Which welding class to take???

I want to learn how to weld and have looked at the classes offered by the local college and I need some help in figuring out which class to take.

Here is what they are offering:

1. Intro to welding fundamentals
2. Intro to shielded metal arc welding
3. Intro to gas metal arc (MIG) welding
4. Intro to gas tungston arc (TIG) welding
5. Intro to pipe welding

Thanks for your input.

 

1+4 IMO

 

I think you should do all of them if it is possible. I have been welding since I was 12 years old and I am now 35. Trust me, knowing how to do every type of welding has major advantages! It also helps if you ever decide to take a job as a welder.

 

why is this in the 2nd gen section





what he said ^^^ the more qualified you are, the more marketable you are

 

1 and 3. I just took intro to welding at mt san antonio college and you learn how easy mig is.

 

All if possible. But if funds are tight definitely take a TIG class. If you can TIG weld you should be able to MIG weld no problem.

 

The 2nd Gens have welds in them...

 

Take all of them, Im currently enrolled in a 2yr welding course to get a degree. Its taught me WAY more than I would have ever expected, I know people who only went one year and signed up for the last. Its well worth the time if your really interested in it.

 

second that!! great to learn it all i prefer tig but you cant use it for everything

 

The class I took at our local community college was just titled "basic welding". Probably a cross between the first two that you have posted.

I would start with #2. You'll spend a lot of time just laying down beads and learning how to work with the different type of rods.

If you just want to learn how to weld on your own stuff, I don't see the need for a lot of "fundamentals".

MIG is definitely easy once you learn to stick weld.

If I ever take another class, I will take the TIG class.

 

Take all...

I took all the class at my local CC. Learned a lot. Its good to know how to weld with oxy fuel, braze with mapp gas.

Coming to tig from oxy fuel was REAL easy.

 

Take as many classes as possible, with welding it seems the more you learn the more you earn.
Also the more you learn the cooler the truck they give you.

 

TIG and MIG are completely different.

Are you able to choose which one you want to take. Usually they make you take them in order because of prereq. requirements

 

I know they're different. But MIG is incredibly easy.

 

Agreed, most of the high strength steels now require TIG welding, plus you can do aluminum. Also, TIG welding is better for sheet metals; you will have a lot less warp and burn through because the gas draws some of the heat away.

If you just want cheap for your home acetylene is nice, and you can always use a torch for loosening up/burning off stuck bolts.

 

You can also weld aluminum with a MIG!

 

They most likely won't let you jump ahead in the classes unless you can demonstrate you know what they would've taught you in them. I am not sure about Texas But in Cali we have RoP classes that would teach you all forms in one semester. If you can choose I'd go with mig as it is the cheapest, simplest welder that can give you pretty looking welds. Arc is good to know as you can do it on the trail with a pair of jumper cables, a battery and some sticks. Tig can weld almost anything, and produce the nicest welds. It is the most difficult of the 3, and the machine is the most expensive, with the average good machine running into the 3-5000 range.

 

If im not mistaken, since its a college, you probably have to take one after the other ect... I know thats how my college was with welding. Im saying that because not just anyone can just jump in and start TIG and pipe welding. Those types of welding are the hardest types of welding out there. You would need skills first. So just start with #1 and work to #5 and you will be set

 

no offense but i hope you dont plan to make a career out of it, stainless tig, and pipe welding though, at least pipe welding you'll learn a little something about a real trade, fitting pipe.

a welder is just another tool in a fitters tool box, as they say....

 

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