Welding for extra money

I bought my first welder from Harbor Freight three years ago and taught myself to weld. I watched videos on YouTube, read through some online articles about it, and finally I just went out to my garage, put on my welding helmet, and turned on the machine. I thought for sure I was going to electrocute myself; in the end, I was able to build myself a workshop table out of angle iron, square tube, and sheet metal. It was scary, exciting, and when I got done I just stood there looking at what I had made.

I later worked on an electrical job for a professional welder, and my boss told him that I had bought a welding mcahine. The man was interested in what I had made, so I showed him a few pictures of the table. He was more impressed with the fact that I just went out and did it, than with the quality of my table. He talked to me about welding classes, and now I'm going to do the same with you.

Welding is the act of using an electrical current or heat to fuse two pieces of metal together. There are different types of machines, from the basic wire feed and stick welders to more advanced MIG and TIG machines that require gases to operate. My first machine was a flux core wire welder, meaning that the wire inside was coated so that as it melted a small amount of shielding gas is released. It's a cheap machine, costing around $125, and doesn't do a very good job. In comparison, professional welders use machines costing thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars.

Community colleges and trade schools will often teach classes on MIG or TIG welding, and for the cost it can't be beaten. You'll go over the basics of welding and get hands on experience using the machines. It's not just for men; there are a huge number of women taking the courses as well. You can choose a hobby course to see if you are interested in welding, and go all the way up to completing a 7 month course and become a professional welder. The possibilities are endless.

Welding is a skill that almost anyone can learn, and with the right certificates you can earn $20-35 an hour. I use it in my other hobby, blacksmithing, and have even considered doing ornamental ironwork. This is just another example of investing in yourself through education; we increase our own value through knowledge and skill. There are even online courses available for many subjects that can be done from the comfort of your own couch. So whether it's welding or some other subject, check out some local courses near you and learn something new.