Glen_I Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 Not sure if anyone has had any experience with these people but I thought it may come in handy for some of us?? Seems really good in the sense that as well as running 1 on 1 courses it also allows people to rock up with their projects and giving them the opportunity to use the equipment on offer as well as advice and knowledge and more importantly this can be achieved over a weekend or even in the evenings. I came across them due to the fact I'm considering purchasing a TIG welder and the welder manufacturer has a deal with these people that you can claim some tuition as part of the purchase. https://the-machine-shop.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 Had seen that. Looks ideal. Just a shame they are so far away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 I did think of you @Steve (sdh2903) but knew it would be one hell of trek! For me it's about 1 1/2 hrs each way so no real issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 Welding courses are usually something local further education sites do as a night class. Usually 8 weeks will get you using a mig welder for example. That place you listed does way more and would be fantastic if there were those in every area as turning etc is much harder to master, in my experience. I have had people round to my place and can get them welding with a mig competently in a week end but I can stick and gas weld to a good standard, but Tig never tried as the cost is high for what I might use it for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 And this is my predicament, my mig welding is absolutely fine, not done Arc for sometime but never had issues when I was doing it on a regular basis but as I'm about to bite the bullet and go for the TIG I don't want it to be one of those purchases that end up in the corner gathering dust due to frustration! I have a good friend who has his own fabrication/welding business but he is so busy that I don't want to pester him, however I will be going to see him to rumage through his bin of off-cuts to practise with and maybe he will take pity on me and point me in the right direction, however saying that I may get on with the TIG with no dramas? I did enjoy gas welding but not done it for 25+ yrs so a long time ago! I've hunted high and low for TIG welding courses near me and they are run in the daytime on a weekdays which is no good to me unfortunately. I figured this place may be handy for anyone who wanted something fabricated or machined and were local to rock up and be involved with someone to oversee it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 2 minutes ago, Glen_I said: don't want it to be one of those purchases that end up in the corner gathering dust due to frustration! thats what held me back until now, the one thing that swayed me was when looking at 2nd hand r-tech units on ebay that were selling for near full retail, in fact i was watching a 160 tig that went for more than a 'shop soiled' unit from r tech! so if i do end up losing the plot at least it wont have cost me a fortune. 4 minutes ago, Glen_I said: I've hunted high and low for TIG welding courses near me and they are run in the daytime on a weekdays which is no good to me unfortunately. same here, and with working shifts with days and nights i just couldnt make it work. just to add aswell if you do end up pulling the trigger the shop soiled units are around 10% cheaper and with a voucher aswell your saving 20% off list. Mine was a shop soiled unit and you wouldnt know why, theres not a mark on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 21 minutes ago, Steve (sdh2903) said: 2nd hand r-tech units on ebay that were selling for near full retail I too noticed this, in fact I have watched two units sell for retail price and they were quite old but they did say 'little use and as new' which makes me think someone gave up and threw it in corner of the garage🤣 23 minutes ago, Steve (sdh2903) said: just to add aswell if you do end up pulling the trigger the shop soiled units are around 10% cheaper and with a voucher aswell your saving 20% off list I have a shop soiled one sat in the basket at the moment (same as yours I think?), I'm hoping that a discount code will come along shortly then its win win, and if the shop soiled ones sells beforehand then I just wait for the discount on a new one, and as you know the discounts adds up to a fair saving on the cost these machines. R-Tech did send email saying we noticed you have items in the basket, so you never know they may come back with a little incentive to encourage me to hit the Buy now button! I belive R-Tech have a stand at the Classic Car renovation show in March so fingers 🤞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR.C Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 Strange old world.. My Welding list in terms of technicality. 1.Oxy/acetylene. 2.Tig (modern number 1). 3. Stick(easy to do, hard to do well). 