college welding courses

[GrumpyOne]

my local is ending its coded welding full time course this year

Dundee college do a night class in welding, you can choose MIG, TIG or MMA and either Arbroath or Dundee as a location. I completed the MIG night class at the Aberdeen college however I'm thinking of taking the stick course at Dundee this September as it's closer to me than Fraserburgh where the Aberdeen College course is held.
Sorry, my point is both Dundee and Aberdeen colleges do night class welding courses.

 

[AdrianH]

Yes it is T2000 and yes the basic 3 day 3 processes for £450.

I just got an email asking where to send the certificate to,...... Does this mean I will be a Certified welder .

So now await my certificate of attendance.

Adrian

 

[Kent]

You did you pay up and do this course at T2 then?

 

[AdrianH]

Hi Kent, yes I did, couple of reasons why,
One it gives me the first step, I hope with the fundamental course, and I will see what cert I get, but it should help me get on a better/proper course later, perhaps?
Endless gas/Welding rods/bits of metal/Stick rods etc as I could burn in each day
Space to swing a cat in. rather then my own garage where I have a 3 ft by 4 ft space at the moment to work in.

I got to use some industrial type kit, Lincon Electric Multifunction set used for MIG, but would do spray welding when needed (fun). some TIG set I can not remember the name of (sort of browney/yellow colour but well known make.

Did some Macro etch and shown what to look for, Nic break test and a U bend test so I could see how I was getting on.

One of the best bits was going home each night after a good 5 hours of practice and not finding black snot when I blew my nose! Must get an extraction system in the garage.

Pricey yes, but there were only two of us so I could pester if needed.

Adrian

 

[Kent]

with only two on the course they lost money, quite a lot actually- my mrs will split her sides to hear that allowing a course to run with two candidates and neither of them stopping to o full time. This multifunction, is it the 240 / 110v one or another bigger set I am unaware of as yet? If you literally have a total space of 3ftx4ft as regards air you want to stop that lark at home you will do your lungs in and if its just the free space in a free air area then increase the ventilation if your getting black snot. I know they have some mega extraction equipment there as I know the lady that wrote the cheque and she went white when I said I was putting one in here (mine will be many, many thousands cheaper though)

 

[AdrianH]

The machines were run on 240 Volt, two displays one for volts and another that doubled for wire feed and Amps, it was capable of Stick and lift arc Tig.

I have a double garage to work in, just full of other things like milling machines welders band saw, lathe and a kit car. Yes I need to sort it out yes I need some ventilation system around the welding bench, will be trying simple extractor fans first then probably a modified cooker hood, but the idea of having a 1000Watt hoover going with the noise puts me off the small but professional units.

Adrian

 

[Kent]

yes, its bad when your getting black bogies regular though as your lungs are getting it also (happens at times but you certainly don't want it more than just the odd time a year). Just question the safety of such a cramped area Adrian and the associated risks of fire and trip it sounds less than ideal lets say, don't want to prove your avatar claim do you. I think its the plant I think that BOC are pushing and has done real well in the USA. At 17 kg and a euro torch it sounds just the thing for mobile work and hobby users with limited space

 

[AdrianH]

Preston College are sending out emails about Level one welding courses, so this if for anyone in the area. Parts of emails below: -

Start on September 8th and will run on Tuesday evenings, 6pm to 9pm over 14 weeks.

Students can choose from MIG, TIG or MMA welding in the first term and are welcome to enrol a second term and develop their skill further or choose a new form of welding. The course costs £278 per term.

The qualification is the Level 1 Award in Introductory Welding (City & Guilds 3268).

Students achieve a Level 1 Award in Introductory Welding Skills in one of the following types of welding:
. Manual Metal Arc (MMA) Welding (3268-10)
. Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding (3268-12)
. Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding (3268-13)

On the Level 1 Award you will learn down hand welding (i.e. welding items on a flat surface or bench). This offers an introductory approach for all methods of welding as the pull of gravity helps the molten metal work with you, as you develop your technique. Students often return for a second and third term to develop their skill level further, or to try their hand with a different method of welding.

All of your sessions are practical workshop sessions, although you will be expected to do a small amount of reading and internet research to answer some oral questions at the end of the course.

Not sure if 14 weeks or 4 weeks, if one checks on line it suggests adult training for 4 weeks same price so asking the college to clarify

I can pass on further details to anyone in the area interested, I assume all the rest of the colleges will be doing part time starting soon?

Adrian

 

[Kent]

On the Level 1 Award you will learn down hand welding (i.e. welding items on a flat surface or bench). This offers an introductory approach for all methods of welding as the pull of gravity helps the molten metal work with you, as you develop your technique. Students often return for a second and third term to develop their skill level further, or to try their hand with a different method of welding.

that reads strange is it lifted straight from their info?

