Training in Southampton

[Miss metal]

Hi all
I am an artist interested in learning welding to make sculptures. I read somewhere on this forum that someone was available to teach in the Southampton area and I would be interested in a few basic lessons.

 

[RapidResponse]

You could try Southampton Engineering Training association.023 8077 1908.
Or Southampton Tecnical College. 023 80 635222.
Both run various Welding courses.

 

[Miss metal]

Many thanks for that. Classes can be a problem though as I spend many months a year travelling. One to one training for several days or weeks would be ideal and would be perfect if all aspects of working with metal such as machining and finishing were covered. A local expert in working with metals with some time to spare would be perfect.

 

[Hitch]

If not, give it a go using the tutorials on this very forum, a fair number have now learned to weld succesfully with them, and a few questions on the forum as yuo progress.

 

[Sparkey]

If not, give it a go using the tutorials on this very forum, a fair number have now learned to weld succesfully with them, and a few questions on the forum as yuo progress.

Yes! why not! and we have a few artists on the forum already who could help you out! What kind of sculptures are you going to make, miss metal?

 

[pauld]

Hi all
I am an artist interested in learning welding to make sculptures. I read somewhere on this forum that someone was available to teach in the Southampton area and I would be interested in a few basic lessons.

Someone at work who runs the car club organised a short welding course at Sparsholt College (near Winchester). Was only about 4 hours, over two evenings, but I found it quite good to get the hang of mig a bit more. They also run longer courses that are open to the public: http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/pages/course_details.aspx?idCourse=406 I think that Southampton City College also do a 10 week course.

 

[Miss metal]

Thanks Pauld, Sparky and Hitch
Those are all great ideas. I want to make abstract sculptures loosely based on musical instruments. I would want to use painted mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium and perhaps brass. All this would require welding together shapes that are first cut out of panels and bent to shape. All the ideas are there but the technical no how is not. I am still at the stage of trying to find out what is possible to do in the garage using tools light enough to be portable yet powerful enough to achieve good results with practice. A few hours spent with an expert in working metal would probably enable me to judge exactly which skills need to be learnt and which tools to buy.

 

[pauld]

Thanks Pauld, Sparky and Hitch
Those are all great ideas. I want to make abstract sculptures loosely based on musical instruments. I would want to use painted mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium and perhaps brass. All this would require welding together shapes that are first cut out of panels and bent to shape. All the ideas are there but the technical no how is not. I am still at the stage of trying to find out what is possible to do in the garage using tools light enough to be portable yet powerful enough to achieve good results with practice. A few hours spent with an expert in working metal would probably enable me to judge exactly which skills need to be learnt and which tools to buy.

Well, it all sounds possible in a garage (I presume most people on here, including myself do their welding in a garage!!). Sounds to me like you will be looking at tig rather than mig (aluminium etc much better with tig). Sounds like you will also want a plasma cutter to cut out the shapes from the sheet metal. If you are buying new then I think you would be look at around £2000 inc vat to get the kit... (of course, I have never tig welded (yet) or used a plasma cutter, so other views might vary!!).

 

[Miss metal]

Thank you all for all these replies. I am slowly putting together a mental picture of what's needed. Perhaps a day spent with an expert in metals would help clarify things. That way I could choose the most appropriate courses to take.

 

[Miss metal]

Wow!! Me again. Just watched a video clip on the net about plasma cutting. This is EXACTLY the sort of thing that would cut intricate shapes with ease. Anyone with experience here?

 

[weldwise]

hi i live in fareham and have plasma cutters and welders your more than wecome to come round and have a go...?