Welding course

[English Steve]

I have been helping a neighbour start to learn a bit about welding, and he now wants to move on and get a formal qualification. Exeter college are starting a City & Guilds 3267 basic introduction course in September, and I was hoping someone on here could advise if it's any good?
It is a 10 week night school course, 2 hours per week and covers O/A, Mig, MMA and Tig (and related Health & Safety). There are 5 practical tests and an oral exam to pass in order to get the certificate. Course cost is £108.00.
The cost seem reasonable, but 20 hours to learn even the basics of 4 different processes does sound a bit too short to me.
What does anyone think?

 

[jrmig]

Hi Steve

I did that course at our local college, I think you'll find the course covers only one type of welding per 10 weeks.

I have done MIG Level 1 and plan to do Level 2 in September. For level 1 you cover Laying on a weld on the flat, Lap Weld, Tee Fillet in horizontal & Flat and 90 deg outside corner weld. Pretty simple stuff really but I found it invaluable for making me practice like mad. At the end of it you have to submit 5 test pieces which are submitted to C&G for visual inspection - they are just looking for neat even welds. (Destructive testing doesn't come into it until level 2)

The oral test (although our college does it as a written test) just makes sure you know not to stick the wire up your nose and which end of the torch to point at the metal and a few other gems.

Is it worth it? My wife thinks it was - got me out of the house of an evening - and was great therapy lol.

jr

 

[RandyM]

Make sure you do your homework as this really helps with the course, don't just expect to go there, learn and not revise the teached material I would say its worth it with a nice certificate under your belt which will really help on you cv for any welding qualification requirements. Try and get some experience aswell this will help loads, offer your help for free with freelance welders etc etc. Check out this nice little site on welding with tips/instructions I set up! http://www.aussieweld.com.au/arcwelding/page4/page4.htm Just to give the welding enthusiast a grounding of info!

Good luck,
Randy

 

[English Steve]

Thanks both. I thought the way it was described to me sounded too good. I'll contact the college directly and ask a few questions.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

it sounds like the course I did 18 - 20 years ago, but that was about 40 weeks, September to June...and I only paid about £40 (but with inflation that was probably more than £108).

As suggested above, we spent about 10 -12 weeks on each type, gas, arc, mig, with a bit of gas cutting thrown in. Two evenings a week, one theory and one practical.

Regards
Peter