Holy crap! I've been looking at different welding courses to take at the community colleges around here. The closest one doesn't offer any, the next closest one has me taking four courses before I get to MIG instruction. This one is from College of the Canyons (probably a 45 minute drive on Mon and Wed nights). Does this sound like the right one?

WELD 120 INDUSTRIAL WELDING I
5 units, may be taken four times
3 hours lecture, 6 hours laboratory weekly
A trade-technical course offering related theory and
vocational skills in oxyacetylene, shielded-metallic arc,
TIG, and MIG welding. Also included are related mathematics,
theory, labor management and organization,
safety and fire control, shop metallurgy, testing and
welding design. CSU

When I took my class through the college the description was exactly like that and we didn't ever touch a mig because the main idea of welding is actually learned with oxy-acetylene and SMAW we were shown TONS of different types of welding from submerged to tig to brazing but mostly concentrated on the two mentioned before...that class sounds like a good starting point

Most courses are like that. I took the first course which showed me how to oxy/fuel weld and cut and also SMAW. Once you have the basics of the SMAW, you should be able to pick up the MIG fairly easily. The metalurgy portion was great. It gives you the fundamentals for most welding types. My course was at Modesto JC, but I'm sure they are similar.

That would be my suggestion too. Get yourself comfortable with gas welding and SMAW and you can teach yourself MIG and TIG with a little practice. When I took welding back when I was in high school, I learned gas welding and cutting first. This teaches you how you should be controlling heat, as well as how to properly add filler. Then I moved to SMAW and got good at it in flat and horizontal (vertical is a bitch) From there I spent a few hours working with TIG applying what I learned in SMAW and gas. I spent almost no time at all on a MIG (less than a hour or two) until I bought my own and learned from applied knowledge and practice.

Once you know HOW you are supposed to do it, the rest is just practice.

I'm going to get a welding training video . There are a bunch of schools making them and you will get the same info for less money . Then with the money you save on the school you can buy equipment and practice all you want ... A small Oxy torch set up you can get for around 300$ . 350 to buy a good set of tanks
Once you have mastered Oxy the other welders come natural ..

Bear

Im planning on taking a welding course at my JC this coming semester, and I can't wait.. I suppose what others have said is true, once you learn how to control the heat and use oxy-acetelene, the rest can come naturally with practice.
Scott :grinpimp:<><

Fawk the JCs... Go to Simi Adult Education. Their course is about $175, and you do what you want. If all you want is MIG, that's what you do. No specified class schedule, so it's easy to plan around your work.

I hadn't thought of Simi Adult Ed. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look it up.

Hey Jeepskickass - you're right over the hill. We should hook up for a run one of these weekends. I know we're headed out to Truckhaven (Salton Sea area) for New Year's. Maybe you guys can hook up with us (Point Mugu 4 Wheel Drive Club).

:eek: HEY VENTURA COUNTY WHEELERS !! :eek:

I am originally from CAMARILLO ...stuck in the Land of "It's A Dry Heat!"
I still have a few buddies that live out there that wheel.
Do you only run with members or do ya take any "walk ups" :question:
I have set a deadline goal to have my FSJ done before EJS '02!! :rolleyes:It's only been perkulating for the last four years!
When its finally done it would be kewl to get back "home" and do some wheelin'! If ya would keep my name on your lists I'd ike to go on some runs/outings. One of my buddies here on Pirate goes by "Gozuki" and still lives out there. I'm sure he'd like to hook up with you all as well.
BTW... Gozuki is a fawkin bada$$ welder and does his own fabs!

Tigger4X :jeep:





Hey Osama! If you don't like the horns, don't wave the BIG RED flag at the bull !! :nuke: :nuke: & kisses :barf: ... :usa:

We'll wheel with whoever wants to go with, as long as they're not a jackass!

Originally posted by withamc
We'll wheel with whoever wants to go with, as long as they're not a jackass!

:confused: Stupid a$$... hmmm... Nope! Lame a$$... hmmm... Nope! Dumb a$$... hmmm... Nope! Uhhhh... Jack a$$... don't think so... :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Maybe we'll wheel someday... soon!!

Thanks for the open invite! Tigger4X :jeep:

We will wheel with anyone, as long as they're not bigger a$$holes than us. :rolleyes: There might be a few down at Truckhaven for New Year's, but nothing definite. But we WILL be there for TDS. Send me an e-mail, or check our website. The BBS will be functioning again, soon.
Mike

videos suck, books suck. the only way to really learn is hands on experience go to the local community college. im atking welding 120 right now. started w/ gas then stick then mig now we are on tig. i have learned tons. 4hrs 1 day a week. teacher is a good ol boy, and damn good at welding. ive learned a shit load for my $167.00. Most teachers of welding will let you do what you want as long as you are welding. projects are incouraged and scrap metal is abundant.

You'll learn more if you just buy the welder and practice at home on small projects.

those instructors have to many students to keep track of to give you any individual attention.

scrap metal is cheap, buy some and practice.

Check out Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills...They have TIG, MIG, and etc. all in one class...when my schedule opens up I'll start taking welding classes there...

here it is...

http://www.piercecollege.com/usr/updates/soc/Spring2002/WELDING.htm

I have a 230V/120A MIG welder already. I've been practicing on scrap metal, I've welded some stuff on the trailer and an anti-wrap bar on the Jeep. I'm just a little nervous about welding structural stuff on the Jeep that might not hold. Plus I was asking in another thread about welding to the cast diff housing on my front Dana 44. I don't know enough to tell if I'm welding properly or not. So far it's held...

Originally posted by withamc
I have a 230V/120A MIG welder already. I've been practicing on scrap metal, I've welded some stuff on the trailer and an anti-wrap bar on the Jeep. I'm just a little nervous about welding structural stuff on the Jeep that might not hold. Plus I was asking in another thread about welding to the cast diff housing on my front Dana 44. I don't know enough to tell if I'm welding properly or not. So far it's held...


The name of the welding game is "penetration". If your getting a nice teardrop shaped puddle w/ even spacing on your weld your doin good(your travel speed is good). True, thats not the way to test a weld but, it's a good indication that your on the right path. Classes are a good idea, I admit I took some myself, but I found just starting with bumpers, rocker panels, shackle skids, etc... was a good way to practice on welding temperatures and penetration. Metal properties are important and, welding on cast is not a good idea.

Due to the way my front axle is set up, I have to weld a spring perch on top of the cast portion of my front Dana 44. I'm having a shop do it. The guy has done several - he pre-heats the cast and hits it pretty hard with the welder. I was going to try it myself - I did the rear - but I don't trust my welding for this. Thanks for the feedback.