mig welding course info cheshire.

[andrew hewett]

hi im looking for mig welding courses in cheshire i went to cheshire handbridge college and in hour completed 3quarters of level one course i have owned a 180 amp oxford arc for some years and have just bought my first mig clarke 151 turbo my question is should i go down the city in guilds road or BRITISH STANDARDS qualifications?? the handbridge course is £450 for level one! i found it very easy so can i skip level one and just do level 2 or three?? or do you have to complete all levels?? been working for agencies doing general dogs body jobs 60hr wks for pocket money with a family of 6kids to support im looking to follow my passion gain a trade at the same time. any advice would be great? are there any other colleges or welding training in cheshire im in ellesmere port area.

 

[backpurge]

Most employers are interested in experience and what welder approval qualifications (codings) you have. So if you fell you are up to it (and it sounds as if you think you are) you could get yourself at least a couple of approvals to EN 287 for £450, don't know of anywhere in Cheshire that could do this, although there will be somewhere, the nearest place to you I know of would be Wilkinson Welding in Widnes

 

[andrew hewett]

thanks for the heads up mate. im looking into it now looks like its a better option fanacially!lol will do my home work research before i make that call.

 

[backpurge]

Just spotted a typo above Andrew, it should be Worsley not Widnes, sorry

 

[tedmagnum]

There is a One day a week course for Level 2 and 3 Welding and Fabrication at Twleve Quays college in Birkenhead. I did the level two last year and it was very good. The teacher, Steven Hunter is ex Nuclear standard and a brilliant teacher. After 8 months of college, I went from someone who held an arc torch with his teeth to someone who was welding nice Aluminium Tig joints with a proper understanding of the processes. ... I also learnt A LOT of theory and came out with a L2 NVQ qualification.. A good foundation for an amateur.. I don't think you learn anything properly without personal instruction from someone who really knows what they're doing...

Best money I ever spent...

 

[andrew hewett]

There is a One day a week course for Level 2 and 3 Welding and Fabrication at Twleve Quays college in Birkenhead. I did the level two last year and it was very good. The teacher, Steven Hunter is ex Nuclear standard and a brilliant teacher. After 8 months of college, I went from someone who held an arc torch with his teeth to someone who was welding nice Aluminium Tig joints with a proper understanding of the processes. ... I also learnt A LOT of theory and came out with a L2 NVQ qualification.. A good foundation for an amateur.. I don't think you learn anything properly without personal instruction from someone who really knows what they're doing...

Best money I ever spent...

thanks mate im doing nvq lvl one at min im finding very easy to be honest i completed 4 of the 5 project peices first night first hour!lol and i already have basic understanding of the mig but hopefully once i get this course out the way i can either start level 2 or a BS EN287 and learn some new stuff. feels good to be doing something i enjoy doing and working towards a fresh career path.-

 

[tedmagnum]

Yup... For me it was a great feeling to finally 'GET IT' after struggling so much as a home amateur.. Even now I'm still practice more than perfect but I wouldn't of been even a fraction as good as I am now with out that course. I think it's the ability to burn through someone else's materials and gas. Doing joints over and over, ENDLESSLY, with someone just nudging you in the right course. The knowledge that it wasn't the equipment letting you down and just your technique really helped too.

Also, you're with about 10 other lads all at the same level. All egging each other on with a bit of very healthy competition..

 

[andrew hewett]

ye thats true its good to be able to weld for an hour solid useing their materials gas leccy etc now youve pointed that out i feel bit better for doing the course. its the high light of the week to be honest good luck with your future welds!

 

[Ksandman]

I also studied under Steve Hunter at Twelve Quays. He is an amazing teacher and really takes it seriously. Highly recommended!

 

[richi b]

Does any one have a kink to the 12 quays course please

 

[richi b]

Sorry found a link is this the course you are on about please

 

[tedmagnum]

It's on the wirral metropolitan college website. Level 2 fabrication and welding. Its all welding though. Ignore the name. Ask to speak to Steve Hunter... He's the teacher.

 

[richi b]

http://wmc.ac.uk/courses/search-courses/?page=leaflet&Code=E140

 

[Kent]

Be careful about vocational qualifications, they tend to mean different things depending when you took them. I don't know what sort of money you are looking and what if anything you are doing now for but go knock on a few doors of local potential employers.
Mostly people are judged by where they have worked in the past, daft really some of the worst I ever met had come from genuine and impressive firms "from" being the bit one should remember in that! It don't matter what trade some get into a job from what they have maybe not done very well in the past.
Codes I should rate far higher than a C&G but a test and trial period and attitude still more again

 

[tedmagnum]

As an amateur, the course was great for me. Saved me hundreds of hours of self teaching trial and error. Learnt a hell of a lot.. It won't open a door to a professional welding job but it sure was a some rungs up the ladder. Like I said earlier.. Even for DIY, it would be well worth the investment. There was also a lot of class room theory too which was invaluable.

 

[mr migwire]

i see an avatar change comming on... i did all my practice on a mates farm with stick then went to college to learn basics, with mig i bought a small gasless plant then got hooked and ended up with bigger better machines,

doing courses is fine but get plenty of practise at home and it may sound daft but you could learn loads from watching youtube videos too.

 

[tedmagnum]

Best thing about the course is an endless supply of materials, gas and having no option but to practice the same joint for 7 hours straight until its perfect. At home its far too easy to throw your torch down and put the kettle on when you're fed up.. YouTube is great. Use it myself. But no substitute to a professional sitting next to you.