4.Mig. I grew up gas welding, and found Tig very easy to pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 6 minutes ago, Glen_I said: I have a shop soiled one sat in the basket at the moment (same as yours I think?) I went for the digital 170, as it gives you a little helping hand with settings and a memory to save settings for certain jobs. I got the shop soiled and with the voucher it was a good saving. The vouchers are usually around show times from what ive seen, but have also heard that a phone call can also yield a bit of discount too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 18 minutes ago, Steve (sdh2903) said: I went for the digital 170 This is what I have set my sights on! 24 minutes ago, MR.C said: I grew up gas welding, and found Tig very easy to pick up This is reassuring, going back to my mate who has his own fabrication/welding business he self taught himself TIG, but he has now been doing it for many many years. I have always claimed mig is easy once the machine is setup but even now there are blokes I worked with in the workshop who claim to be able to weld and all I see is a bead of weld resembling pigeon 💩 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Most welding sat at a bench is easy to master and to do to a good standard, where the skill comes in is doing overhead and the like. I did a course in Barnsley at the tech 35 years ago which was run by NCB staff. By the end I could do gas and brazing repairs to rusty old cars all day long to a good safe standard and stick to a better finish Welding on rusty cars with a mig is much harder in my opinion, not sure what it is like with tig One day a mate offered me some extra training with stick welding overhead to build trailers etc. That was the hardest thing I ever did even with the correct sticks. He was a coded welder and could weld anything and almost anywhere and made it look so easy. I have never had a weld break but as with all things preparation and practice is key 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 29 minutes ago, jeff oakley said: Welding on rusty cars with a mig is much harder in my opinion, not sure what it is like with tig As you say Jeff, preparation is the key here, and fresh clean metal is required so when you get pestered to repair someone's car (fortunately becoming a thing of the past) and thay say "but it's only a little hole", that little hole is no longer little by the time the hole has been ground back to good solid solid steel to weld to. 33 minutes ago, jeff oakley said: One day a mate offered me some extra training with stick welding overhead to build trailers etc Yes, upside down welding is a different again, I have spent many hours under trailers carrying out repairs (started my workshop career on commercial vehicles) and living and working on a farm so plenty to be repaired and yes....a fair amount of molten dropping down my neck and in my ears🤣 My main reason for the TIG is to be able to have a stab at alloy welding and to learn a new skill. I've been through 2 rounds of redundancy since lockdown and whilst I have been kept on (only 20% of us left, the other 80% moved abroad to reduce costs) I want to try and learn some additional skills and I'm under no illusions that I will be able to master this to the same level as time served welders but I'm done with office work (currently a Automotive Technical Author for Autodata) and will happily head back to the workshop but in a restoration/specialist environment so if I can say hand on heart that yes I can TIG to a reasonable standard then hopefully this could help getting a foot through the door. I think what I have learnt over the past 2 yrs is that the time is flying by and I should've got the TIG 2 yrs ago when I first started thinking about it. Regarding learning new skills, I done a week intensive plastering course about 17yrs ago when we moved into the house we're in now as it was a big project. It got me pointed in the right direction and since this I have done the entire house, work for me neighbour and a mate who is a builder including his house. The only thing against me is I'm not quick enough to make a living from it but the final finish is spot on. I never done the course to change career but to do our own house but it's been handy to know how to plaster since doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamperMan Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Hands on skills some people get it, others don’t. Some people can naturally paint/draw, others some guidance will get them OK, others no amount of training will make them able to painters/ draw. I’ll try most things and can pick up this sort of stuff ok but I don’t have patients for perfection. There’s plenty on YouTube these days to get you started. Mig I’m no artist, but it is decent enough and pretty much self taught. MiG is fairly crude but effective. I’d say For most people if the machine is set up and you can use a silicon gun you can MIG. I’ve had a Tig for a few years now. Self taught. If it’s well prepared, nice gaps, on the bench, easy access my welds look decent and very effective. But it’s far more arty farty, and needs patients, prep and dexterity. The bottom line for me is if it’s on the bench and clean and nice fitting I’ll TIG it. Everything else I’ll MIG it 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve (sdh2903) Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 @Glen_I The R-Tech 5-Day SALE starts today 10% discount on all website products Treat yourself to a new MIG / TIG welder, Plasma cutter, Welding Mask and stock up your consumables. Spread the cost with 0% finance over 6/12 months, instant decision - simply select finance payment in checkout Enter code 5DAY22 at shopping basket or checkout 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen_I Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 You're a legend! I nearly placed the order yesterday then noticed the foot pedal is out of stock. I will order it all tonight when kids are in bed.....retail therapy😉 Funnily enough I have just been clearing space in the garage and have decided to sell my Snap On box that I got as an apprentice in 1992. I traded it in when getting my Mac Tools one and then purchased it back due to sentimental reasons but its been sat under the bench for over 20 years I think? My daughters don't want it for some reason😅 Not sure what it will sell for as prices are all over the place on eBay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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