrial weldors working on vessels (tanks) etc. If I recall correctly sometimes the unused granules are recovered and used again.

 

[RoyJackson]

"What you're referring to is submerged arc. "


YES, Yes!!!! That's it!!!

Thanks Harv!

 

[mikim]

I just signed up for my first welding class at the local comm college. I talked to the dept head and although the name of the class is oxy-fuel, he said it is more of an overall intro to welding. A little torch cutting, a little oxy-acy welding, a little mig, and a lot of arc. we have a lot of petro-chem industry down here and the classes like this at this school are set up to support that. It cost me $178 total because I don't live in the district - almost 1/2 that normally.
mike

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

That sure sounds like a deal, especially if you're in the district. How many hours of class are involved in yours? This one is supposed to be sixteen weekly four hour sessions. It's something like $221 plus $22 for "consumables."

I'll check into the oxy-acetyline class, too, when I call out there. Maybe that ought to be the first class I take, too. Thanks for your input.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>I'll check into the oxy-acetyline class, too, when I call out there. Maybe that ought to be the first class I take, too.</font color=blue>

That's the way I did it Gary. And I think it's the way it should be done if possible. The logic is you learn how to weld just using heat and filler rod. Once you have that you understand what's going on when a weld is being made. After that learning the other processes isn't about learning to weld. It's about learning another process for welding. It just makes it's simpler later on for folks like me I guess.

And I still love oxy welding. There's something fun about watching the material change color and then start to liquify and then moving it just with a little movement of your torch. And there yesterday I hooked up my new two hundred and sixty amp mig too. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[mikim]

$162 tuition & $16 lab fees for "consumables" aka rods - --- 5 - 10 pm every tue - thu & they are calling it a 4 hr course. That's 10 hours a week for 16 weeks. The "in-district" tuition is actually $114 plus the same lab fee. My wife may be gone by the end of the next 6 months - I'm not going to be getting home til after 10 -- 3 nights a week. Tue & Thu school & on Wed nights I'm starting to work with a group of old farts puttting some Vietnam era airplanes together for airshows. They currently have an F4D that's in flying condition and just needs to be kept that way, a "slick" huey - and 2 others they're working on aquiring that I'm not sure what they are. Should be fun.
My wife is actually supportive of all this. She says she wants me to learn to weld for her benefit --- honey doos?? -- and she's heard me yack about the 21 years military and all the guys enough to know that I want to do a little reconnecting there. It'll be "play time" for me and a chance to unwind a little.
mike

 

[genelp]

Hello Gary,
I assume you want to work on some of your equipment with your new welder. Stop by our shops (Fleet Service) and I'll show you our set-ups. Maybe you can get some ideas for your own shop. I think I figured out where you're at after you described where you live. Yes I go down Washington Center/Lincolnway, heading west quite often (I wonder if US 30 will be done this year?)

I will be out of town for the next two days so I won't look at this forum until Sunday at the earliest. Good luck with the welder!

Gene

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Mike,

I'm definitely going to check into the Oxy course. Ours are supposedly three hour courses that meet only half as much as your four hour course (one four hour session weekly for 16 weeks rather than your two four hour sessions).

You've got a great deal there, even at the out-of-district tuition.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Thanks, Harv. That makes a lot of sense. It sounds like that's the way to go. Besides, learning how to cut properly would be a big plus, too. One of the first things I want to do is to add some keyhole plates and extra tie down rings to my trailer floor. Is there really any such thing as "extra" attachment points?.