Novice seeks training and advice

[Christopher Duncan]

Greetings all. I just signed up to this excellent and hugely informative forum as I have a new interest in welding.

I am ambitious to do some metal sculpture as a hobby but have never done any welding, brazing or soldering in my life. The projects I would like to do would involve welding of aluminium tube and rod, and some aluminium sheet.

What I would like is tuition in the practice of welding. There are courses held at colleges locally here in East Sussex but these are of the City & Guilds variety for those intending a career in welding; I am sure they are very good but this is not what I am looking for. There are of course numerous video tutorials on YouTube, placed by well meaning individuals, but I think nothing beats one to one expert tuition and hands on experience.

What I would like to find an experienced, patient someone in the East Sussex, Kent, south east area who would be prepared to share their expertise with me for a few hours or a day, just to get me started. I am a practical chap – 26 years with BBC TV as a broadcast engineer (now retired) and 7 years experience of woodworking / furniture making, with good appreciation of health and safety matters. I am hoping I won't be a complete numpty with a welding torch but I guess I won't know until I try.
I am not looking for a freebie. On a budget, yes, but I am not broke so paying my way is not an issue.

If anyone has any useful advice or feels like taking on a novice student, please do get in touch. It will be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Chris
Bexhill on Sea
East Sussex

 

[Robotstar5]

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum, try contacting forum member Chunkolini, he runs metal sculpting/welding courses.

 

[Malvern]

Welcome Chris, yep I would second that! I did one of his courses, the man is completely mad (in a good way but don't tell him that ). You will learn and be inspired and his enthusiasm is infectious. Unfortunately he's not near you but well worth it.

 

[Fastfingaz]

Wow Christopher sounds as if you can contact that man It'll be like you going to college,,,good luck,,,,,,,,

 

[Shedendman]

Hi Chris,we share the same name how weird,lol,I'm up in Uckfield i can get you through the basics of welding steel which is good for starters,but as for sculpture work thats really down to what you see,its a make it up as you go along thing,what might not look good to you may be a work of art to others.
Have a look through the sites sculpture section see what others have done.
PS watch out though,once you start this stuff its a nasty bug

 

[chunkolini]

Hi Chris
I would suggest forgetting using aluminium for a while. Steel is a great material to work with, fairly easy to weld, easy to chop up and reweld something that is a large part of the process. It is also of course cheap to buy and can be scrounged easily.
I been running courses/workshops introducing people to welding and sculpture for a few years now and know of quite a few people who have gone mad afterwards and bought welders, plasma cutters, built sheds and got well in
As Stalwart says it is an addictive game. My plan was a little hobby to keep me out of the way. As it is it wrecked my life.
Twenty year career down the pan and I now spend all my time in a large shed playing loud music wearing a bucket on my head and talking to myself.
Give it a go.
it would be worth finding some tuition before starting.
I did a short night class at my local tech college to get me going.

Chunko'.

 

[Christopher Duncan]

Many thanks to all those who have generously responded to my appeal for advice and tuition.
I have had the good fortune to find an excellent resource very close to home. Today I visited the Multi Skills Workshop which is located just outside Eastbourne in East Sussex. The centre offers tuition in brazing, MIG, TIG, oxy-acetylene. It also has a forge and metal casting as well as lathes and milling machines. It is an amazing place - created and run by a really nice chap named David Boniface, a retired metalwork and CDT teacher. The place is absolutely immaculate - not a spec of swarf or a shred or sawdust anywhere, well lit, warm, car parking right outside - the perfect place to learn a new skill. So I have enrolled in a Wednesday evening welding course and could not be more happy, and cannot wait to start welding!
David's centre is fully equipped for woodworking also, and he runs a variety of courses so if anyone in the area wants or needs tuition, assistance, or just a superbly equipped workshop to rent bench space by the hour, I would suggest getting in touch with David Boniface. It is a very, very impressive place. Website is http://multiskillsworkshop.co.uk/
Thanks once again to all those who read or responded to my post, you guys are great.
Best wishes,
Chris