Freeside Atlanta

MIG Welding for Beginners is a bimonthly class series that introduces the MIG welding process for hobbyists and home users. MIG (Metal- Inert Gas) is an arc welding process that uses wire fed from a spool to carry the arc and deposit filler metal, while shielded by an inert gas mixture of Argon and CO2. The class focuses on learning the fundamentals of safety, material prep, and tool use for welding on mild carbon steel.

In this class, you will learn how to prepare and set up a workpiece, set up and safely run the welder, and successfully join pieces of metal together. You will practice running several beads, and then weld small plates together to practice and demonstrate basic joints used in welding. Anything you weld on is yours to take home at the end of the class.
Meetup Details:

• Every 1st and 3rd Saturdays
• $120 (pay on the Meetup page)
• Dominic Ryder is the instructor

What to Wear (required):

• Long-sleeve 100% cotton button-up shirt (denim or flannel works great)
• Long work pants
• Leather or closed toed work shoes
• Hair pulled back
• No jewelry

In this class we will go over basic operation, machine anatomy, and maintenance of the Bridgeport mill, as well as best machining practices and philosophy. Feel for the machine, heat management, tolerances, and basic metrology will be discussed. Making aluminum parts will be the main topic. If you want to stay later, we will talk about the types of steel and best practices for cutting them.

For members, taking this class will clear you to use the mill, as well as some of the metrology tools nearby.

DC TIG Welding is a bimonthly class that introduces students to the process of TIG welding at the hobbyist level. TIG stands for Tungsten-Inert Gas and is a welding process that differs from others in that the electrode itself does not fill the weld, rather the user feeds in filler themselves.

TIG is highly versatile but is also much more involved than other welding processes, meaning it can take more time to become proficient at. This class will cover welding safety, machine setup, basic welding concepts, and material preparation first. Once all that is done, students will learn about forming a weld puddle and shortly after running a bead using filler wire. Lastly the class will cover welding lap joints, T joints, butt joints, and corner joints. Students will be given some materials and consumables to practice with in their own time if they so choose.

This class only covers basic DC TIG welding and is intended to give the foundation for students to begin developing their skills. Students will leave having only practiced on mild steel but will have the fundamentals for most materials, including stainless steel. Aluminium can only be welding with AC TIG. AC TIG has more considerations than DC TIG and as such is taught in a smaller, second class for students who have taken the DC TIG class if they choose.

Meetup Details:
Every 1st and 3rd Sunday
$165 (pay on the Meetup page)
Griffin Brown is the instructor

What to Wear (Required):
Pants made of natural fibers. No shorts or pants that will melt.
Close toed shoes.
Long hair must be tied back.
No dangling jewelry, especially around the neck.
Long sleeved shirt made of natural fibers is preferred, however a welding jacket can be provided during the class to those who wish to forego this.
Proper welding gloves and a welding hood will be provided for the duration of the class as well.
Failure to meet these criteria may result in refusal to accept the individual into the class.

AC TIG Welding is a bimonthly class that expands upon the knowledge gained in the DC TIG class. AC TIG welding enables the welding of aluminium using the TIG process. Students will have previously taken the DC TIG welding class and will be expanding on that into an even more involved TIG welding process.

This class will review safety before introducing new material in welding concepts, machine setup, and material preparation. Once all that is done, students practice forming weld puddles and beads on aluminium before practicing lap joints, T joints, butt joints, and corner joints on aluminium.

Following this class, students should be prepared to begin developing their skills in TIG welding almost any common material, especially found in the home shop.

Meetup Details:
Every 2nd and 4th Sunday
$90 (pay on the Meetup page)
Griffin Brown is the instructor

What to Wear (Required):
Pants made of natural fibers. No shorts or pants that will melt.
Close toed shoes.
Long hair must be tied back.
No dangling jewelry, especially around the neck.
Long sleeved shirt made of natural fibers is preferred, however a welding jacket can be provided during the class to those who wish to forego this.
Proper welding gloves and a welding hood will be provided for the duration of the class as well.
Failure to meet these criteria may result in refusal to accept the individual into the class.