Omniata
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Which course are you taking?
- Thread starter irondarren
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Which course are you taking?
FergalFarty
Member
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- Bristol
I just completed a beginners welding course at Wiltshire Colllege in Lacock. It ran for 9 weeks for 2 hours a week on a Monday night from 7-9 pm. It's based in an agricultural college so all the plant is big and heavy stuff. The instructor I had is a no-nonsense sort of guy who just shows you how to do stuff and let's you get on with it. He'll demonstrate a different joint or two each week and then get us to have a go. He also covered metal prep and grinding. It cost £125 + £20 for materials.
They have mostly MIG plant which was the most popular process with 7 out of 10 students choosing that, the rest of us went for TIG. Stick and O/A were also available. There wasn't a lot of structure to the course, you could pick what you wanted to do and he'd offer guidance where necessary. There was hardly any theory, it was all practical work. I'd have liked a bit more explanation of when you use a particular joint and why.
I didn't really get that much from the course as I have my own TIG kit at home and have some previous experience. I did pick up a few useful tips though and tried a few joints I'll probably never do again. I also got to TIG some aluminium which I can't do on my kit.
Overall, if you've never welded anything before and you just want a practical introduction to welding, I'd recommend the course. If you want something a bit more intermediate, I'd look elsewhere.
They have mostly MIG plant which was the most popular process with 7 out of 10 students choosing that, the rest of us went for TIG. Stick and O/A were also available. There wasn't a lot of structure to the course, you could pick what you wanted to do and he'd offer guidance where necessary. There was hardly any theory, it was all practical work. I'd have liked a bit more explanation of when you use a particular joint and why.
I didn't really get that much from the course as I have my own TIG kit at home and have some previous experience. I did pick up a few useful tips though and tried a few joints I'll probably never do again. I also got to TIG some aluminium which I can't do on my kit.
Overall, if you've never welded anything before and you just want a practical introduction to welding, I'd recommend the course. If you want something a bit more intermediate, I'd look elsewhere.
fixedfixer
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Looked at that to learn some TIG skills. Shame they don't offer similar on Aberdeen campus and also - don't fancy thirteen weeks travelling in potentially the worst of the weather we get up here.
Burdekin
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Might be worth giving the Aberdeen office a call as the Altens college also has a good welding set-up and you never know they may consider doing it also in Aberdeen. I car shared with a mate but still a trek to get there and back after work but was good to get 3 hours practice in.
fixedfixer
Member
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Ta, will try that. Wasn't aware they had the facilities - might get put on an 'interested list' or something.
paulmitchell1984
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Does aybody know of amy GOOD places near leeds? For mig welding courses
outofthefire
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Have you looked at the college of building?
Hi. Im quite new on the forum, but not with welding.
Im in profession since 3-4years. MIG/Tig/mma, feeling easy for me, but still getting smth new. What I am up to is. I wanna improve my qualification and get some NVQ 2/3 or C&G 2/3. What is the quickest way to achive that, cause they quite needed for my future progress. Can they be done with fast track method, like 1 on 1? I am willing to pay for that and skip all that years what college needs, or I have to go to college for 1year? I am 27 now and quite busy with life and would be difficult to put daytime study in my schedule(even evening). What is the best and fastest way to get that certificate? Im from Birmingham. Thanks
Im in profession since 3-4years. MIG/Tig/mma, feeling easy for me, but still getting smth new. What I am up to is. I wanna improve my qualification and get some NVQ 2/3 or C&G 2/3. What is the quickest way to achive that, cause they quite needed for my future progress. Can they be done with fast track method, like 1 on 1? I am willing to pay for that and skip all that years what college needs, or I have to go to college for 1year? I am 27 now and quite busy with life and would be difficult to put daytime study in my schedule(even evening). What is the best and fastest way to get that certificate? Im from Birmingham. Thanks
fire hazzard
Member
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I did a welding couurse at college in the early 90s, I really enjoyed it but it didn't do anything for my employment prospects. Experience is more valuable than qualifications,ideally a mixture of both is needed. I have no real welding qualifications but its my day job and ive only failed two welding tests one straight after college and having no hands on experience,and another time when i encountered my first synergic machine and the guy giving me the weld test was a douche bag. In my experience pestering other welders particularly grumpy old timers for a lesson here and there taught me a wealth of info.
paulmitchell1984
Member
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Same boat...self taught with a little help from uncle who qualified as an engineer but then spent his life in fire service..i lv worked in IT since college but recentlt got my self a job as a welder fabricator because they like how i worked and what i could do from a 2 day trial.
Rich#1984
Member
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- 123
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- Barnsley England
I’m with train4jobs welding and fabrication and there great you do it at your own pace doing theory and then when you get so far you go to a training centre for a week at a time doing practical and getting city and guilds qualifications at the end of each practical week
Jackjunior2001
Member
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- 31
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- Castleford west yorkshire england
I did mig, tig and stick level 1,2 and 3 at leeds college of building. It was cheaper than the wakefield college skills exchange which is closer to me.
I'm doing a similar thing, only part at home / online and then practical lessons. Ran by a company called New Trade Careers, or something like that.
james butler
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- birmingham england
last local place to brum i remember was bmet college north birmingham.
i did my electronic and control course there and remember them doing welding courses
Burdekin
Chief Bodger
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Taking bookings for the college night course in Fraserburgh
https://nescol.ac.uk/courses/engineering/welding
https://nescol.ac.uk/courses/engineering/welding
