Do you have to be over 16???

[Ollie1]

Hi, I am 15 and I am finding it really hard to find a MIG welding course that you don't need to be over 16 Do you have to be over 16 or are there private places that you can go and learn? I want to just buy one and learn myself but my dad wont let me and says that I need to go on a course to see if I will like it...

Cheers, Ollie.

 

[slimjim]

does your school not do metalwork?

or can you not ask a local company to help you out, or even ask on some other forums, like retro rides, or a local based forum

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi



if you were close, I would teach you the basics, cumbria is a fair distance though, maybe someone closer can do that for you.

 

[Ollie1]

Ok thanks, I'll have a look round some forums then. Worst case scenario is me just buying one and learning the hard way. My school has a welder but we are not allowed to use it because of the other pupils looking.

Thanks, Ollie.

 

[NeilH]

does your school not do metalwork?

or can you not ask a local company to help you out, or even ask on some other forums, like retro rides, or a local based forum

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi



if you were close, I would teach you the basics, cumbria is a fair distance though, maybe someone closer can do that for you.

this is exactly what i was going to suggest when i read the first post.

there must be somebody on here local to this lad to let me have a go of a MIG.

 

[Iain Westland]

Sorry, but Boltons a bit far for you too.. Nothing wrong with jumping straight is though

 

[brightspark]

Sorry, but Boltons a bit far for you too.. Nothing wrong with jumping straight is though

hi there thought u had disapeared of the face of the earth

 

[Iain Westland]

nah, just very very quiet at work, you well?

 

[brightspark]

nah, just very very quiet at work, you well?

not 2bad same sh ,.,..,/t diffrent day. who knows with cutbacks it afects everyone

 

[Scamp]

My school has a welder but we are not allowed to use it because of the other pupils looking.

I had a similar problem when I was at school, and that was 25 years ago. But it wasn't an Elf and Safety thing, it was down to the fact that our metalwork teacher was a chippy and had no idea how to weld

Have you thought about contacting some local small fabrication shops to see if they would let you be a 'Saturday Boy' Although, there are the inherent health and safety and employment issues these days.

The offer of free labour might swing it for you and I would be very surprised if you didn't earn a few quid out of it anyway. But be prepared to start at the bottom, sweeping the floor, monotonous repetitive jobs and all the other crappy jobs, before you are allowed to play with the kit. Basically, you will be tested to see if you are willing to work in exchange for free welding leasons.

 

[rockjock620]

does your school not do metalwork?

maybe someone closer can do that for you.

It's a very long time since schools did that sort of thing, most of then only used oxy-acetylene even then. The regs on Safety (to say nothing of the costs) are far too tight these days - it's all graphics, cardboard engineering, electronics - stuff where kids can't get hurt. I know 'cos until ten years ago that's what I did. One of the reasons I "retired" early.

 

[Dr pepper]

I dont think you need to be over 16 to use a mig or any kind of set, I think the issue will be that training centre policys will be people over a certain age only, no disrespect to you but I think under a certain age your classed as a higher risk, also training centres and colleges probably only have liability insurance for over 16's.
Your best bet is to find a local smaller and freindly fabrication firm and see if they'll let you have a do with a couple of their sets, the worst you could do is screw up a couple of tips.
Maintenance departments in manufacturing plants (like this one) usually have a set knocking about if you know anyone who has that kind of job.
I'd show you a couple of tricks on my machines if you were a little closer, maybe someone here a bit closer will be willing.
Its really good to see someone as keen as I was at your age.

 

[tux]

Following on from slimjim, there is a guy on Retro Rides by the name of scaryoldcortina who occaisionally does workshops to teach the basics. Bit of legend he is, and he is in the North Yorks area somewhere I believe. May be worth following up.

 

[gavuk]

Shame you are so far away.......have a look at blacksmithing workshops ,they often do a little mig welding as part of their day courses,,,,,i'm sure you would enjoy the metal bashing as well

 

[Ollie1]

Thanks for all your replies! I will send a PM to that guy on the Retrorodes forums and have a chat with him I had a look for some local firms on the internet and they seem to be pretty large and I doubt that they will take me but ill keep looking.

Thanks, Ollie.