My welding course begins very soon!

[SiPMerlin150]

So after purchasing my arc welder a little over 6 months ago, and being let down by a local college, i have contacted a professional academy in my area that does nothing but welding courses/exams/ EAL/NVQ etc., in MIG/MAG/MMA/TIG and Gas/Oxy.

The course is 3 days, with practical and theory exams. In the end, sucessors are certified as an EAL level 1 - Meaning I can competently weld to a set minimum standard reconized by the welding industry to get a career going.

Course is £495 + VAT , i have my proban fireproof overalls, auto visor, treated myself to a new set of leather gauntlets, and i have my breathing masks and grinding goggles + steel toecap boots all ready, (You have to provide your own)

I sent an email to the fella who's in charge after recieving a phone call from him, in that email I attatched 3 or 4 photos of some of my welding, explaining that i've been using my own machine in my spare time to build up a feel for arc welding.

He says they are rather good from what he see's...

In his own words ' Don't you worry, we'll have you welding properly when we're done with you, lad' he replied.


I can't help but be rather excited as this is going to be the first course i've ever done and the career possibly following will have me doing work overseas.

Without getting ahead of myself, i would like to do EAL level 1 & 2,

level 2 is positional welding, preparation, open roots, vertical ups,

and level 3 is boiler and pipe welding etc.

I'm awaiting an email of the application forms and payment forms, but i'm booked in for the 27,28 & 29th of this month!

 

[rtbcomp]

Sounds good - keep us informed. People always want to know what these courses are like.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

The best of luck mate. Im 'rooting' for ya (pun intended, rubbish I know )

Let us know how you get on.....dont forget the pics

 

[the snooper]

My welding course begins very soon!

23:12 night class ehh

 

[SiPMerlin150]

My welding course begins very soon!

23:12 night class ehh

I mean the end of this month, and considering i've been waiting since february/march, its very soon!

 

[SiPMerlin150]

My only worry (apart from failing) is getting used to their machines, as i'm sure from one welder to another, they get used to their own machines, where the power is etc.. This company use 'state of the art, cutting edge equipment' and i'm used to 'feeling' for the right power on a buzzbox, rather than actually dialing in the amps needed

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Sounds good - keep us informed. People always want to know what these courses are like.

I certainly will! Every bit of detail deemed as important!

 

[SiPMerlin150]

The best of luck mate. Im 'rooting' for ya (pun intended, rubbish I know )

Let us know how you get on.....dont forget the pics

Oh yes, there will be pictures, from what i have seen we each have our own individual working cubicle with ventilation systems, stands/clamps etc.

 

[rich r]

Excellent - you can let me know what I'm doing wrong

 

[backpurge]

Oh yes, there will be pictures, from what i have seen we each have our own individual working cubicle with ventilation systems, stands/clamps etc.

Is the course at Wilkinson Welding in Worsley by any chance, if it is, they have a very professional looking set up, one of the best training schools I've seen for a long time

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Is the course at Wilkinson Welding in Worsley by any chance, if it is, they have a very professional looking set up, one of the best training schools I've seen for a long time

Yes! it is, it does look very good!

 

[shirazman]

I dont want to burst your bubble here but you are not going to learn to weld in 3 days and shame on the instructor for telling you so. 3 years you will be competent. There is soooo much to learn in the welding game... ive been at it over 20 years and I dont know it all.. no where near it. Do the course certainly but then try and get a job somewhere welding every day

good luck with it all

 

[backpurge]

Shirazman is right, but we all have to start somewhere, you will find just doing MMA a bit limiting as the majority of general fabrication companies will be using MAG, but stick is a good starting point and you will find it handy for bits of maintenance work etc. Companies looking for stick welders will usually be doing high quality work, generally on site and unless you are already known to them your chances of getting a start without being highly proficient are slim

Don't set your sites too high, yes there are still £50k+ jobs out there but these are for the guys at the top of their game, the reality is you wil be looking at minimum wage to start with until you gain experience with different process', materials, joint designs etc.

As Shiraz says, those of us that have been at it 20 years (35 in my case) are still learning every day

I would suggest doing a MAG course next and if you are up to it get them to put you through a simple welder approval test such as BS 4872 then you have something widely recognised to show prospective employers.

If you do a MAG course and end up being reasonably proficient and are looking for a welding job and Openshaw isn't too far from you, drop me an email I may be able to point you in the direction of someone who could help you out

Keep at it and best of luck

 

[SiPMerlin150]

I dont want to burst your bubble here but you are not going to learn to weld in 3 days and shame on the instructor for telling you so. 3 years you will be competent. There is soooo much to learn in the welding game... ive been at it over 20 years and I dont know it all.. no where near it. Do the course certainly but then try and get a job somewhere welding every day

good luck with it all

This is the first EAL level, teaching safety, welding unit usage, flat position joints, along with oral questioning, theory and practical assessment, and you end up with a certificate for the completed level. Level 2 will be more positional modes of welding.

The first level is to give a unexperienced person the 'foot in the door' of the welding world, obviously then i move on from there. The 3 days are 8 hours long each...

My job oppertunities are already waiting, My other halfs an Australian, and she'll be taking me back home in the next year, I speak to her Dad regularly over skype and there are at least 20 people he knows in the business that could do with welders, and pay for the very best our equivilant of £150 per day! (yes, wages are considerably higher over there) I'd most likely to be on £70 - £85 per day for repairing bulldozer buckets, hardfacing , gates and fences, etc.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Shirazman is right, but we all have to start somewhere, you will find just doing MMA a bit limiting as the majority of general fabrication companies will be using MAG, but stick is a good starting point and you will find it handy for bits of maintenance work etc. Companies looking for stick welders will usually be doing high quality work, generally on site and unless you are already known to them your chances of getting a start without being highly proficient are slim

Don't set your sites too high, yes there are still £50k+ jobs out there but these are for the guys at the top of their game, the reality is you wil be looking at minimum wage to start with until you gain experience with different process', materials, joint designs etc.

As Shiraz says, those of us that have been at it 20 years (35 in my case) are still learning every day

I would suggest doing a MAG course next and if you are up to it get them to put you through a simple welder approval test such as BS 4872 then you have something widely recognised to show prospective employers.

If you do a MAG course and end up being reasonably proficient and are looking for a welding job and Openshaw isn't too far from you, drop me an email I may be able to point you in the direction of someone who could help you out

Keep at it and best of luck

I was considering doing a MIG/MAG course aswell funnily enough, i'll pay for this course and see what else there is, regarding MMA, otherwise, i'll bash open my piggy bank and do a MIG/MAG course too. I've gotten quite 'good' if i dare say with stick welding, so i thought i maybe a natural at it, and i've never thought of going down the MIG track, as i've only seen migs in action being used with automotive work, an after seeing the guy trying to make a repair outdoors on a piece of fence and have his sheilding gas getting blown away, i gave the fence 'the stick' and its still holding now

I'll keep you posted on whats happening, and i appreciate the potential job oppertunity there is