This would be a MIG welding basics class for people who already know how to use a MIG welder and need checked off on our Miller 252 and Hobart Handler, or people new to MIG welding who wanna give it a try. If there is enough interest I will post a class in a few weeks.
If you are a new welder, this class will get you the basics but don’t expect to be making pretty welds right off the bat. If there is interest, I’ll be doing a paperweight class where we can spend more time making pretty welds that you don’t have to cosmetically grind. Inside corners are pretty easy, outside corners take more practice to see what the puddle is doing and learn how to adjust welding parameters and travel speed.
Monday or Wednesday nights, or Sunday afternoons would be my preference for a class time.
Covid definitely complicates classes like this. We have welding helmets, but I personally would not feel comfortable wearing a hood that someone else has worn or encouraging someone to do that. So for this class you need to bring your own welding hood and gloves.
A fixed shade 10 will work fine for MIG if you can learn how to get your parts aligned and the gun pointed where you want to start and can flip your hood down without moving anything. If you think you may want to try stick or TIG or just want to make your welding time more enjoyable then you should consider an auto darkening helmet with adjustable shades 9-13. Auto darkening is much easier to use and if you plan on welding occasionally you will want one.
If you wear reading glasses, look for a helmet that has optional magnifier lenses. They have little clips for the magnifying lenses. Look for helmets with replaceable outer clear lenses. Sparks will hit the lens and it needs to be replaced once in a while. Bigger viewing area is better than small viewing area. I like Jackson helmets, they have nice headgear that is adjustable and comfortable.
Get mid weight MIG gloves, not heavy gloves that make it hard to feel the trigger or the parts if you are holding them for the initial tack weld.
Some green cotton welding sleeves are nice to have. I use welding sleeves and a cotton T-Shirt in the summer, Long sleeve Denim shirt with welding sleeves in the winter.
Metroplex Welding Supply has everything you would need. We get our shielding gas from them, very friendly to new welders compared to many stores I have been in.
1970 W. Northwest Hwy
Dallas, TX 75220
Phone: (972) 556-0213
I’d be interested. I took the Mig class literally a couple weeks before the shutdown and haven’t used it since. Even though I’m technically signed off, I definitely need the class again because I remember very little.
I’ve been looking at helmets on Amazon so I don’t have to spend a fortune, but not sure what is considered good. I really don’t want to spend $75+ on a helmet as a brand new beginner. I want to learn without breaking the bank.
While Randy has suggested buying your own helmet, you can still use DMS’s helmets. The drill was that you’re supposed to wear a cap, or bandana, or balaclava under them.
$75 won’t get you much of a helmet, so I’d hold off until you are ready to rock-n-roll. Well, I say that. I think I remember that the Harbor Freight helmets are about $50. And the snazzy one that I’m borrowing as a teacher helmet is about $150 (or so I’m told). The advantage for me is that it will go down to a shade 8, which is what I need in order to be able to see the work area. I’ve noticed that we recommend shade 10 in the HP Safety. I have found that it depends on your eye color, and your age, and how much you’ve abused your eyes over the years.
The auto-darkening is definitely the way to go…
And while I’m rambling, I use the nice Tillman gloves I got from Metroplex Welding for everything. They might be MIG weight, but they didn’t say anything about that. They are thick but very flexible. When I took Train-the-Trainer, I found that the TIG gloves let too much heat through for my comfort. An advantage for me is that they are a Small, so they fit my hands pretty well. Those were a little over $30. You do definitely need gloves.
Also, Metal Shop rules state that you need to wear safety glasses at all times in the Metal Shop, and we no longer provide those. The committee requires Z87 +U safety glasses. I understand that generally they’re just marked Z87 +, as there are several plusses that are included in addition to the UV/IR blocker.
The virus can live on surfaces for a few days, seems way too risky to me to have something potentially infective that close to my face. But if we kept the helmets locked up for 4+ days before a class that might work. I don’t know if that’s feasible though.
For people interested in a class post if you have had the hot process safety class, if not we need to schedule that before welding.
Bowers tool is primarily mail order, but located near BeltLine and I35, if you send an email before ordering online and mention the makerspace he will take shipping off and let you pick it up. Lots of high quality tools at good prices.
@rlisbona I am checked out and have done some welding up at Makerspace but it has been a few years. I’d very much be interested in the paperweight class learning how to do pretty welds.
Actually, we do have more helmets. And they’ve been isolated since the shut-down.
We have used the helmets that are on the rack for 5 classes since we’ve opened. So far as I know there have been no cases caused by the helmets. But then – the protocols are only necessary if someone is ill, and we have no way of knowing whether someone is ill or not. If everyone was healthy, then they’d stay healthy. In other words, I’m not putting down your concerns, as they are quite valid if someone is sick.
I learned stick close to 40 years ago and have not done it since close to then, forgiving for rusty metal but I hate the smoke and spatter. 5ish years ago I bought long cables so I could do it in my driveway using my tig welder as power supply but so far I haven’t needed it. I think stick is harder than tig
Mig welding basics should also show up in about 72 hours for 3-6PM Jan 17 after the hot process class. Hot process safety class is a prereq so don’t sign up for mig welding unless you have had the safety class or get into the safety class on the 17th.
My oldest is doing Stick in school now. He has been getting plenty of practice at home. I think he said he was supposed to be testing this spring for 2G & 3G
I think the last time I did any kind of stick welding was repairing the uprights on a log trailer.
But that was in Southern Illinois probably 15 years ago…so it’s been a minute, lol
