Newbie TIG Welder

[randy1123]

Got my hands on one, but need help.
I see books, videos, and instructions.
I am lost.
It is a 250 Miller Syncro.
I want to learn to weld aluminum and tig small tabs.
Who can I go to at night to learn without taking a 6 month class?
I am willing to pay for lessons.
I live in North County and will go to someone's shop if they will teach.
Thanks for the help if you can.

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[Chase 2]

Find a local Adult School, or Junior College with a welding program. You might be in for a wait list due to the number of welders laid off going back to add additional certs.

[randy1123]

Find a local Adult School, or Junior College with a welding program. You might be in for a wait list due to the number of welders laid off going back to add additional certs.

I did, but was trying to avoid the wait and 6 month class.
Thanks anyway.

[Chase 2]

Did you go down and talk to the instructor and tell him what you wanted to do? Most welding programs are self paced. If it takes you 6 months to learn how to use your machine it's you, not the school! Seriously, a school is the way to go if you want to learn the right way to use your welder. A good instructor will teach you more than how to set your machine up, he'll have you weld in ways that teach you how to do stuff like get into inside corners. The school will also have different materials and the proper filler rods, gases, tungsten and cup sizes.

[randy1123]

No, I just looked up the schools and schedules.
I will dig deeper if this is the way to go.
We are in the middle of the normal semester, so I didn't want to wait till summer.
I will keep digging.

[Chase 2]

Go talk to the instructor, like I said most are self paced and you can start and stop at any time there is an opening. Most welding programs don't use the regular semesters to start and stop the classes. It keeps everyone spread out as most don't have 25 tig, or mig machines. There are people at all different levels on all different types of welders all at the same time, that way they can handle more people. Also with the self paced programs you commonly don't have to go every day or night, they tend to be flexible and you show up when you can.

[Wild bill]

Schools are good but not necessary. I would fire the machine up and start practicing. Here a starting point.....find some 1/16" 70s rod, 3/32 dia 2% tungtsen (red) electrode, 1/8" plate steel. Set the plate at a 90 degree angle. Amps on the welder at 90-100. Start at one end of the plate set at 90 degrees, press the foot pedal down slowly and hold the torch at about a 30 degree angle. Heat the plate enough to start a small puddle at the joint. Dip the filler into the puddle and move over, dip, and move, etc. That will get you started. Look at the "pretty weld" thread for what the weld should look like.

[FUMMER]

Where are you located in No. Co?

[mebuildit]

Maybe this will help? I haven't seen the whole thing yet.

http://www.thefabricator.com/pwtv/

[bru21]

tonywelding.com