Contact/FAQ
Molten Metal Works is located at
3617 San Fernando Rd
Glendale, CA 91204
323-333-9952
shop@moltenmetalworks.net
*Email is the best way to get in touch!
Hours
We are currently closed outside of our class times due to COVID-19. If you are trying to get in touch or have a question, please send us an email.
More info about location, including parking, map, and photo of the building
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve never welded before, where should I start?
What’s the difference between the different types of welding?
What’s the deal with open shop?
What’s your refund and rescheduling policy?
What’s about canceling classes?
What should I bring or wear to my first class?
Where can I buy steel (or this or that)?
Who can sign up for the classes?
You haven’t answered my question.
Location
Molten Metal Works is located at:
3617 San Fernando Rd
Glendale CA 91204
(we moved 5/1/16 and this is the new address)
Parking
Please park in our lot or on the street.
Answers to FAQs
Who can learn to weld?
At Molten Metal Works, we can teach just about anyone to weld, but our insurance requires you to be at least 14. For more info on classes for minors, see here. Additional stuff–if you have a pacemaker, you should not be doing arc welding (any welding using electricity). The magnetic fields do something. If you have trouble seeing in the dark, doing things like night driving, or have really unsteady hands, you will have additional difficulty. We can usually find some work-arounds to help, but those are the most common complaints. Other than that, bring it on.
I’ve never welded before, where should I start?
Awesome, glad to have you. First thing you should do is to take a look at the answer to the next question and see what kind of welding you might be interested in learning. Most people who come into the shop start with the Intro MIG class.
COVID UPDATE: Since we are currently only offering Intro MIG and Intro TIG classes – start there!
The Intro MIG is about four hours of welding on Saturdays and Sundays, where you really get a feel for that welding technique. You get a lot of practice and you learn how to use grinders and learn various techniques. You leave the class feeling confident and comfortable renting or buying your own welder and working at home.
Intro TIG is great if you’re looking to work with different kinds of metal (aluminum, titanium, stainless, etc.) It takes a bit more practice to lay down the perfect bead, but when you do – it feels really good! This class covers technique and form and a whole lot of practice.
What’s the difference between the different types of welding?
We currently offer small (4-5 people) group classes in MIG and TIG, both forms of Arc welding, which means that they both use electricity and an electric arc to weld. Both are much faster processes than Oxyacetylene (because that arc heats up to 7,000-10,000*F almost instantly), but both MIG and TIG have their downsides.
MIG (Metal Inert Gas, also called FCAW or SMAW for flux-core arc welding and shielded metal arc welding) is like using a hot glue gun. Not super precise, but quick, easier because it’s largely one-handed, and great for putting things together, especially when you are just cutting and welding straight pieces. TIG I’ll get back to in a second.
Oxyacetylene uses a flame torch (between 5,800*-6,200*F) to heat steel up and weld it together. It’s best for material under ¼” thick but with the same tool you can cut, weld, braze (aka solder), or heat-and-bend. Oxy is great for making curvy shapes, or wrought-iron looking things. If you’re good, you can make really pretty welds and it’s not super-bright, so you don’t have to wear a welding helmet. It’s pretty quiet too. We are unfortunately not offering any oxyacetylene classes due to COVID-19.
TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) is like a combo of the above two. It uses a super-hot arc to melt pieces together. It’s the hardest process of them all, as well as being the most expensive (about $4500). It requires using both hands independently and using one foot to control the amperage of the arc. Benefits of it are that it’s very precise, you can make very pretty welds, and you can even join dissimilar metals. It’s also the best for fickle aluminum or stainless (though we can MIG aluminum in the shop). TIG is best used on those specialty metals, or when precision and reducing grinding time are the primary factors. Good on straight or curvy materials.
What about stick welding?
Stick welding is mostly used for structural welding: building bridges, buildings, welding I-beams together, and shipbuilding. Things where you need to weld 1/4″ steel together. It’s not good for furniture, or sculpture, until you get into forklift size stuff (generally). If you are looking to get into any of that, check out the welding classes at LA Trade Tech. We can teach stick via private lesson if you’re curious, or you have a specific project, but we are not geared towards certification or testing. We are currently not offering any stick welding lesson due to COVID-19.
What’s the deal with open shop?
Open shop is unfortunately closed at the moment due to COVID-19. We hope to have it back up and running when there is a vaccine. We are hopeful for 2021.
What’s your refund and rescheduling policy?
What about canceling classes?
I hate to cancel classes, but MMW reserves the right to cancel classes for under-enrollment. It’s partially a matter of money, but more so, it’s a matter of class experience. Classes are more fun and informative when there are more people in the class. Not only do other people add more energy, they also ask questions you didn’t think of right then. Currently, we need at least 2 in the class to make it worth everyone’s while.
COVID Cancelled Classes: We are doing everything to comply with COVID safety protocols and Los Angeles County closures. We are a phase 3 business, so unfortunately it is likely that we will be closed if the Governor says so. We always send an email should this be the case, however if you are curious if your class is still happening – please email us or give us a call and we will keep you as informed and up to date as possible.
What should I bring or wear to my first class?
You should wear all natural fibers clothes (cotton, wool, leather) in long sleeves and pants, with no holes for sparks to get down. Additionally, you should wear all leather or canvas shoes that cover your foot entirely (no clogs, sandals, or ballet flats). Things like cowboy boots, Vans, Converse are great. No running shoes or mesh or synthetics. Definitely no Crocs, comfortable as they might be.
Feel free to bring your own sunscreen and safety glasses, though I’ll have off-brands available for you. Yes, my sunscreen makes you smell like pina colada. And I like it that way.
All the other safety stuff (helmets, gloves, etc) are provided. None of the other classes require that you bring anything to the first class. Second class maybe, but that’ll be discussed in class.
COVID UPDATES: Best to bring a snack or meal with you, as we are going to limit breaks to comply with our new safety measures.
Where can I buy steel (or this or that)?
Check the resources page.
What about wait lists?
If the class is filled up, the Mindbody registration engine will allow you to add yourself to the wait list for the class. You must pay in full for the class in order to be added to the waitlist and it will only notify you if someone drops from the class (if no one drops, it does not trigger an announcement email). The system will also not automatically add you to the next class. So you should sign yourself for both classes (both the waitlist one and the later date one with room). The system should only charge you for one class. This way you’re guaranteed to be in the later one and you’ll be notified if the earlier one opens up.
It is not a very good wait list system and I’m sorry for the hassle, but as of yet, I haven’t found a way to change it.
Who can sign up for the classes?
Everyone is welcome to join the classes. I have taught people from age 14 to 76 how to weld. And as long as your eyesight is decent (you can night drive and have reading glasses that work) we can teach you. The welding helmet has a very dark lens and it can be difficult for people who have trouble with things like night-driving or low-light vision. Other than that disclaimer, come on down.
What about minors (under 18)?
Students 14-17 can sign up for our group classes with a participating adult or have private lessons in a 3:1 student:teacher ratio. Students aged 8-14 we’re working on developing more classes that do not involve welding, but there’s gonna be some fun ones coming up, all with real tools and real skills, just no power tools at this point.
I should also mention once again that these classes are not designed for people looking to become professional, structural welders. That usually requires training and certification using stick welders, which I do not teach. These classes are designed for amateurs, craftsmen, DIY-types, artists, and enthusiasts. People who’ve always loved working with their hands and want to add metalworking to the arsenal.
Do you offer private lessons?
We are not offering lessons at this time as we have not found a way to do so safely. It is our hope that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine soon, and we will be able to give lessons again. Until then, we unfortunately cannot.
Anything else contact me.
