Thread: Swinburne Uni - Mig Short Course?

Hi,

I'm new to MIG welding, and have been considering doing a short course. I found this one at Swinburne Uni:

http://www.shortcourse.swinburne.edu...stanceID=36902

Has anyone completed this course? Is it worthwhile?

Thanks,
Jonty

Don't know. A few courses that I did years ago at Tafe, one in particular which was meant to be hands on was taken up by pen and paper for the whole time - a total waste.

I've thought about these courses, but the cost is often high, although this one is cheaper than $750 I've seen at places like Box Hill. Be interested to know myself.

The blurb previous experince is preferred.Believe me I have run courses where they allowed beginners to come in above their level.Most struggle with the course.


Looking at it on on paper it sounds very good apart from from a couple of little things that worry me a touch.
I did not see any thing about safety glasses.

Until you get a decent flash you don't seem to acknowledge the value of safety glasses .

A 3mm clear plastic lens is enough to stop the UV radiation from entering your eyes.

UV radiation output from Mig is only exceeded by the TIG process.Anybody amateur or pro is just plain crazy if they don't wear clear safety glasses under the helmet and keep them on as a habit in the shop.

Same deal with leather shoes instead of steel capped safety boots.I would feel naked in a workshop with out steel caps.
I know they will be the standard arguments about extra expense,amatuers,light materials,etc, but safety is absolute.

In my view they are no degrees of it, you are safe or you are not.

Also look at the course cost at $445 for 18 hours.Thats $24 per hr. After you take running cost( Lighting, electricity ,gas , steel materials,wire ,contact tips, liners) probably $10 per hour, what level of instructor is going to work for $14 per hour.

Finally, there is a lack of an attainment statement. What do you get to say what you have done and are competent at it? For $445 I would ask for something substantial.

Grahame

I (45 yr old absolute beginner - no previous experience ) did a 10 x 4 hr course at the local TAFE which cost $450. I was provided with comprehensive course notes for both immediate and future reference and the instructor concentrated 90% of the course on practical (based on feedback they'd received from previous sessions where the students didn't appreciate too much of the course being spent on theory). We had a go at oxy welding - running beads and then joining metal coupons, and then spent multiple sessions on stick and MIG with lots of practice welding in the horizontal and vertical up positions. I got a nice little certificate of attainment that I'm pleased with. But it gives me nowhere near the amount of satisfaction as being able to confidently set up and operate both stick and MIG Welders to do small fabrication and repair jobs around the home.

I reckon 6 x 3 hrs on MIG only with competent supervision would be a great start and $450 well spent. The price of the consumables alone you go through makes the cost pretty reasonable. Our instructor was a gun. I think there might be more to how they get paid than subtracting running costs from the fees for one student. There's going to be multiple students, as well as Government funding/subsidies at play. Again though, as an absolute beginner, it was handy to work through oxy to stick to MIG to appreciate the differences.

I'm a Safety Manager at work and used the course to gain an understanding of the occupational hazards facing our Boilermakers. I wore clear safety glasses under my helmet throughout the course - I'm lucky enough after 20 years of work in a laboratory that I don't resent wearing them (in fact I forget I have them on). Our instructor told us that this standard of eye safety is often insisted upon for welders in the West but alas it's very difficult to convince a lot of "old timers" to change 20 or 30 years of habit to avoid the arc flash that they've already experienced 2 or 3 times in their careers. Try searching the web for definitive advice that clear safety specs can protect against arc flash whilst welding (not just when walking past welding work). There's very little out there. Thanks for the confirmation of that fact Grahame. I'll certainly be putting that evidence in front of the troops!

Most metalfab blokes can't distinguish between the facts that the clear lens lets the bright light through and stops the UV light.They assume because the bright light comes through the clear lens ,the UV comes through as well,not so.

UV and the light in the visible spectrum travel together from the arc but the clear lens stops the UV which is the dangerous bit.The bright light will have the same effect on the eye as being flashed by high beam at night.

You are right in that it very difficult to get otherwise fairly astute tradies to wear their safety gear. The refinery where I worked had a great safety program particularly with eye protection.It had to with millions of litres of caustic soda surrounding you.

Getting back to the original thread, the lack of definition re eye safety in their weld shop rings alarm bells.Maybe their costings are done in a different way but my years at setting up those types of courses indicate to me it is rum for too short a time to pick up those skills in 18 hrs.


Lay all the topics out and see how much you can cover in three hours per night.

Grahame

Originally Posted by Waldo

But the cost is often high, although this one is cheaper than $750 I've seen at places like Box Hill. Be interested to know myself.

I don't know where you got that price from Waldro as this is off their official site!!.


Learn to MIG Weld MF929

If you have a keen interest in learning metal inert gas (MIG) welding, then this course is perfect for you. Best suited to the hobbyist who has no prior MIG welding experience. This welding course is conducted in mild steel only.

Note: Due to enrolment numbers this course may run with the Leart to Weld and TIG Welding courses.

MF929
Fee $480.00 (GST exempt)
How to enrol:

1. Read our Refund Policy (below)
2. Phone: Short Courses on 1300 36 34 30 or
Fax: (application form) to (03) 9286 9930

Session Dates
Dates in future terms will be shown closer to the beginning of those terms. Please check back later.


Refund Policy (short courses)
Applications for refunds and transfers will be accepted if a request is received at least five (5) working days prior to the date of course commencement.
A standard handling charge of $30 will apply for all transfers. There will be a 25% administration fee for all withdrawals from a course.
A full refund is only given if the class is cancelled.
No refunds or transfers will apply once a course has commenced.
Processing of refunds takes a minimum of seven (7) working days.
All refunds will be made directly to the payee, and will be mailed to the payee's address as shown on the application form.

When I looked at a stick welding course about 8 months to a year ago that was the price, maybe things have come down.