Anything welding

I don’t know what kinda room they weld in. I’m a few hours a way from the school, i could maybe call and find out.

But i’m sure they probably do weld in a well ventilated room. The class does also tech about the safety stuff you need and how to be safe in the work area.

 

Yes. Our shop is very clean and climate controlled with very high ceilings and 2 smog systems

 

About the only comment I can make about contact lenses in a shop environment is to do all you can to keep anything from getting into your eyes. Whether it's chemicals, metal shavings, dust or whatever. Also, heat and infra-red can affect the lenses.

The biggest danger in the shop (in my opinion) is probably getting something between your eye and the lens. If you're welding, it's looking at the arc or possibly getting spark or slag in the eye.

As long as your cautious, shouldn't be a problem, right?

 

I've never known anyone who would wear contacts in a shop. All have always had prescription safety glasses. I've heard stories of contacts being burned to eyes from welding.

 

Thanks for all the info guy. I also have daily contacts so i get new ones out every day. all ways a clean fresh pair.


also with what you guys are saying, i may try and have laser surgery before i try and get into the class. I have been wanting to have it done anyways. I have had contacts/class(which i cant see out of very well, idk why i hardly ever wear them.) but i’b had them for about 10 or 11 years now. kinda tired of them. laser surgery is about 4k so kinda pricy but both my brother say it’s worth it.

 

well, finally admitting myself to the welding thread.

4 years as in-shop fabber of mild steel (gmaw, smaw, fcaw, fcaw(s) gtaw), aluminum (gtaw, gmaw(spool and push-pull), and stainless (gmaw, gtaw, smaw)

2 years as pipe-fitter/structural welding in-field with stainless (gtaw) and mild steel (smaw). doing industrial steam, domestic water, hydronics, (copper too, brazing and soldering) refrigeration, food-process tubing, and medical gas.

lots of fun. ask me anything

and oh, don't wanna hear shit about how my truck doesn't have sliders or bumpers. the LAST thing I want to do on a day off is fling sparks

 

Welcome! And yes i know what you mean but i do love working on my own truck when i can

 

thanks man, it would be different if I owned all the equipment. the company I work for has gotten progressively more strict on personal projects and with as busy as we have been, its a pain in the ass to get a vehicle in. it destracts people on the clock, have to explain to superiors that I bundled my order with theirs and they should check their stocks to be sure im not stealing material, yada yada yada.

someday I will have my own stuff lol, room being the hardest to get of all of it

 

so ive been taking welding classes at the community college and just finished a fabrication class. I am going to try to make some money welding and have a little fun too. Im not sure where it will take me. I already have a career, but my love is anything with wheels and a motor... so I own a tundra and thought i might start buy making skid plates and maybe other things like smokers. Just maybe... If i get good and make a solid product, id consider leaving my bread and butter for somthing i actually love, making stuff. that being said, i am about to buy my first welding machine. tell me why I shouldnt buy this thermal arc 211i. it seems like it would handle what im planning and it is portable, running off of 110 and 220. My thinking is, if I get really serious, id get much better down the line, but this one seems pretty good for a multiprocess welding machine. Does anyone have any opinion on this welder? Id appreciate the feedback.

 

oh and its about 1100 new

 

how is a welding class at a community college? I’m looking at taking one thats, M-F 8 to2:30 and about 12 months long.

 

Affordable! Ha. Its really good. I take night classes. The last class was a fabrication set-up class and I discovered I'm pretty good with a cutting torch. Its really fun and honestly I can't wait to start making things for my truck!

You know there are these schools like lincoln that charge you 30k to go into the welding program. The place I go charges about 225 for each class. Its awesome.

I'd like to be like some of these guys and just learn from someone, but I literally did not know anyone who could weld before I started classes.

 

Cool thanks man!

 

nice.

the one i’m looking at is going to require me to move, about 1.5h a way. I’m going going to drive like 70 miles to class and back 5 days a week.

I think i posted a link to the one i’m looking at a few posts up or a page back. teaches all kinds of stuff about welding. al different types of welding as well.

I know a few people that can weld. but they ether sold there welders, or live to far a way.

edit: the class i’m looking i could probably get a job welding some where.

 

the thermal arcs are pretty solid! the company I work for bought a few for the shop to "try out"

I talked with my old boss in the shop and he loves them! says they feed wire well, and tig much better than he expected.

I did notice a couple weeks ago that I didn't see any in use. mostly cause there are plenty of miller xmt's to go around though I think. and in that shop, the xmt is THE multi-process machine to run unless they are all in use

 

in my experience, if your looking to make money as a welder, ie, get a job in the field, learn stick welding. learn it well, as in 6g certified well, with an "R" stamp if the school will offer it.

learning to fabricate in-shop is awesome, but, again, in my experience, it is hard to make money in a shop environment, no matter what you know. the big money is in pipe. stainless process piping is flooded with young people from what I see, and most process guys are perfectly capable in sch. stainless too, so no money.

regular old carbon piping welded with regular old stick is what makes the money, especially in boiler systems and oil. and the best way to do it is to get your own truck, your own machine and tools, and "subcontract" for larger contractors. out here, a subcontractor that can consistently do x-ray passing welds makes 60-100 per hour. they have a setup for stick, and most do stainless also with a tig setup. that's all

I work for a company, and do ok, but next to guys that make much more money just because they have a machine on their own truck. keep in mind though that this route means you find your own work, are liable for anything that is not perfect, and also must carry huge insurance to even drive your rig on some jobs (like, in case you drove into a pipe at a refinery and cost millions in damage and production losses)

 

awesome! i havent heard anything bad about them so far and they are affordable, so ill be ordering one

 

Hey guys I havn't been able to read this whole thread because I don't have time, so sorry if this question has already been answered. I know how to weld, and went through two years of vo-tech in high school in metal trades. I also took classes at my community college. I'm looking for a small wire welder that can handle 3/8" to 5/16" thickness. This will take care of any small welding I have around the house or most farm equipment, also should be able to put some rock sliders on my Tacoma, although I don't know what the average thickness is with most sliders. What are some good value small welders? preferably 115v so I can hook them up in the carport. I know the duty cycle will likely only be 20-30% but that should allow me to get my projects done easily. I already own a Lincoln 225 stick welder but this would be easier on my dad to use if i'm not around. About what price range will I be looking at? And what are the better name brands? Thanks in advance for any help

 

Just now seeing this. But thank for the info man! I'll look into this!

 

random shots from jobs i did at work aluminum stainless steel and titanium