Welding Tips and Tricks

Next school year I will be taking a welding class at a local tech school. I currently don't have access to the supplies list and would like to buy stuff when it's on sale. What do I need for the structural welding class. Any recommendations for products or brands that are reasonably priced would be great.

Well you may be in the wrong field. Everything about welding is expensive. You'll need a decent grinder(~85$), a good chipping hammer(30$), wire brushes(10$ea) good hood(300$ auto,1-120 fixed) wheels(~4$ea) die grinder(~150$) good boots(200$) nice sleeves and jacket(150$ jacket, 85 sleeves) gloves(30$). That's a decent list to get started. Keep in mind I'm talking about being in the field. If it's a hobby, well then buy the cheapest you can, however there's a difference in quality. You'll find many other tools you'll need if you wish to be in the trade. I have 2-3 tool boxes full and a large bin tool box.

Does the school supply tools for your class? If so start with a few heavy denim shirts and a good hood and gloves. After that you can add to your collection as you go along.

The school supplies nothing but metal and welders from my understanding.

Start with a hood. The first few days are likely shop saftey. That will give you time to see what's available and then compile a list. Some days I can get by with my hood and gloves and a file that I use like a chipping hammer and a wire brush.

I've heard that the "TIG finger" works great. I have a few and use them all the time.
http://weldmongerstore.com/products/tig ... aQodG_EDTg

Some low cost items that will be useful :
Tape measure
Combination square
2 x wedges for setting prep gaps
Good quality ball pein hammer with wooden handle

Here is what I tell my students to have:
Good auto dark hood with at least five replacement clear lenses
Good thick gauntlet gloves; three or four pair
Leather boots
Safety glasses (I recommend more than one pair - you can use a new one as the old one wears out)
Chipping/Slag hammer
Wire Brush
One Pair of vise-grip type 'Finger Tip Clamps"
Pair of Walper Pliers - the type you use for GMAW (MIG) welding
An adjustable wrench
Good Tape Measure
Tri- Square - These have many names, but it is the kind that has an adjustable metal ruler on top of the angled piece
A good plastic bucket to haul all of the stuff around in, or a good bag

The school provides grinders, metal, consumables, etc. I have another list that they should have for going on a job. I hope this helps!
Gary

Rather than guess, and risk buying something you don't need, would it be an idea to stop by and get a copy of the supplies list?

Boomer63 wrote:Here is what I tell my students to have:
Good auto dark hood with at least five replacement clear lenses
Good thick gauntlet gloves; three or four pair
Leather boots
Safety glasses (I recommend more than one pair - you can use a new one as the old one wears out)
Chipping/Slag hammer
Wire Brush
One Pair of vise-grip type 'Finger Tip Clamps"
Pair of Walper Pliers - the type you use for GMAW (MIG) welding
An adjustable wrench
Good Tape Measure
Tri- Square - These have many names, but it is the kind that has an adjustable metal ruler on top of the angled piece
A good plastic bucket to haul all of the stuff around in, or a good bag

The school provides grinders, metal, consumables, etc. I have another list that they should have for going on a job. I hope this helps!
Gary

To what Gary said, I would add a couple pair of lightweight leather work gloves... Not absolutely necessary, but you'll appreciate the extra dexterity over heavy gauntlets when handling/prepping material.
I'd suggest steel-toe boots, as almost all jobs around metal will require them, so why not buy them now?
The pliers he referred to were slightly misspelled... They're "Welpers", a shortening of "welder's helpers"
The adjustable wrench should open to 1 1/8", the size of the nut on most gas bottles.
The fingertip clamps (in the Vise-Grip brand) are model R-11. I highly recommend the Vice-Grip brand over the knock-offs.

Steve S