Welding course in TAFE

[SuperSix]

So I got convinced that a course in TAFE is well worth the effort while we're out of projects.

I just finished a commercial course last December in TAFE Annandale and I'm looking to broaden up my skill base again and this time, I chose to do a welding course.

Which of these should be my priority if I have a rope access ticket:

• FCAW
• GMAW
• GTAW

PS: I got experience in the telecom industry and I'm a licensed ACMA cabler w/ endorsements
Also got experience in industrial instrumentation and with AD in Electrical Technology

 

[Urban DH]

i have no idea what they are! but if you've done a course i'll assume you can mig allright, i'l go for a general fab class, what ever its called these days, boilermaker is the trade you do it in, if you feel 100% confident to make anything metal i'd go a course and learn to stick weld if you can, (it comes in bloody handy when the migs out of wire or gas) and/or tig weld, again if you can do these or want something different got and do a machining class, you'll be able to mill, drill and machine to your hearts content and learn how to do it properly too!

somthing a bit more different do a coruse in underwater welding if you can, its kinda fun but scary as shit when you start and weird to get use to but really cool

 

[neo_vitamin]

FCAW - Flux Core Automatic (like non-gas MIG)
GMAW - aka MIG
GTAW - aka TIG

Start with the first two for industrial applications, also covering stick (SMAW or MMA) will be useful. TIG is generally more of a specialist application/process.

 

[kgunzer]

Hook up at 1730P innacity at Paddys

A bit diverse in skillset you think?
Covering too much bases?
Think of it...

Electro-Tech
Building and Construction
Rope Access

and now

Metal Working?

What are you up to?

 

[banksy]

Sounds like a skill-set required to break into a bank :spy:

 

[theLIBERATOR]

No love for ARC welding any more :violin:

 

[Urban DH]

No love for ARC welding any more :violin:

tis true but i'd still like to see people learn how to!

 

[SummitFever]

Stick welding still has its place, although it seems to be a bit of a dying art. The new light (ie. 5-6kg) inverter DC stick welders allow welding in conditions and locations beyond mig and tig. In any sort of windy environment (ie. anything outside of a fabrication shed) the inverter DC stick welder is still king. You will need much more practice to get good welds (particularly around irregular and circular objects) with a stick welder but for outdoor fabrication, particular in high exposed areas its a really handy skill to have.

If I was doing a TAFE welding course I'd choose GTAW. Almost everything you learn can be applied to other types of welding and TIG/GTAW skills will always be in higher demand. If you know how to TIG weld you can MIG weld with almost no practice.

 

[SuperSix]

Maybe later Kru. I got a tad on my plate.

Thanks for the reply guys.

Found a commercial SoA GTAW course in TAFE Western Sydney at Mt Druit for $1327. Classes start 4 Feb and would probably run for 4 weeks, Monday to Friday.

 

[theLIBERATOR]

if you want to get into mining repair work the stick is King!

i cannot remember the number of times i had to crawl in to crushers to weld in biz360 wear bars

now days i hang of a boring mig all day

Have fun with the course and it all comes together with practice

 

[dunndog]

Stick welding still has its place, although it seems to be a bit of a dying art. The new light (ie. 5-6kg) inverter DC stick welders allow welding in conditions and locations beyond mig and tig. In any sort of windy environment (ie. anything outside of a fabrication shed) the inverter DC stick welder is still king. You will need much more practice to get good welds (particularly around irregular and circular objects) with a stick welder but for outdoor fabrication, particular in high exposed areas its a really handy skill to have.

If I was doing a TAFE welding course I'd choose GTAW. Almost everything you learn can be applied to other types of welding and TIG/GTAW skills will always be in higher demand. If you know how to TIG weld you can MIG weld with almost no practice.

Got that right. I'm currently working on a scissor lift on the roof of the new Peter doherty Institute building welding gal dipped steel brackets upside down under gal i beams.. There is no chance welding that with a tig, and sweet fa with a mig either.. my little dc inverter stick welder is paying for itself every hour up there!

 

[theLIBERATOR]

Got that right. I'm currently working on a scissor lift on the roof of the new Peter doherty Institute building welding gal dipped steel brackets upside down under gal i beams.. There is no chance welding that with a tig, and sweet fa with a mig either.. my little dc inverter stick welder is paying for itself every hour up there!

Gack! eeewww you can keep the Galv

 

[bj4x4]

If your going to do a tafe course i would start thinking about doing it pretty soon as i've heard that tafe fees are going to be going right up soon. What my tafe teacher told me is that you will be paying by the hour.

 

[SuperSix]

If your going to do a tafe course i would start thinking about doing it pretty soon as i've heard that tafe fees are going to be going right up soon. What my tafe teacher told me is that you will be paying by the hour.

That's because Fed/State gov are withdrawing their budget support in place of other political agenda...

Caught a small piece of it last November.

 

[SummitFever]

Gack! eeewww you can keep the Galv

You certainly don't want to breath those gal fumes, but proper ventilation aside, like Dunndog says the little inverter over the shoulder is the only tool for that job. I use mine surprisingly often, even on thin walled tubing down to 2mm using satincraft 13 2.5mm rods.

 

[theLIBERATOR]

You certainly don't want to breath those gal fumes, but proper ventilation aside, like Dunndog says the little inverter over the shoulder is the only tool for that job. I use mine surprisingly often, even on thin walled tubing down to 2mm using satincraft 13 2.5mm rods.

yeah i spent a year or more building shipping containers and the side walls are Galv with not much chance of getting out of the fumes back then.....every day was a head ache

 

[gcouyant]

So I got convinced that a course in TAFE is well worth the effort while we're out of projects.

I just finished a commercial course last December in TAFE Annandale and I'm looking to broaden up my skill base again and this time, I chose to do a welding course.

Which of these should be my priority if I have a rope access ticket:

• FCAW
• GMAW
• GTAW

PS: I got experience in the telecom industry and I'm a licensed ACMA cabler w/ endorsements
Also got experience in industrial instrumentation and with AD in Electrical Technology

You are dead right that a relevant Tafe course during the quiet times is an excellent vehicle for personal progress. It also communicates to potential employers that you are driven and an achiever - one who should perhaps be considered over other applicants with more experience.

If you really want to earn the danger dollars hanging on a thread (but it's never really enough $$) then MMAW.

On the other hand, if you're after interesting and varied welding applications without the rope, GTAW - but to earn $$ be prepared to market yourself for dead boring small batch production jobs - and a little cry before you get out of bed every in the morning to get you ready for the day ahead.

Then, if all you're after is the ability to weld and make stuff, then GMAW will deliver the most broad applications.

Businesses like ours are always on the lookout for the best welders who are driven and enthusiastic to achieve and progress.