Learning to weld

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Thanks for the generous offer, Gene. I'll probably try to get out there sometime this month and take you up on that. As to 30 being done, it's looking like a never-ending project already. Personally, I'll be happy when it's done just to cut down on the traffic in front of my place.

By the way, I don't live there. I don't own the condemned house or falling down garage and bank barn. The only structure there that's mine is the pole building. I'm working on it little by little. I finally got electricity hooked up just yesterday so that'll help a bunch. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>Is there really any such thing as "extra" attachment points?.</font color=blue>

No.

Never.

Any questions?

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Two things by way of updates. Saturday I got a flyer from the local community school system about their continuing education classes and they, too, offer a welding program for about half the money. It's fifteen four hour sessions and includes materials and will only cost me $140. Ironically, the price for "non-HS graduates" is only $95. Here all this time I thought education was supposed to be a good thing.

Also, they recommended the ARC welding class first. In fact, it's a prerequisite to the MIG and other classes. While the course title is ARC welding, the description states the emphasis is on basic welding. They don't offer anything entitled oxy-acetelyne but this sounds like it would cover the basics for me. Would this sound like a good way to go for me? Registration is open today and classes start in three weeks.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Gary, You talking about the Anthis Center?

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Yes, Tom. That's the place.

 

[mikim]

Just picked up some equip for my class - students have to provide their own helmet, gloves etc -- which is fine since I'd want my own anyway. I bought a helmet for $26 , fast change solar lens for $107, cheater lens for $8.50 and clear lens' to protect the other lens' -- for the amount of welding I plan on doing I figure this should work. $150 for a helmet, $7 for gloves , $4 for one of them silly lookin' hats, then the real money for a welder -- I'm going to start shopping the pawn shops around here - maybe pick up a deal. Sure don't want to tie up too much money in equipment -- I won't have money for materials -- then what good would all the toys be?
And if I find I do more than I'm anticipating right now - I can always pick up better equipment later and I won't have lost that much in the start-up. And if I discover I'm not a welder - like I discovered I'm not a brick layer - then the same is true - I haven't lost that much in stuff I'll never be using.
mike

 

[gmason]

My class(stick welding) starts this Thursday and I'm sure I'll need the same things. I've got a auto-darking solar helmet on the way from ebay. I'm hoping this will make a big difference on my welding skills, since it often takes me serveral times of lifting my helmet to get a arc started on the right spot.

gary

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Yesterday must've been the day to shop for welding class supplies. I bought a Hobart auto darkening helmet, a "chinker" hammer and wire brush. As it turns out, I've been using uninsulated welding gloves for years when I use my winch or tow chains so I already have those. All this time and I had no idea they were for welding. I just liked them because they were a heavier leather with extra long cuffs and came in XXL.

I forgot the silly looking hat, though. I did splurge and spend an extra $1.78 for the American Eagle and US flag design on my helmet instead of getting the plain black one. I figure it'll at least make mine easier to find. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Now I've got to go get one of those hats. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

What's the deal with the "clear lens to protect the other lens" you mentioned?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Gary, You going to Anthis?

 

[EdKing]

<font color=blue>What's the deal with the "clear lens to protect the other lens" you mentioned? </font color=blue>

You put a cheap ($0.99) clear plastic lens over the regular lens on your helmet to protect it from spatter. A lot cheaper to replace when it gets hard to see through from the pitting the spatter causes on the lens.