Intro TIG: Fridays with Precision

Welding with TIG is a lot like driving a Ferrari: it’s precise, powerful, and difficult to do really well (except I haven’t driven a Ferrari). It requires the use of both hands and one foot and expensive machines. But it’s worth it. With TIG you can make beautiful welds on steel, stainless, aluminum, chromoly, bronze, copper, titanium, magnesium–you get the idea. You can even weld dissimilar metals. And you can do it all with tiny little welds that look so pretty you won’t ever want to grind away a MIG weld again. Plus, if you can TIG weld, it’s a pretty damn good life merit badge.

About TIG: TIG uses electricity to melt the metal.  You generally hold the torch with the right hand, add filler metal with the left, and use a foot pedal to control the amperage (heat) as you go.  TIG allows you to adjust the temperature and filler deposition rate as you weld so it allows you to make much more precise welds.  They’ll generally be stronger and prettier than MIG and you can weld more exotic materials.  But it’s way harder and slower to do.

Class Details:  This class runs for 6 hrs, 9am-3pm on Fridays.  Instruction fee is $125, materials and shop fee is $140 (total $265).  This class also comes with an open shop session for 4 hours to continue practicing your technique and a pair of TIG welding gloves.

Prerequisites: No experience or prerequisites required but taking Intro MIG or Oxyacetylene beforehand is recommended.  14 or older, with those under 18 signing up with a parent or guardian (and reserving and paying for two spots).

Standard Clothing: You will be required to wear long sleeves and long pants, both made of 100% cotton or wool, and all leather or canvas shoes (Vans, Converse, work boots, cowboy boots all good; ballet flats, clogs, running shoes, all bad).  No synthetic melty stuff.  Please bring reading glasses and something to tie your hair back if you need either.  For this class, it helps to have shoes that are lighter than work boots since the foot pedal is like the gas pedal in a car.

Covid Updates: This class will be held inside. There will be a limit of 5 people per class to ensure plenty of space between instructor and other students to maintain six feet distance at all times. The shop will be taking extra safety precautions to sanitize work stations, tools and supplies between classes to give you the safest possible environment.

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Refund/Rescheduling Policy:  We hope you can make the class, but things happen.  If you need to cancel, we can refund your money 7 days ahead of the start of the class (minus a $25 registration fee).  You can reschedule the class 7 days before the start of the class as well.  There are no refunds or rescheduling within 7 days.  By not budgeting for missed classes, we can keep the prices as low as possible for everyone.