This is a list of welding classes at the local junior college. I want to learn to weld to weld exhausts, automotive brackets, bungs in pipes, intercooler pipes and things like that. which class would be best suited for me. I know absolutely nothing about welding but I want a class that is going to offer hands on work and I would like to learn relatively quickly since I am a fast learner. Which do u recommend.

WELD 40- INTRODUCTION TO WELDING
Fundamentals of welding process related to the areas of construction, machine tool, aerospace, and transportation.
(this last looks good but it says fundamentals of welding process. I dont know if that means we just learn about welding and not actually do it.)

WELD 50- OXYACETYLENE WELDING
Oxyfuel fusion, non-fusion welding, and cutting. Develops understanding of fundamental skills in modern practices.

WELD 51- BASIC ELECTRIC ARC WELDING
Advisory: WELD 50
Basic eletric arc weling, standard electrodes and alloy electrode selection, and AWS procedures for certification.

WELD 70A- BEGINNING ARC WELDING
Develops manipulative skills and techniques for the welders in the shielded metal arc and flux-colored arc welding processes.

 

I would go right trough and start at intro and take everyone that they offer. Thats is you have never welded and want to expoerience the full spetrum of welding.

 

if WELD 40 gets you on all the machines, i.e. stick, mig, tig, OA, plasma i would go with that.


WELD 50 is OA welding which is not the best for most automotive repair/fab.

WELD 51 and 70 look like they have a pre-req. of WELD 50, so you wouldnt be able to take those with out taking WELD 50.

however, WELD 51 and 70 look like what you want.

i would recomend emailing the prof. and seeing what he says

 

GMAW and GTAW. I felt the OXY Intro welding courses were a drag

 

what exactly is arc welding? i think weld 70a doesnt have a pre-req because there is also weld 70b and 70c and those require 70a to be taken first. it seems like 70a is the beginning to welding and 70b is intermediate and 70c is more advanced.

 

"arc welding" is an INCORRECT term that is often used when somebody is speaking of stick welding, aka SMAW (shielded metal arc welding).

Most welding classes suck pretty hard....since the teachers usually do. Teaching welding is a cushy job for old welders that can no longer keep up the physical pace and demands of welding for a living. It also pays pretty well usually...so it's the dream job for many welders. It's great for lazy people.

 

Knowing nothing about welding, I bought a $100 fluxcore welder (gasp!) from harbor freight. I made my downpipe with it (Welded the stock cast exhaust housing of the turbo to my mild steel pipe even!) and welded in my WB O2 bung, custom wastegate mounting bracket, and various other stuff with it. It is an ok first welder and you will learn the basics. I would really recommend getting something that uses shielding gas, because your welds will be cleaner and better without all the crappy splatter. But if all you need is to do some charge piping and a downpipe, a fluxcore will do that job all day long.