Personally speaking if people really want to learn they should book in on a short couple of day course at one of the regular industry providers. 3 hrs an evening will only give an hours burn time at most with limited one and many (not all the instructors) are of a low std themselves, even being drawn from last years intake. In Lancashire and the NWest area we have Wilkinson Star welding academy (who actually offer personal 1 on 1 tailored courses to suit individual needs) and Manchester school of welding.

 

[AdrianH]

The bit on 14 weeks or 4 was me, The bit on down hand welding is confusing to me, or the bit after as it sounds like all one does is do runs on a flat plate, but sure it is not.

Anyway going for a visit Thursday.

Adrian

 

[Kent]

oh I think it is that basic at level 1 , let me go one further and say it aint unusual to find one of last terms students doing the teaching . I have sat a few one day sessions in more specialised welding at commercial specialist providers and let me tell you some of these instructors are great and you get lots of hands on one on one. On one at British stainless steel laboratories (I think that's what it was called its a fair while back in the late 80s) they took a new girl from the office and put her on it, for nothing more than so she could tell people more about the course on the phone.(She had never welded anything before) but at the end of the first day you might think she had a thousand hours in.

 

[AdrianH]

I found more information on the C&G last night in various pdf's and course notes from other ac's, Looks like all on the flat but is butt, lap, fillet and corner joints.

Sounds like Preston College are going into a new building as the welding bays are all moving. Will go stick my nose in.

You mention back in the 80's Kent, for my radio work I was down yesterday at CBI in Derby and was talking with one of the guys there, they do pipe work for the nuclear industry and they are hoping for an announcement from the Government about new power stations, but anyway, in the past and before it was CB&I was virtually a whole industrial estate to being a fraction of the size in the last 30 to 40 years, shows how much has left the UK.

I was talking to the supply place several weeks ago. Express cutting and Welding @ Bamber bridge trying to plant seeds of them starting practical training days.

Adrian

 

[Kent]

I found more information on the C&G last night in various pdf's and course notes from other ac's, Looks like all on the flat but is butt, lap, fillet and corner joints.

Sounds like Preston College are going into a new building as the welding bays are all moving. Will go stick my nose in.

You mention back in the 80's Kent, for my radio work I was down yesterday at CBI in Derby and was talking with one of the guys there, they do pipe work for the nuclear industry and they are hoping for an announcement from the Government about new power stations, but anyway, in the past and before it was CB&I was virtually a whole industrial estate to being a fraction of the size in the last 30 to 40 years, shows how much has left the UK.

I was talking to the supply place several weeks ago. Express cutting and Welding @ Bamber bridge trying to plant seeds of them starting practical training days.

Adrian

What was Finbar's response then? its not honestly their thing you see, they are not welders or trainers but sellers and fixers. That said that's how Wilkinson started his academy.
I was watching that space living on the edge of fracking central, don't think its really for me anymore (too old and too grumpy) though it could push up rates through the industry here in the NWest was speaking to yet another ex-fabricator on Saturday gone who left the job a good while back he is now a dry stone Waller and has a plentiful supply of work and better rates than the shops are paying by far. The machine operator who was sent from United Utilities to put my new power cable in was an ex-tinbasher, so many people were lost due to the lack of work and money it left a void that has a knock on as regards training, todays lads are nothing like the std in the main (obviously there are exceptions) but then no matter the rates they are still approx. half what they should be. Training itself is a hard job to make money at though you saw that at T2.

 

[MrGaz]

coleg gwent in newport are doing a few courses part time and full time.

just booked on to do a NVQ2 diploma n fabrication and welding, part time course. it was free what can i say

 

[davidjohnperry]

I've been looking for a evening welding fab course the one in bristol I did a few years ago was horrendous

 

[Keith 66]

I have just heard that Seevic college in Thundersley (South Essex) will shortly be running an evening class beginers welding course. I can find out more if anyone down this way is interested. I suspect numbers will be limited.

 

[rocket01]

Has anyone done a level 4 in Welding Technology? Neath college are offering this course and I'm considering it as my employer will pay. Was just wondering if it's worth doing? cannot paste the link to the Neath College website for some reason though.

 

[justin]

I did my level 3 in neath. very good instructors there.

 

[rocket01]

I did my level two there before my company sent me to Bridgend College which was also excellent. The course tutor is going to email me the course specifics so I'll post them here when I get them.

 

[F124nny]

I'm going to be going to reaseheath in February so I will let you know how it goes and weather it's a worth while course.

http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/adult-learners/courses-available/