Calling all metal shop makers and aspiring welding enthusiasts! The welding shop is soon to offer a new welding class but needs your input.
#1 class option is an advanced MIG class,
this class would build off the intro to MIG currently offered, but expanding on different thicknesses and more advanced positions such as vertical up, vertical down, overhead and potentially pipe. Many welding projects you encounter you may find yourself not always able to weld nice and flat on the table like everything in the current MIG class, or maybe in accidentally cutting your pieces too short you find a wide gap you need to fill, all of these would be discussed with helpful techniques to give you welds that not only look nice but are strong. MIG or GMAW (gas metal arc welding) is ideal for most all indoor steel projects including structural, tends to be a little faster and cleaner than stick.
#2 class option would be intro to stick welding,
this class would be similar to the MIG class currently offered except using consumable electrodes, discussing different kinds and thicknesses of electrodes to choose from. The class would also practice running beads, adding two pieces together with butt joints and T joints. Stick welding electrodes have a flux coating around the electrode acting as the shielding gas does for MIG or TIG, making it the ideal choice for most all outdoor welding including structural. This class would require asmbly to purchase an electrode oven along with its own set of consumables to keep in the welding area. The welding lead and stinger for stick welding came with the welding machines we currently have and is stored in one of the welding drawers, so somebody with stick welding experience could still be able to use this function, even if we choose not to go with the stick welding class (with a quicker checkout session but would just need to supply their own consumables and ideally weld outside). Our fume extractors are able to suck up most stick welding fumes but there is also a bit more spatter being produced, especially when first learning, leaving our tables with a bit more to scrape off when done which would likely leave more pits in our tables. Stick welding is also referred to as SMAW (shielded metal arc welding)
Please comment your preference #1 or #2 or further questions so we can start planning the next class!