Help - I'm going the wrong way!!

[Rich-G]

Hi everyone,

I think I'm approaching things the wrong way, and I'm gonna come a cropper sooner or later. I'm looking to learn some hobby welding, but I think that buying a welder first and then finding out what the hell to do with it could be a disaster as well as a right waste of my dough!

I am looking to learn basic TIG to become passable at a bit of hobby fabrication.

Rather than putting my money into a welder and then wondering what the hell to do with it, can any-one suggest a way of learning prior to buyng. I live in Driffield, East Yorkshire and I can't afford the prices that they're asking for college courses which I think are aimed higher than I really am prepared to go (I already have a trade, not looking for another!).

If anyone knows of anything suitable in my area or York area, please drop me a note - all help gratefully accepted!

Many Thanks

Rich

 

[NTwoO]

If you can afford a trip to NL, there is dutch company called rustbuster. They specialise in the hobby crowd and give 1 day intro courses at round 125 euro. The courses are good value for money and include a lunch and a set of gauntlets.

 

[Rich-G]

Definately worth thinking about! Anywhere a little more local that anyone knows of?

 

[Bigjoe]

How far are you from Leeds? I know the college of technology run welding courses.

Bishop burton college run courses according to their site.

 

[NTwoO]

and community services courses?

 

[Rich-G]

Bigjoe - I had a quick look at Bishop Burton - the prices looked pretty steep for a what I was looking to achieve!

NT - tell me more - what are these courses, never heard of them before...

 

[NTwoO]

They are specialised in the hobby crowd. Mostly car repair work and MIG courses. They stock a range of decent machines at reasonable prices. They also give a TIG course. It is mostly for people with little to no experience and entails mostly sheet welding. The welder doing the course is a self-employed welder that has been welding for 10 years now. He certainly knows his onions. I am not sure whether they can give the course in English. A quick telephone might tell you if that is possible. The course is a morning of theory/safety and an afternoon playing with machines provided. It is two people per machine taking turns. I did take my own machine. More info on the courses (in Dutch).

 

[Rich-G]

Anyone know if there's anything similar over here - around East yorkshire?

 

[Iain Westland]

Come over to Bolton. I will give you a day of instruction, then go home and do exactly the opposite and you should be pretty darn good. Never benn one to listen to the voices in my head, god told me it was stupid

proper answer ... work out what you think you will need to weld, buy a bigger machine and experiment with reference to whats written here. You will pick up the basics quickly and progress with all the help here. I know I have been shown my errors more in the few months of posting here than I did in the previous 6 years of point and squirt welding on my own.

Iain

 

[Rich-G]

Cheers auto - sounds like a plan!!

 

[restorer]

I had the same problem. In the end I asked a local car mechanic if he would teach me for payment or barter.

I only weld relatively small things (like decorative lanterns where the seems have split or fancy chandeliers) so four hours was enough for a grounding from which I could get going on my own. In payment I repaired and french polished a dashboard from some old Jag for him.

Try asking around.

 

[Rich-G]

Was coming to that conclusion myself. (The Day The Earth Stood Still!! Great film).

A combination of favours and the people on this forum would appear to be the way forward for me! Cheers everyone...