What do candidates on the TIG or Stick Welding Training Course actually do?
Safety is our first consideration on the Arc Welding course. We look at the required PPE, how eye and face protection should be achieved and how cylinders should be looked after. We ensure that the candidates have understood these very important H&S issues by administering a practical assessment, where they have to describe the various PPE that would be required in various situations.
Page 7 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing the required PPE |
Page 11 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing how eye and face protection should be achieved |
Page 27 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing how cylinders should be looked after |
We then introduce the candidates to our arc welding sets, familiarizing them with the various parts.
One of the welding sets used on the arc welding course |
Our course notes have introductory information and descriptions on the various types of welded joints and once the candidates have understood the key issues we start welding. The practical side of the course is where our emphasis lies and of course where the candidates will really begin to learn. The following are some examples of the practice welds that candidates make on the course:
A Butt weld made on the arc welding course |
A Lap weld made on the arc welding course |
A Fillet weld made on the arc welding course |
A Multipass Fillet weld made on the arc welding course |
During the course candidates gradually become more proficient with our welding sets. We teach how the sets should be set up, what all the controls do and can even offer help and advice on how their own welding sets should be set up and used.
One of the TIG Torches used on the arc welding course |
One of the Inverter Units used on the arc welding course |
Once the candidates have acquired the basic skills we can then introduce more complex issues like weld penetration, welding positions and controlling distortion.
Page 49 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing various parts of a welded joint |
Page 57 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing the various welding positions |
Page 60 of the course notes for the arc welding course, describing the issue of distortion and how it should be controlled |
There is no substitute for practicing welding, so our course continues with more and more welding. We re-visit the H&S and PPE issues on an on-going basis. We don't expect the candidates to become fully-fledged welders on such a short course, but we do expect them to be able to lay a proper bead whilst taking all the appropriate safety measures, so that they can do small jobs like fix broken parts of machinery, adapt a chain guard, etc.
We also expect the candidates to be able to recognise a good weld from a bad one. We test some of their own welds to demonstrate weld penetration and we emphasise the very important health and safety issues associated with welded parts like ladders, railings etc.
If you would like to see some of the equipment used on the Arc Welding course for yourself, then please call us to arrange a visit to our offices in Kent. Alternatively, we can visit you anywhere in the British Isles.