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Welding Fundamentals: Intro to MIG Welding

Meets Tuesdays · 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM · on Zoom Fall 2026 · registration open Free to audit

This class runs in the Fall 2026 session. Registration is open now; lessons, materials, and the class discussion board are posted before it begins.

So here's the deal. This is a class for total beginners who've always wanted to try welding but never had a machine or a place to do it. I taught myself MIG a couple years back, from zero, after I retired, and I still remember exactly which parts were confusing. That's kind of my whole thing.

We meet Tuesday nights, 7 to 9, in a controlled shop. You'll learn how to set the welder up right, what safety gear actually matters, and how to run a clean bead on scrap steel. No experience needed and no fancy gear required.

You'll leave having actually welded something with your own two hands, not just watched me do it.

What you'll learn

Set up a MIG welder and load wire
Choose gas flow and settings for metal thickness
Run a straight bead on flat scrap
Identify good, cold, and burned-through welds
Follow shop safety rules for gear and ventilation

Lessons

Getting Comfortable Around the Machine
What MIG welding actually is, what the equipment does, and why nobody should feel intimidated walking in.
Safety Gear and the Shop
The gear that actually matters, the fumes you can't be casual about, and how we keep the shop safe.
Setup Is Where Beginners Win or Lose
The part everyone rushes, which is exactly why their beads look bad.
- Why setup matters more than your hands15 min
- The ground clamp: check it first, every time16 min
- Loading wire and setting the tension22 min
- Matching settings to your metal thickness25 min
- Gas flow and dialing it in18 min
Running Your First Bead
Torch in hand on scrap steel, going slow and steady on purpose.
- How to hold the gun and stand at the table18 min
- Striking the arc without flinching20 min
- Slow down: pace beats nerves every time22 min
- Running a straight bead on flat scrap25 min
Reading and Fixing Your Welds
What a good bead looks like, what a bad one is telling you, and how to fix it.
Tacking, Joints, and Where to Go Next
Joining two pieces of metal and an honest talk about what's beyond this class.

Class discussion

The class discussion board opens when the class begins this fall. Auditors and enrolled students ask questions and share work here once the session starts.